The 2013 Soul belonged to the first generation of Kia’s quirky little crossover. Though smartly designed, the subcompact SUV is marred by engine failure, fire risk, and steering issues. Despite 2013 being the final generation-one model year, several of its earlier problems remain unaddressed.
Key Points
- The 2013 Kia Soul has just under 400 complaints registered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Also on record are two recalls and three investigations, focusing almost entirely on its possible fire risk.
- Complaints center around engine problems and steering issues. The former include lack of power, oil consumption, and total failure, while the latter cover weird noises and vibration above 70 mph.
- Other less concerning problems are issues with the vehicle starting and the brakes prematurely wearing out. Also, detaching headliner plates are another concern estimated to have affected nearly 96,000 Kia Souls.
- The 2013 Kia Soul has three investigations on file with the NHTSA, all of which concern engine fires. One of the investigations remains open, while the other two are related explicitly to non-crash engine fires.
2013 Kia Soul’s Two Recalls Cover Faulty Airbags and Engine Failure and Fire Risk Caused By Overheating Catalytic Converters
The 2013 Kia Soul has two NHTSA recalls. One recall covers issues with an airbag component that may detach and become a projectile upon deployment. The other addresses a faulty catalytic converter that may overheat and cause engine failure.
According to the NHTSA, it’s the Kia Souls with the 1.6L GDI engines that have catalytic converter problems. A packaging design flaw led to high exhaust gas temperatures damaging the catalytic converters. The damage results in abnormal combustion cycles that eventually destroy the engine internals and create a fire risk.
Dealers were advised to upgrade the engine software to regulate thermal damages. Additionally, Kia has instructed them to replace the catalytic converter and even the engine if significant damage is visible.
Perhaps more concerning are the NHTSA’s consumer complaints about the car bursting into flames, which led to three investigations. Owners noticed smoke coming from under the hood, and moments later, the entire car was engulfed in flames. No injuries have been reported.
Owners Report Problems With the 2013 Kia Soul Not Starting, Having Noisy Brakes, and Prematurely Wearing Rotors
Another fairly common concern with the first-generation Kia Soul is difficulty starting the car. A thread on Kia Soul Forums mentions the 2013 Soul having consistent starting issues.
Per one owner, the car wouldn’t start after leaving it overnight. The dash lights, radio, and navigation have no problems, but the car won’t crank. Jump-starting the vehicle seems to solve the problem initially, but leave it overnight, and the battery goes flat again. Similar complaints are also registered with the NHTSA.
Other electrical issues include the camera screen going black, malfunctioning door locks, and power window problems.
Some 2013 Kia Soul owners report brake pedals that are sometimes hard to operate and affect the car’s ability to stop. There are also reports of the Soul inching forward after applying the brakes.
On a related note, owners mention a weird squeaky noise from the brakes and uneven wearing of the rotors. Sometimes the front rotors go out prematurely, while other times the rear fades first. The problem, however, is not uncommon.
Steering Noise and Vibration are Among the 2013 Kia Soul’s Worst Problems
The 2013 Kia Soul’s steering makes a clunking noise when turning and vibrates around the 70 mph mark. Car Complaints highlight the Soul’s steering issues, with one owner reporting that his 2013 Kia Soul’s steering became loose and “you can feel a clunk if you turn the wheel more than 45 degrees, but the worst part is if you get it up to highway speeds, the steering wheel vibrates.”
Also, reportedly, the steering coupler is of poor quality and wears out pretty fast. Out-of-warranty owners found the fix to be very expensive, having to pay $250 to $500 for diagnostics and repair of the problem.
2013 Kia Soul is a Sensible Buy, But Beware of its Problems
The 2013 Kia Soul is by no means a bad car and was named one of the “Best Car Deals Under $15,000” by Reader’s Digest.
But, if you’re planning to buy one, check the mechanicals, especially its engine and steering. These are two of the main downsides of the 2013 model year.
However, there’s no denying how great a bargain the Soul is, especially considering prices for the 2013 model year are as low as $6,800.
Photos: Kia
