10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,257 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Kia Soul brakes problems

brakes problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Kia Soul:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Kia Soul Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #26

Jul 032024

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gas peddle gets very touchy before incident. RPMs spike to 3-4K, unable to stop car. Brakes do not work. Brakes get very hard and high brake peddle. Have to put the car in neutral, pull over, turn car off, put in park. Let car sit for a few minutes. Start car, something must reset because car is back to normal. My regular mechanic was unable to resolve, therefore took to dealer. $3500 later, the car is currently at the dealer for the 4th time trying to resolve. Very dangerous due to the car acceleration and inability to stop!! Has been happening for approx. 4 years. Started out happening once or twice per year, then increased to 4 times in one day. Did not happen for 5 months after brake booster was replaced in January 2024. Most recent incident 7-3-24

- Portage , MI, USA

problem #25

Mar 212024

Soul

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brake, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.?VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #24

Feb 022024

Soul

  • miles
Have two active recalls on my soul. Not driving because could catch on fire. I still have to pay insurance on my vehicle. KIA is dragging their feet with a fix. They say a fuse but it isn-??t fixing the problem unit! It-??s been four months still no fix. They need to get this remedied I need my car back on the road.

- Mcgregor, MN, USA

problem #23

May 022023

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Stering wheel makes a load clacking sound also lots of slack in the wheel git alignment twice and still making the sound and drifts to the right and steering wheel shakes when driving and breaking.

- Adelanto, CA, USA

problem #22

May 222023

Soul

  • miles
Brake light not working. Everything is good to the relay switch in the dash. All turn signal and parking lights work.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #21

Jan 012022

Soul

  • miles
I have been having major battery issues switching out my batteries and them going out fast. Also when I'm driving my car shakes when it goes above 60 miles per hour, also when I change gears I noticed I get a hard thump when I change my gears. The electrical in the car sometimes it goes off and on my radio has completely went out it comes on when it wants. Cruise control when I put it on sometimes just cuts off when I'm driving. Engine runs kind of rough when I first got my car everything was smooth but after 6 years I noticed everything started running the little rough.

- Campbell, OH, USA

problem #20

Sep 132021

Soul

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Nearly totalled Kia soul 2013, engine lost compression, then stalled. In the middle of highway, Preventing me to exit or stop, since brakes dont work when car isn't running.towwed it to dealership, they claim that it's part of recall sc176, which states engine failure, because of defect in motor, yet claim mine isn't part of recall, 19v120000

- North Kingsville, OH, USA

problem #19

Jul 022021

Soul

  • miles
My 2013 Kia Soul has been stalling while idle or at red lights. In addition, sometimes it is difficult to start and I have to attempt several times. Lately, once I do start the vehicle and begin to drive, it-??s as if the vehicle doesn-??t know which gear to maintain. As a result, the car will attempt to -??cut off-?? driving and l literally will have to pull over immediately in attempt to not be hit or run off the road, as the car is practically in neutral by its own choice. Also, the -??emergency brake-?? light is on, even though the emergency brake is not being used.

- Port Charlotte , FL, USA

problem #18

Aug 042020

Soul

  • 67,000 miles
My car died while driving on highway going 75mph with 70K miles thats about when a vehicle should be breaking in not breaking down. My steering wheel is loose, gas play. The radio sometimes doesnt come on and my engine just sounds clogged

- Fort Hood, TX, USA

problem #17

Jul 012020

Soul

  • 62,000 miles
The brakes' vacuum chamber or a valve have gone bad. The peddle is hard to press when vehicle is cranked an baking out. Also, noticed when idling, the brake becomes stiff after a slight depression of the pedal. Sometimes the car cannot be started as the brake pedal cannot be depressed far enough to allow the start button to work. Over time, the front steering has become loose and wobbliliy, causing the driver to over correct steering to keep the car straight on the road. The vehicle has 62,000 miles on it, it shouldn't be having these types of problems this soon.

- Shalimar, FL, USA

problem #16

Nov 102018

Soul

  • 74,634 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When in motion the car would sputter and struggle to reach speeds over 30 mph. Multiple times the check engine light would come on and read as a knock sensor. Replaced the knock sensor but the car continued to struggle to accelerate and would sputter. Took it to Kia and they discovered it was the hydraulic module. They fixed it costing me $1500. I discovered the other day that my car has a recall for another issue but saw the car has an investigation on going about this issue.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

problem #15

Jan 012018

Soul

  • 55,000 miles
Starting in 2018, on 6 occasions and at least 3 times in 2019, when I try to brake the car actually accelerates. It has happened while driving on streets and in parking lots. I have taken it to 2 dealers and both have been unable to assist me, as they say they can't duplicate the problem. I have read that several different Kia in different years have had this same problem.

- Parma, OH, USA

problem #14

Jan 202017

Soul 4-cyl

  • 65,800 miles
Brake switch failed. My brake lights no longer worked and power steering was disabled, making the car impossible to drive. Could not get car out of "park" without using override button. Car needed to be towed to Kia dealer. This switch has been recalled on 1.6 million Kia's but my car was not included but should be added. Not sure how long I was driving without brake lights working. I'm glad I never use my cruise control as pressing the brake peddle would not disengage the cruise control function.

- New Providence, NJ, USA

problem #13

Sep 132013

Soul

  • miles
Windshield wipers too slow on fastest speed. Old car had faster wipers. Seat belts hard to click and unclick, very awkward access to seatbelt buckle. Brakes: User force too hard, very fatiguing. When engine starts initial idle speed control not smooth goes up and down yet computer does not log an error. This is more than 50 RPM. American car would probably log error if car did that. Causes car to lurch unexpectedly when pulling out of driveway.

- Deland, FL, USA

problem #12

Aug 152013

Soul

  • 4,600 miles
The car went in for it's first yearly inspection and the Kia dealer said the back rotors were rusty and wanted to charge 110 dollars to clean them. They eventually cleaned them under the warranty. The back rotors were rusty because the back brakes never worked since it was new. Now since the back brakes never worked the front and back brakes need replaced at 26,000 miles and Kia won't assume any of the cost as they are saying that is normal. The car has been very unsafe to drive since it was new without back brakes and the dealership should have noticed that during the first inspection.

- Butler, PA, USA

problem #11

Mar 282015

Soul

  • 10,846 miles
I took my vehicle for state emission & inspection. Upon testing, the mechanic showed me the rotors and brake pads, they were missing pcs. I was told that I "failed testing" because of this and was not able to take possession of my vehicle or drive away from the shop, in the current condition, as it was unsafe and against the state law. I had to complete all necessary repairs at that time. I have extended warranty (bumper to bumper with Kia) as I had no choice to drive it to the Kia dealer for repairs. I asked the mechanic if he had seen this type of defects on other Soul vehicles and his reply was yes, all the time.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #10

Dec 282012

Soul

  • 300 miles
When I stop suddenly there is a terrible sound in my front right brake, and the pedal got stuck and hard, cannot stop the car completely. I feel mine and others life are on risk driving this specific car, something it's terrible wrong for the fist time that I start driving this Kia Soul 2013, brand new. Please, I really need your help, I do not feel safety.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #9

Oct 282014

Soul

  • 13,500 miles
I was driving in traffic with my son in the car. When I went to brake with the clutch depressed, the car would not stop for a handful of seconds until if finally stopped just in back of but not touching a BMW in front of us. We both heard a scraping/pulsing sound coming from the brakes as the pedal was fully depressed but the car was still going forward. Had the car not stopped just short of the car ahead I fear me and my son would have been seriously injured. I saw a similar complaint on carcomplaints.com which indicated this was also a NHTSA complaint. This car has similar mileage (12800) and was a 2013 Kia Soul.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #8

Jun 242014

Soul

  • miles
The vehicle has been making scraping noises when the brake is applied. My mechanic assumed it was the front brakes although it only has 14K miles on it. The front brakes and rotors are fine but the back rotors have grooves through them and the brakes themselves are mottled looking. Concerned that this is a mechanical problem and the car is still under warranty, the mechanic told me to contact the dealer. I took it to the dealer who said #1-he could not hear the scraping and #2-the brakes are fine with plenty of wear left on them. When I questioned why the back rotors would wear before the front and why they would be worn at all with only 14K he had no answer. Since there was enough wear remaining on the rear rotors there was no action required by them. Master cylinder" E-brake"

- Birdsboro, PA, USA

problem #7

Jun 042014

Soul 4-cyl

  • 12,500 miles
I bought a Kia Soul 2013 used with 12,400 miles on it Saturday May 31, 2014. Wednesday June 4, 2014 I was tapping on my brakes to stop for a light when I heard a clicking sound not very loud but a click. The Kia Soul did not stop. I pressed on the brakes a little harder my car did not stop for another foot or two. Thank god there was not another car in front of me or I would have hit the other car for certain. I am scared to drive my car. The Kia Soul is also pulling to the right I took the car in Tuesday June 3, 2014 had the check out was told the alignment was good the reason for pulling was because each tire had different pressure, was told that all tires were the now the same pressure. Driving the car to work today the Kia Soul again started pulling to the right. I am also having a problem finding out to register that I bought a used Kia Soul 2013 that still is under manufacture warranty. I did not but the Kia Soul from a Kia dealership.

- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA

Read the next 6 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?