2013 Kia Soul Reliability
The 2013 Kia Soul has 668 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and steering. Compared with other Soul model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Soul's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
668
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
22
Complaints citing a crash
46
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Kia Soul complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 286 | 43% |
| Steering | 154 | 23% |
| Service brakes | 99 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 71 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 62 | 9% |
| Engine & cooling | 45 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 27 | 4% |
| Air bags | 18 | 3% |
2013 Kia Soul recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V822000 | Dec 29, 2014 | Body structure — body / roof and pillars | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag. |
| 19V120000 | Feb 23, 2019 | Engine | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage… |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Soul years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Soul analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 194 | 3 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2012 | 516 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 (this page) | 668 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 905 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2015 | 909 | 7 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Kia Soul on the used market
- 24 of 512 2013 Kia Soul listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Kia Soul
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Kia Soul can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Kia Soul reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2013 Kia Soul has 668 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and steering. Compared with other Soul model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Soul's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Kia Soul problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Kia Soul are engine (286), steering (154), service brakes (99), electrical system (71). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Kia Soul have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Kia Soul, including 14V822000 (body structure — body / roof and pillars) and 19V120000 (engine). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Kia Soul compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 516 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid); the 2014 has 905 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2013 has 668 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Kia Soul?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Soul research
Other Kia Soul model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Soul, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.