2013 KIA SOUL Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Kia Soul. This model year has 653 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2013 Kia Soul Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Steering Defects
Brake System
Considering a 2013 Kia Soul?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Kia Soul. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 318 | 1 | 34 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 149 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 99 | 2 | 10 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 71 | 2 | 6 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 67 | — | 9 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 60 | 2 | 7 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 26 | — | 2 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 18 | 14 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 15 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 14 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Kia Soul. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 653 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Steering wheel column coupler clicking and wore out
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle spontaneously caught fire while parked unattended at 3 am. All the warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure, and the vehicle was undrivable. The contact had received the recall notification letter f…
Problem. Engine control unit, ECU allowed catalytic converter overheat. Engine knocking and stalling. Engine monitor light came on while driving the car when it began to knock and stall while driving it. Can cause piston to break and.puncture the engine block, leaking oil into th…
I was on vacation driving the vehicle when the engine caught fire..There was kids in the car there was nothing wrong with the vehicle all of a sudden it just went boom and caught fire We were slowing down to get off the exit. I have no idea what all was effected I don't know much…
Rod went through the the back of the engine causing smoke and vehicle locked up.
On Feb. 11, 2026, while driving, the vehicle displayed a flashing check engine light and entered limp mode with major loss of power. A code reader recorded P1326. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Kia dealership for diagnosis and repair. After the dealership returned the veh…
I bought a Kia Soul at 130k miles and by 140k or so it was dead. the engine started knocking and will no longer turn over. I did regular oil changes and usual maintenance. Within 2 days after knocking the engine refused to turn over. I was driving when it stopped working so at an…
There is a distinct click when the steering wheel is center (car going straight). there is a click and a notch feeling when you turn the wheel back and forth from center. Appears to be a common problem with the Kia Souls from 2010 - 2015. (Flexible rubber steering coupler) Deale…
Put gas in it and out the blue would go pass 30 rpm we never had any issues with it I work on cars for a living I have spend over 3000 in new parts now I got it tow to Firestone they telling me it’s something wrong with my engine cylinder two and four not getting any power they t…
Engine knocking
I have noticed an audible “clunk” in the steering mechanism for a few weeks. I had the rack-and-pinion inspected by a local alignment shop to avoid a catastrophic failure. On 12/29/2025 while rapidly decelerating from highway speed on a downhill exit ramp, the steering wheel be…
On [XXX] apex [XXX] Central I was driving west on [XXX], approaching the bridge that crosses from [XXX] to [XXX] and I heard a loud pop,I looked to my left and the driver's side window exploded with the glass shattering into tiny pieces and leaving a huge hole in the window with …
Steering wheel vibration violently . Is on Kia safety recall. Has 15 year warranty Started slowly about two months ago Contact dealer on safety recall repairs and refused to honor safety recall. Steering gear assembly flexible coupling Very dangerous at high speed . Safety reca…
Recall since I got the car but never been able to afford to bring it go he fixed. Single mother of 2 boys. Both autistic, one age [XXX] and one age [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at night, the neighbor knocked on the door approximately 4:00 AM in the morning to alert the contact that the vehicle was on fire in the driveway. The contact went outside and saw that the fro…
I was driving home from work and got about 5 miles and I see smoke and pulled over. I had it towed to repair shop and they said they found a hole in my engine block and a broken connecting rod. They told me I should take it to KIA as I only have 132,179 miles and that repair sh…
While driving my 2013 Kia Soul, it has turned off while I was sitting still several times this month. The RPM gauge has stopped working and than my vehicle would not drive, actually it was driving very slow and not getting enough power to go the normal speed. Also now my cruise c…
There is a loud clicking in the steering wheel and the car is all over the place while driving. I was told by three mechanics that it is the steering coupler gear. I could lose control which would be putting others life at risk as well as myself. I was told this my be a recall. …
On 10/23/25, my car caught fire due to the ABS module.
Brake petal sensor broke keeping the tail light on. Has trouble accelerating and throws the traction light on burnt up battery, both front door locks have broke with no reason. Wipers broke does not give water.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Kia Soul.
Recalls for 2013 Kia Soul
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Kia Soul. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2013 Kia Soul — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2013 Kia Soul reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2013 Kia Soul has 653 NHTSA owner complaints, 22 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (318 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Kia Soul?▾
#1: Engine Problems (318 complaints). #2: Steering Defects (149 complaints). #3: Brake System (99 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Kia Soul?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2013 Kia Soul?▾
The 2013 Kia Soul has 22 crash-related complaints and 44 fire reports out of 653 total NHTSA complaints. 25 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2013 Kia Soul have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2013 Kia Soul. The largest issue: ENGINE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2013 Kia Soul?▾
The 2013 Kia Soul has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Soul reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2013 Kia Soul
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.