2023 Kia Soul Problems, Recalls & Reliability
86 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2023 Kia Soul, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports.
Typical
Where 2023 sits among all Soul years
What owners report
Recalls (4)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were…
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge.…
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument…
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
50 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2023 Kia Soul. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2023 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2023 Kia Soul drew 86 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (2015).
What are the most common 2023 Kia Soul problems?
The top reported problems for the 2023 Kia Soul are electrical (15 complaints), driver assistance (14), and engine (13).
Does the 2023 Kia Soul have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2023 Kia Soul. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.