Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Kia Soul owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and unoccupied in a carport when it suddenly caught fire near the engine compartment. The fire had expanded and caused damage to the entire garage near the carport and 2 other vehicles and a motorcycle inside the garage. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed and the origin was an electrical issue. The vehicle was towed and identified as totaled. There were no injuries sustained. A dealer was not contacted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics), after the vehicle fire. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
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
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 not yet available. The contact stated while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. Additionally, the tachometer was inoperable. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Catalytic converter is going out. Although apparently there was no recall for MY car in particular but there has been a recall for the converter overheating and damaging the engine. Car no longer goes over 40 mph; meaning I can no longer use the freeway. Oil light comes on at least twice a month. Even after a oil change It comes right back on. Check engine light never goes off. Piston Rod is damaged which then contributes to a oil leak. This has been happening over a 6 month time span. I call myself fixing one thing then something else more detrimental breaks.
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.
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.
Our 2013 Kia Soul accelerated on its own at a Sonic drive-in restaurant. First ran into a brick wall and then when put in reverse, it continued at accelerated speed until it came to a stop. Nobody injured - just the car. Afterward I did some research and found it has been a problem with various makes and models of Kias.
My car without warning started smoking from the hood. I immediately parked the car, popped the hood, and flames starting rising from underneath before I had even exited the vehicle. Within 5 minutes of the smoke, my car was completely on fire.
About 3 months ago my steering wheel started rattling and continues to get worse I haven't had it looked at yet but I think I need to also my dash lights come off and on all the time do you think I have a problem
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. …
NHTSA investigations
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima, MY 2011-2014 Kia Sorento and MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with Theta II, Gamma, Nu and Lambda II engines…
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
In a letter dated June 11, 2018, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles. In a letter dated July 24, 2018, CAS requested that MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles be added to the petition.
Electrical complaints in other Soul years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2013 Kia Soul?
NHTSA has 71 complaints about the electrical system of the 2013 Kia Soul, 11% of the model year's 667 complaints. The component named most often is wiring (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Kia Soul electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2013 Kia Soul, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Kia Soul electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 6 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.