2013 Kia SOUL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
660 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 362 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 282 of 660 complaints (42.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 157 | 23.8% |
| Braking behavior | 110 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 58 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 282 |
| Steering | 149 |
| Electrical System | 68 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 67 |
| Unknown Or Other | 61 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 36 |
| Service Brakes | 30 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 27 |
Engine: 282; Steering: 149; Electrical System: 68; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 67; Unknown Or Other: 61; Engine And Engine Cooling: 36; Service Brakes: 30; Fuel/Propulsion System: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 52 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 56 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 48 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 109 |
| 150,000 and above | 53 |
Under 25,000: 52; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 56; 75,000 to 99,999: 48; 100,000 to 149,999: 109; 150,000 and above: 53
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (109). 298 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 38 |
| 2019 | 117 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2021 | 58 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 | 80 |
| 2024 | 112 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 18 |
2013: 14; 2014: 22; 2015: 18; 2016: 13; 2017: 12; 2018: 38; 2019: 117; 2020: 71; 2021: 58; 2022: 50; 2023: 80; 2024: 112; 2025: 37; 2026: 18
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 157 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 110 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 58 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10513853 · 2013-05-28 (May 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 850. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575071 · 2014-03-27 (March 27, 2014)
I WAS SECOND IN LINE AT A STOP SIGN AND WAS HIT BY 2006 FORD F150 TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH IN THE DRIVERS FRONT QUARTER PANEL. THE ONLY 2 AIRBAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE 2 IN THE PILLARS COMING DOWN ALONG THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT DEPLOY, NEITHER DID THE ONES ON THE DOOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501470 · 2013-03-06 (March 6, 2013)
DURING BRAKING AND HITTING SMALL HOLE IN ROAD I NOTICED THE BRAKES SKIPPING AND BRAKE PEDAL JUMPING UP AND DOWN AS IF IT WAS A POWER DEFECT. I HAD THE SAME EFFECT HAPPEN AFTER BAD RAIN AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT THE CAR SKIPPED TO THE STOP. WHEN IT SNOWED OUT THE BRAKES REALLY SKIPPED MADE NOISE AND SEEMED TO SLIP AND WOULD NOT STOP. I FIGURED THE CAR WAS NEW OR THE BRAKES ARE ADJUSTING KIND TO SPEED BUT NOW KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. MARCH IS THE FIRST WHOLE MONTH I OWN THE CAR AND THIS IS TIME TO CALL THE DEALER AND GET THIS FIGURED …
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10523056 · 2013-07-03 (July 3, 2013)
BRAND NEW CAR PURCHASED 04/06/13 AND HAS 2900 MILES AND BRAKES SQUEAK. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEAKING SINCE MAY BUT UNABLE TO LEAVE IT DUE TO LONG PERIODS OF WAITING FOR CAR. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT BRAKES ARE GLAZED AND ITS COMMON AND HAPPENS AND THEY WILL DEGLAZE BUT IT WILL KEEP HAPPENING BECAUSE ITS JUST THE BRAKES. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE AND THE VAN I HAVE THAT IS ALSO MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME PARENT COMPANY AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THAT IT GLAZED BECAUSE MY VAN …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,926 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11092235 · 2018-05-07 (May 7, 2018)
ON APRIL 3RD, 2018 AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THEN IT STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT START. HAD HELP COME WITHIN 30 MINUTES AND WHEN WE TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT DID START AND I DROVE IT HOME. NO ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE FOR THE PROBLEM AND TALKING TO MECHANICS ABOUT IT. RAN FINE UNTIL MAY 1, 2018, AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN CRUISE CONTROL DOING 65MPH MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. I HAD NO TROUBLE LIGHTS O…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11129356 · 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (DELAND KIA, 2322 WOODLAND BLVD, DELAND, FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10537912 · 2013-08-29 (August 29, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING CODING WAS SOY BASED AND THAT ANIMALS WERE EATING THE WIRES. AS A RESULT, THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE EMISSION WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE SAME SOY BASED CODING WIRING WAS USED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT AND HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WOULD BE A RECURRENCE IN THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10630264 · 2014-09-02 (September 2, 2014)
SUDDEN DECELERATION QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER INCLUDING STEERING, BRAKES, COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT-OFF AND DASH INSTRUMENTATION. DEALER FOUND "NO PROBLEM" AND DID NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH OR ANYTHING ELSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10733190 · 2015-07-10 (July 10, 2015)
BOUGHT THE KIA SOUL NEW IN AUGUST 2012. SINCE NOVEMBER 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 30K MILES THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED A SUDDEN PRONOUNCED HARD DOWNSHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. IT'S AS THOUGH THE BRAKE WERE ABRUPTLY APPLIED. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE THEN BEING WORSE IN COLD WEATHER AND MADE DRIVING THE CAR A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE KIA WESTSIDE DEALER IN KATY TEXAS THREE TIMES THUS FAR. FIRST TIME THEY DEALERSHIP CHECKED BRAKES ONLY DESPITE BEING TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS SUDDEN HARD D…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10733190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895402 · 2016-08-12 (August 12, 2016)
CRUISE CONTROL HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ALSO HAS RANDOM TURN OFFS. ALSO THE WAY IT TURNS ON IN CANNOT SLOW DOWN DURING TURN ON UNLESS YOU PRESS THE SLOW (SET - ) BUTTON A SECOND TIME. DIFFERENT THAN AMERICAN. DANGEROUS. SOMETIMES CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES WITH THE RESUME BUTTON, SOMETIMES NOT. SUSPENSION: DURING A TURN ON HIGHWAY AT 45 MI HOUR CAR HOPS OVER WHEN YOU HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP. MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. NEVER HAD A CAR IN 40 YEARS THAT DID THIS. LIGHTING: AUTOMATIC LIGHTS TURN OFF, AND CHANGE POSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11408041 · 2021-04-14 (April 14, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK ON THE GROUND. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TOP OFF THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OTC SENSOR, FUEL INJECTOR AND PISTON DAMAGE MAY BE CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTHWEST KIA ' AUSTIN (13175 US-183 N, AUSTIN, TX 78750, [phone removed]) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11446016 · 2022-01-03 (January 3, 2022)
It all started when I thought I received bad gas a couple of months ago after filling my tank up with regular gas from a Speedway , It didn't start right away, and that never happened and then it continued to Be hard to accelerate, as I drove it. That has happened on 2 other occasions since that incident a couple of months ago I would push the pedal to the floor and the RPM would not move it stayed on zero. The accelerator was resistant to move, but I made it home. Spoke a mechanic friend, who's done body work on my car, and thought, as I di…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11446016 at NHTSA ↗