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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (3)
Park outsideService brakes, hydraulic: 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 Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk and remedy
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
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 to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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 may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Remedy: 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.
Canadian recalls (6)
Show 6 Canadian recalls
Label
2024-08-15 · campaign 2024-549
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French.
Safety Risk:
These small errors do not affect vehicle safety.
Corrective Actions:
This is not a recall. Kia has corrected the compliance label for all new vehicles.
Brakes
2023-09-26 · campaign 2023-529
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the brake hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) could short circuit.
Safety Risk:
A short circuit could create a fire risk, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off.
Corrective Actions:
Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fuse(s) for the HECU. Kia recommends that you should park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repairs have been completed.
Engine
2021-04-06 · campaign 2021-204
Issue:
Kia Canada is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign that provides an update to the engine control module to detect potential problems before an engine fails. An engine failure could cause a sudden loss of power with an inability to restart.
Note: This campaign only affects vehicles equipped with a 1.6 L GDI engine.
Safety Risk:
A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. An engine failure could also create the risk of a fire.
Corrective Actions:
Kia will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the software for the engine control module.
Note: Kia recommends that you should always follow the correct vehicle maintenance schedule, which is printed in the Owner's Manual. If you experience unusual engine noise, reduced power, or a check engine/oil warning light, Kia advises you to immediately visit a Kia dealership to have your vehicle diagnosed.
Engine
2019-02-28 · campaign 2019-101
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the catalytic converter may be damaged by overheating. This could also cause engine damage or an engine failure. An engine failure would cause a sudden loss of power with an inability to restart.
Safety Risk:
A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. An engine failure may also result in a fire.
Corrective Actions:
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have the engine software updated. This update will prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. Vehicles will also be inspected for other damage. Depending on the results of the inspection, the catalytic converter and/or the engine may be replaced.
Note: A driver may notice any of the following symptoms of this problem: a knocking sound from the engine, reduced power or hesitation, and/or the illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or check engine light.
Seats and restraints
2017-09-28 · campaign 2017-469
On certain vehicles equipped with heated cloth seats, over time, the wiring for the seat heater mats could become damaged. If a heating mat were to be damaged, it could melt a small hole in the lower portion of the seat base or backrest, which could result in injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will attach a patch on the seat cushion and seat back heater bridge side and adjust the positioning. If there are traces of burning or melting during the inspection, dealers will replace the heater with a new one and adjust the bridge wire side positioning.
Airbag
2014-12-23 · campaign 2014-591
On certain vehicles equipped with sunroofs, headliner plates may detach from the headliner during a side curtain airbag deployment and could strike vehicle occupants. This could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will apply adhesive strips to the headliner plates.
Owner complaints (667)
Owners filed 667 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Soul (22 crashes, 46 fires, 25 injuries reported). Among 16 model years of this model, it ranks #4 for the most complaints (median 239).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Engine | 286 | |
| Steering | 153 | |
| Electrical system | 71 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 68 | |
| Unknown or other | 62 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 45 | |
| Service brakes | 30 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 27 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Kia Soul.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2013 Kia Soul SUV FWD | 4★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2013 Kia Soul version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Soul 1.6 L Automatic 6-spd | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Soul 1.6 L Manual 6-spd | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Soul 2.0 L Automatic 6-spd | 23 | 28 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Soul 2.0 L Manual 6-spd | 24 | 29 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Soul Eco 1.6 L Automatic 6-spd | 26 | 31 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Soul Eco 2.0 L Automatic 6-spd | 24 | 29 | 26 | $2,600 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.