10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,099 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 electrical problems

electrical 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 4)

problem #63

May 292024

Soul

  • miles

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

The engine caught on fire. The car cut off while I was driving. It began to smoke and then I saw the flames. My safety was put at risk because I was driving the car. The car is burned from the front bumper to the backseat. The car has not been inspected because of how bad it is burned. There were not any warnings of the failure before it happened.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #62

May 012024

Soul

  • miles
The car stared to lose all power and sputtering. Then the check engine light started coming on then it would go off. This has been going on for about 4 months. One day it would run on then next day not good at all. I changed the plugs and coils and it ran a lil better for about 2 days. Not every time I put it in reverse I started cutting out and now I don't the it can idle at all. It's a 4 cylinder feeling like a beefed up v8 trying to ideal. I looked at my coils and it looked like it had been on fire I have put every bit of money I could to try to fix it. I just had tires put on too. I pay for full coverage and a car payment. I pay aot for this car every month yet I can't drive it. I take care of my father that is terminal and on hospice, plus I'm disabled myself on a fixed income. This car is all I have and it my only car for my father as well. Help pleas

- Colfax, CA, USA

problem #61

Sep 012023

Soul

  • miles
i WAS NOIFIED LAST YEAR SEPTEMBER 2023 OF A DANGEROUS RECALL THAT COULD CATCH THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. NOW. 9 MONTHS LATER KIA HAS NOT PROVIDED ME WITH A REPAIR FOR MY SAFTY.

- Sumner, WA, USA

problem #60

Mar 152024

Soul

  • miles

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

Car is not starting

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #59

Sep 252023

Soul

  • miles
My 2013 Kia Soul has been recalled for HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (HECU) which can RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED since September of 2023. I was advised to park my vehicle away from the house and wait for a solution from Kia. It has been 6 months that I have been unable to drive my vehicle. Kia states that a remedy is *still* unavailable.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #58

Nov 282023

Soul

  • miles
I received the recall information in the mail. Found out that there is no remedy for it yet. Have been waiting since November 2023. I have not had any problem with the car but don't want to drive it or have it near my house if it can catch fire. I have it parked with the battery disconnected cause I don't want the fire to happen.

- Natchitoches, LA, USA

problem #57

Mar 012024

Soul

  • miles

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

My complaint has to do with the current recall on my vehicle. It's not driveable as it's safety hazard - engine quits at stops no rpm's panel lights (ABS, battery (brand new as mechanic I went to put on diagnostic machine and that's only thing that showed) oil light and malfunction indicator illuminate and then everything goes off including my headlights (I was driving early evening). Called local dealer (I never received notice but by chance looked up to see if any recalls and saw it on your website. they rudely said "you know as much as we do about when we'll get parts to repair recall". Clearly it's shorting out and I'm not going to endanger myself or others but what do I do" I've have a number of medical issues and am missing necessary appointments. How much longer is it expected before recall repairs can be made" I do Thank you for all you do. I am grateful an entity exists that look out for us. Least I don't feel totally lost.

- Wildomar, CA, USA

problem #56

Mar 042024

Soul

  • miles
I've received two things in the mail about recalls one is about the car being able to catch on fire due to some fuse that they don't even have a part for this...this is unacceptable. I mean, how long am I gonna be waiting on a part and have to worry about my car catching on fire. second I got something in the mail about Kia being sued about people being able to steal the car from the ignition just seems like Kia needs to take this car back because it seems like there's way too many issues it very unacceptable when I have kids that this car could catch on fire driving or just sitting in my yard unacceptable

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #55

Feb 162024

Soul

  • miles
I'm already aware of the recalls on alot of vehicles including my 2013 KIA SOUL and am aware of a judges ruling on this. How can KIA SOUL play God with peoples lives? I already filed a claim but still not not getting any help until the end of April. I'm a [XXX] woman who is at risk of getting hurt not to mention other people/and or other people close to my vehicle. This is just beyond wrong. I saved for 2 years to get a more dependable vehicles and now have to worry about an explosion. I already filed a claim but I'm scared. The radio has been funky since I got it last year. It's a used vehicle buy to me it looked new to me. I love it bur now afraid to even get in it but really don't have a choice since I'm [XXX] and don't have anyone else to get help or have another vehicle to use. I depend solely on myself. I need help with getting another vehicle until all of this mess is taken care of. I have gas gauge issues, revving up randomly, caution light staying on now and yesterday I had smoke coming out under the dash and then it just stopped while I was trying to pull off and call for help but it stopped so I came back home. The oil was changed right after I got it last year and I put new tires on it with the money I got from a junk yard in Johnson City that came to get my 98 Ford Escort that my church family helped for me after a very traumatic accident that killed my little senior rescue pommy, totaled my vehicle and I spent several days in ICU. I live on a very strict monthly income and this has caused more anxiety and panic issues that I can't even get under control with breathing exercises, journaling and taking my fur baby for walks and am back on my regular meds. Please someone needs to help me or I'm just going to give up. Thank you [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Norton , VA, USA

problem #54

Nov 142023

Soul

  • miles
In November, the platform through whom I rent my Kia Soul delisted the vehicle due to a safety recall. Within a week, I received a notice for Recall 23V652. The issue is that the car can experience an electrical short circuit, which can result in an engine compartment fire while driving or parked. The notice helpfully pointed out that an engine fire can increase the risk of injury, but that no fix is in sight, yet. I can no longer support my son and his education (I was using the money from renting out the vehicle to pay for tuition), I cannot even drive the car to get another part time job, and despite calls and letters, nothing is being done to fix the car. It's been 4 months without transportation. To add insult to Russian-Roulette injury, ANOTHER notice arrived from Kia advising that thieves have an easy time breaking into a stealing certain vehicles (Offer QHJWT) and if I could just drive my car and get someone to agree to have the ticking flame-bomb in their parking lot, they would fix this - at no charge. I need the car to work. I need the fix. If not, I need my money returned. I continue to make payments on a car I cannot drive. I will also file a complaint with the FTC. Note: when I first filed, I did not smell a burning smell. I got that smell on a quick 4 minute trip to the store, so do not drive the car at all.

- Downingtown, PA, USA

problem #53

Jan 302023

Soul

  • miles

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

I bought my KIA SOUL 2013 last year after saving for it bc I needed something more dependable and love it but I don't feel safe anymore bc of the possibility of an engine explosion. There's always been something funky about the radio coming when I start it but now there's a caution light staying on and the oil and everything else checks out. Also the gas lever starts blinking when I've just filled it up. What I don't get is how these people can play God with people's lives? I need a dependable vehicle to be able to go help my granddaughter needs me. At first the radio issue I blamed on me just being PARONOID thankfully I know there is something major going on.I don't let my fur baby go with me anymore, not risking hi life, it's bad enough I have worry about myself and it's just wrong.

- Norton , VA, USA

problem #52

Oct 202023

Soul

  • miles
Caution light on since October 23rd of 2023. My question is how your company can play God with people's lives. Gas light lever going crazy, caution light on for 2 months

- Norton , VA, USA

problem #51

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 #50

Oct 192023

Soul

  • miles
Slow to accelerate abs light on Engine light

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #49

Jan 242024

Soul

  • miles
While driving, the lights flickered, then car shut down in the middle of the road. I could smell something burning. No warning lights came on. Had to tow the car. Found out there was no oil in the engine, when I should have had 2000 miles to go until next oil change. Engine seized. Apparently there is an oil consumption recall on almost all other kias for oil consumption EXCEPT my car

- Sewell, NJ, USA

problem #48

Dec 202023

Soul

  • miles
On [XXX] I was driving my 2013 Kia Soul in the center lane on [XXX] when all of a sudden the whole dashboard panel lit up and then everything went off and the car came to a halt. the engine was dead it would not start nothing would turn on. I had to push my vehicle from the center of the 3 lane highway off to the right side breakdown lane. I had to call AAA to have them tow my car to my mechanic. After looking over the vehicle i was informed that my engine had seized up and there was no oil in the engine. I had my oil change a little less then a month ago from the date of the incident. There was no low oil light warning that came on while I was driving my car. This same car I have had issues with the catalytic converter and issues with the 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) that i had to pay over $1400 to have repaired and had several issues with it trying to get it to pass safety inspection and safety emissions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Hudson, NH, USA

problem #47

Nov 152023

Soul

  • miles
Informed of fire risk by KIA, informed of planned resolution (replacement of fuses), however to date there is no resolution available because they dont have the part. Fuses are common off the shelf items. The delay is unacceptable, especially in light of the recommendation to park the car outside when there is also an issue of theft because they failed to included even the most basic anti-theft tech.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #46

Nov 262023

Soul

  • miles
The recall for my vehicle happened weeks ago and there is still no solution. This is a fire hazard and the only vehicle I own. I need this fixed asap

- Austin , MN, USA

problem #45

Sep 252023

Soul

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the defroster and air conditioning failed to turn off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #44

Oct 122023

Soul

  • miles
The check engine light has been on about a few weeks. While driving on the highway at approx 65 miles per hour my car started losing power and the temperature gauge indicator went to "H". I pulled off the highway and noticed a burning smell and smoke coming from the hood. I waited about 10 minutes then got back on the road again the temperature gauge began to rise to "H". I pulled off several things before reaching home. The next day the car was towed to Hollywood Kia. My car has been at the shop for 2 weeks. I was giving a repair bill of $1500. I need help please and can't afford to pay for the repairs. Respectfully, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- West Park , FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?