2013 Kia Soul UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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 chunks hanging down.By the grace of God I did not have glass in my eyes or face drive to safety covering my face w my sweater. pulled off the bridge pulled the rest of glass out and took picture and called my insurance company online there are hundreds of postings with this happening on kias there needs to be a recall on this asap please before someone gets severely injured or dies.my name is [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The 2013 Kia Soul has been subject to recalls related to the gear shift, with some models potentially experiencing issues that could cause the vehicle to roll away due to a gear shift defect. Some 2013 Kia Souls may have a gear shift defect that could cause the vehicle to roll away unexpectedly. An engine that is hesitating to accelerate is most likely dealing with a fuel/air mixture that is too lean. Engine's that are running inefficiently will begin to show signs like hesitation which will only become worse over time.
I keep smelling something and my car drives kind of slow
my car has been at the Kia service center since October 5, 2024, on a manufacturer recall, and since then another recall has been added, on the day the service center received my car I was number 11, in line with the recall vehicles, I have been put in hardship because kia has not honored the recall in ample time, lost of job opportunities , stress, getting back and forth with appointments, I strongly feel as though I have been discriminated against, I receive no updated status about my car, and strongly feel, that my recall is being tossed to the side, I have contacted the NHTSB about this matter, loss wages, loss job opportunities, and stress have been placed on me from the kia service center in Trussville Alabama, Kia have failed to comply with the recall and have had ample time to remedies the problem.
I was sent to this form by live chat to report that a recall for my car has not been remedied in a timely manner. I received notification in November of 2023 that it was advised to not use my car and to park away from buildings. It has been 7 months and it still shows as not updated on this website and the official Kia one.
An NHTSA Recall Number SC284AM was issued on September 25, 2023. The Recall states "URGENT: FIRE RISK WHEN PARKED," and advises owners to park out of doors, and away from other vehicles. This is absolute insanity and irresponsibility. I received a letter from KIA in November, 2013 about this Recall (over 5 months ago). As of this date, 4/5/2024, they do still not have the necessary part for the HECU system, which I understand to be a fuse. Considering the extremely HIGH RISK and personal exposure involved in this Recall, I feel the lengthy delay in resolving the problem to be outrageous. Please advise ASAP. Thank you.
The HECU fuse issue (recall SC284) was announced in September 2023 - and there is still no remedy issued as of April 2024. This marks almost 7 months where my vehicle has been a potential fire hazard, risking life and property. The marked delay is unacceptable and unsafe.
There is an open fire hazard recall on my vehicle, and no solution made available. When I went to the dealer for service, I inquired about this and was told that it will "probably be a while before they get to the older vehicles". Older vehicles have more wear and are likely at greater risk. Surely there is a replacement HECU module available. It has been six months since the recall, and this is a critical fire hazard issue. I want the process to move along so I no longer have to worry about a vehicle fire, especially when it has occupants. I feel like KIA is dragging its feet on older vehicles, hoping they will age out or we will sell them. My vehicle has 34,000 miles, so I will have it for many years, and need this issue resolved in a timely manner.
UNKNOWN. On November 14, 2023, I received a notice from KIA about "AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL." The notice stated that I should not park my vehicle indoors or next to any other vehicle, as it could burst into flames. This is a dangerous situation that threatens both our personal safety and security. It is now 3 months later (2/19/2024), and my KIA dealer cannot repair my vehicle as they have not yet received the necessary parts required for the repair. This is outrageous and I would like this matter to be resolved, IMMEDIATELY!
There has been multiple incidents the first time the car started jumping and smoking on 12/7/2022 I had it put in the shop and they said it was 2 oxygen sensors and crank position sensor after that repair the ac goes out completely. So it drove fine for a couple months then started jumping in middle of interstate again and check engine light came on so I pull off interstate before I got hit it dropped speed and wanted to keep shutting off didn't want to pick up speed so got it checked out again they changed out spark plugs, air filter and catalytic converter also not to mention tow bill. Then thinking everything should be took care of after that no for the third time after being exhausted of repairs on a over paid car I was on interstate again on 11/21/2023 I was going 65mph when all of a sudden my battery light, ! Light came on and service engine light all lights started flashing so I barely made it off interstate when my car started jumping so I pull over and steering was getting hard to turn as the car shuts off and leaves me stranded once again with a towing bill and another shop they replaced the alternator,ignition coil,fuel pump,spark plugs again,bolt flang,fuel pressure sensor,cop coil,high pressure sensor,battery. It's been costly and for how long before something happens again for a car that I'm paying twice the amount it's worth.
Uvo infotainment system speakers not working. Radio works, but the only thing you can hear is the beep of the buttons when you push them on the screen. It keeps resetting itself as well.
My 2013 Kia Soul has been attempted to be stolen twice. My passenger side window was broken out with the intent to steal my car right from my driveway due to the tick tok challenge that has been going around and a month later the steering column was ripped apart in my drive way with the intent to steal it a 2nd time due to my vehicle not having an immobilizer. My safety as well as the safety of my entire family and that of all of my neighbors was put at risk with both attempts as we caught them in the act the first time… and the 2nd time but we didn’t realize it until later when we discovered the steering column ripped apart. This is my only vehicle, I do not have the means to replace it or to buy another one. Why aren’t these cars being recalled? The public should not be on the hook for replacing windows and steering columns because of a companies short comings. I did not recently buy my car, I’ve had it since 2017 and had I been aware of this issue, i most definitely would have bought a different car!
My vehicle is involved in the vulnerable Kia's lack of a theft immobilizer. I just contacted Kia service to make an appointment for the software update and was advised that my vehicle is not listed on the recall list though I was eligible for a steering wheel lock. I purchased a steering wheel lock in early 2022 because of the news of the KIA vehicle vulnerability due to the tiktok theft instruction video. How can Kia offer recall/software upgrades and exclude the 2013 Kia Soul+? I really would like an explanation. Thank you.
Engine loses power and then stops now car won't start catalytic converter the gas cap the 02 censorAnd the throttle body
I am the second owner of a 2013 Kia Soul that was purchased from Century 3 Kia, in Dec of 2015 with approximately 33,000 miles on it. It now has approximately 99,900 miles on it. During the summer of last year, I began to have problems with the car overheating, stalling, and hearing knocking in the engine. My car was burning oil pretty bad (kept having to change the oil) and it smelled like something was burning in my engine so I took it to the dealership where I purchased it. I was afraid it would catch on fire. They ran a diagnostic on it and said that it was the catalytic converter and quoted me a price of around $3,000 to fix it. I asked if there were any recalls for this issue and they said no. About a week later I took it to my mechanic, after doing a diagnostic check he confirmed that the catalytic converter was defective, and he said that my engine sounded pretty bad as well. He told me that he believed there was a recall on my car and advised me to contact Kia and ask about it. I called Kia and they told me there were no open recalls on my vehicle so I decided to get the least expensive issue taken care of first and had the catalytic converter replaced in July 2021. I became ill shortly after that so the car sat unused for several months. I became ill again with Covid in late November and was hospitalized for two weeks, the car sat unused for several more months. In March of 2022, I tried to drive it around the block but had to turn around because the car was very unstable. I towed it back to my mechanic, who told me it was the engine. My Kia Soul has a 1.6L DOHC GDI GAMMA engine, I noticed that it was the same as the ones that were part of the 2019 recall. I had the same issues with my car as those reported by others. I took very good care of my car and kept up with servicing it. My car should have been included in the recall, it had a faulty catalytic converter which caused my engine to fail. Now I'm forced to pay expenses for a car that I can't drive.
Driving down the freeway, and a fireball exploded out the bottom of the car, according to the driver behind us. The fire department were called out, deemed the car unsafe, and disconnected the fuel line. Car towed away.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated while making a left turn, she heard an abnormal noise from the steering wheel. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her destination but noticed the steering noise was progressing. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the flexible coupling to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
1) wiring harness is malfunctioning causing bulbs to prematurely blow. I’m constantly having to replace turn signal bulbs, headlight bulbs, taillight bulbs and break light bulbs. 2) I’ve read many accounts online that this is a common occurrence in the 2013 Kia Soul. 3) this put drivers behind me at risk when my tail lights/break lights fail. Since they are behind me, I have no idea that they have failed because there’s NO warning lights that alert me to the issue. 4) I have left MULTIPLE MESSAGES at MULTIPLE LOCATIONS and PHONE NUMBERS for Kia and their service departments, for over a month and NOBODY HAS returned my phone calls.
I was driving my car when the inside filled with smoke, I stopped the car in the middle of a busy street and got out and within 20 seconds all the glass blew and my car was completely engulfed in flames. The car was a total loss and kia is not cooperating, they don't even act like they care that their customer almost died and lost everything.
CAR HAS BEEN STALLING RANDOMLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THEN DIFFICULT TO RE-ACCELERATE. THIS OCCURS AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE, NOT RIGHT AFTER STARTUP. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN DECEMBER 2020, THEN SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT, MOST RECENTLY FEBRUARY 24 2021. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO BOTH PERSONAL MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES THEN TO DEALERSHIP. BOTH WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM DESCRIBED. SEVERAL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS WERE TRIED, NEW SPARK PLUGS, RESETTING COMPUTER CODES, ETC. CAR HANDLED WELL BRIEFLY, THEN PROBLEM RESURFACED.
RUBBING OF KNOCK SOUND AND SMOKE FROM EXHAUST THAT SMELLS BAD
I TOOK MY KIA SOUL IN FOR A RECALL BACK ON MARCH 9TH. ONCE THE DEALERSHIP DID THE UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER PER RECALL INSTRUCTIONS FROM KIA I LEFT WITH MY CAR. WITHIN 5 MIN MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE NOT ALLOWING ME TO GO ABOVE 59 OR OVER 2000 RPM. I HAVE DEALT WITH KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY ARE ADVISING STILL AFTER 6 WEEKS THERE IS NO ESTIMATED FIX DATE AND NO HELP TO ME WHILE I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE FIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL RECALL.
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL, DATED APRIL 12, 2019. PER RECALL, 19V120, TO UPGRADE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT NO COST TO ME. I CALLED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 800.333.4542 AND SPOKE WITH NICOLE WHO ASSURED ME THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO ME. ON MAY 13TH, I VISITED A KIA DEALERSHIP ON 4220 FREDERICKSBURG RD., SAN ANTONIO, TX., AND MADE APPOINTMENT FOR MAY 16TH AND WAS TOLD THAT A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NECESSARY AND COULD GENERATE A CHARGE. LATER THAT DAY I CALLED TO CANCEL THE APPOINTMENT IN CASE OF A CHARGE AND SPOKE TO DANIEL, A CASHIER. TO CONFIRM CANCELLATION, I CALLED AGAIN ON MAY 15TH AND SPOKE WITH EDWARD IN SERVICES AND WAS TOLD THE APPOINTMENT HAD NOT BEEN CANCELLED. I ASKED HIM TO CANCEL AND HE ADVISED ME TO RESCHEDULE SOON DUE TO THE RECALL. I TOLD EDWARD MY CONCERNS ABOUT PAYING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, AND HE SAID THAT IF DIAGNOSTIC WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL, THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE, BUT THERE COULD BE A CHARGE IF THE DIAGNOSTIC FOUND OTHER ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. HE SAID HE WOULD CANCEL APPOINTMENT AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD CALL LATER TO RESCHEDULE. HOWEVER, I WILL NOT HAVE THE MONEY ANY TIME SOON TO PAY IN CASE THERE IS A CHARGE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE MILEAGE IN MY VEHICLE IS 53,000, SO I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG I SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT RESOLVING THIS RECALL ISSUE.
FAULTY FLEXIBLE COUPLING. NOTICE WHILE DRIVING, CLICKING SOUND IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING ON A REGULAR CITY STREET. IT COST $318 TO REPLACE. THIS IS A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS SO IT SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR ALL.
WHEN IT IS EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE (I.E. 95 DEGREES) AND I TURN ON THE A/C AND COME TO A STOP, THE CAR OFTEN TIMES WILL LUNGE FORWARD, ABOUT A FOOT, EVEN IF MY FOOT IS FIRMLY ON THE BREAK.
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Quick Summary
The 2013 Kia Soul has 27 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.