2013 Kia Soul: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 850 complaints
850
Total Complaints
98,000mi
Median Mileage
Engine
Top Issue
32
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
49,000
25th Percentile
98,000
Median Mileage
134,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Engine
274
Steering
147
Electrical System
68
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
66
Unknown Or Other
60
Engine And Engine Cooling
33
Service Brakes
30
Fuel/Propulsion System
26
Air Bags
18
Vehicle Speed Control
15
Severity Assessment
32
Crashes
60
Fires
38
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"I HAVE WASHER FLUID FOR LOW TEMPS. THE WASHER LINES KEEP FREEZING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO WEATHER. I CALLED KIA AND WAS TOLD BY KIA THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING CALLS NONSTOP ABOUT IT AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT..."
"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 ..."
"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 PROBLE..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Engine
274 complaints
25th: 81,883 mi
Median: 116,304 mi
75th: 141,835 mi
Steering
147 complaints
25th: 49,000 mi
Median: 68,002 mi
75th: 99,750 mi
Electrical System
68 complaints
25th: 22,500 mi
Median: 57,500 mi
75th: 102,500 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
66 complaints
25th: 110,000 mi
Median: 142,000 mi
75th: 159,198 mi
Unknown Or Other
60 complaints
25th: 54,125 mi
Median: 98,500 mi
75th: 142,525 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
FL: 146
TX: 79
CA: 68
OH: 56
GA: 45
PA: 38
NC: 37
LA: 25
AL: 24
WA: 22
Who Files Complaints?
0.6%
Original Owners
99.4%
Second+ Owners
Kia Soul — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (3)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Engine
Campaign 19V120000 | 22/02/2019
Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine ma
Roof And Pillars
Campaign 14V822000 | 29/12/2014
A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.
Control Unit/Module
Campaign 23V652000 | 25/09/2023
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2
Extend Your Engine Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change oil on schedule — this is the single most important thing you can do
- Use the manufacturer-recommended oil weight and type
- Replace the air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles
- Don't ignore the check engine light — small issues become expensive fast
- Let the engine warm up for 30 seconds before driving hard in cold weather
- Address coolant leaks immediately to prevent overheating damage
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28