MyCarTSB

2013 Kia Soul Body & Structure Problems

8 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data

8
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Fires
Feb 2015Oct 2025
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Body & Structure Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #14V822000

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.

Fix: 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.

Owner Complaints (8)

highSTRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2025

Your brake pedal sensor broke, which keeps your tail lights on constantly and is draining your battery. You're experiencing acceleration problems and the traction control light is staying on. Additionally, both front door locks have stopped working, and your windshield wipers aren't spraying water. The fix will likely involve replacing the brake pedal sensor, repairing the door lock mechanisms, and servicing the windshield washer system.

NHTSA #: 11693140
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jul 2024

Paint is bubbling up and peeling off everywhere on my car

NHTSA #: 11599874
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jun 2021

Spontaneous paint loss down to the bare metal. Yesterday I noticed a large fist-sized paint loss on top of my car above the drivers side. There is no damage to the area just the paint loss out of nowhere. I also noticed a couple of tiny paint losses somewhat near the large loss, which are about 1/2 the size of a peppercorn. I'm confident they will get larger.

NHTSA #: 11420765
mediumSTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
FireFiled: Mar 2019

IN APRIL OF 2015 I DROVE A HALF HOUR OF HIGHWAY DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT. I PARKED MY CAR (WITH THE IGNITION OFF). WALKED INTO THE BUILDING AND WITHIN 1 OR 2 MINUTES MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. 911 WAS CALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT CAR WAS TOTALED. MY INSURANCE CO. HIRED A FORENSIC SPECIALIST TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. THE SPECIALIST WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS FREAK INCIDENT. I HAVE PICTURES BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO INCLUDE THEM.

NHTSA #: 11191723
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 2017

AS MY WIFE WAS ENTERING EASTBOUND US EXPRESSWAY 83 (INTERSTATE 2) JUST WEST OF MINNESOTA ROAD (APPROXIMATE TIME 5:15 PM) THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD. THE CAR WAS SAFELY PULLED OVER BUT THE HOOD WAS SO DAMAGED THAT IT HAD TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. THE CAR HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM THE HOUSE ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD BEFORE GETTING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. SPEED WAS ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH BUT NOT YET AT 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST GETTING ON THE OVERPASS AFTER ENTERING THE EXPRESSWAY AND WAS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT PATH ON THE ENTRY LANE BARELY MERGING INTO TRAFFIC BEFORE NEEDING TO PULL OVER ON THE BENTSEN PALM ROAD OVERPASS.. THE HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS WHEN I LAST FILLED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS ON A DAILY BASIS. IT APPEARS THAT THE HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN. THE LATCH IS TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT AND DOESN'T MOVE BACK INTO A POSITION TO ALLOW THE HOOD TO CLOSE.

NHTSA #: 11018769
mediumSTRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Apr 2015

IN THE FRONT RANGE OF COLORADO WE FREQUENTLY GET SEVERAL INCHES OF WET, HEAVY SNOW IN THE FALL, WINTER AND SPRING. WE HAVE TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE A GARAGE AT HOME AND AT WORK. WE ALWAYS COMPLETELY CLEAR SNOW FROM ALL GLASS SURFACES AND CHECK THE OPERATION OF THE WIPERS BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR. WE BOUGHT AN EXPENSIVE TELESCOPING COMBINATION SCRAPER, BRUSH AND SQUEEGEE DESIGNED FOR CMVS TO CLEAR AS MUCH SNOW AS WE CAN REACH AND SEE FROM THE WHITE PAINTED ROOF OF THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING IT. AFTER THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WARMS UP IT APPEARS TO LOOSEN THE BOND BETWEEN THE ROOF OF THE CAR AND ANY RESIDUAL OR NEWLY ACCUMULATED SNOW. NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN UNDER NORMAL BRAKING SNOW HAS SLID FORWARD OFF THE ROOF ON TO THE WINDSHIELD OBSCURING ALL FORWARD VISIBILITY AND INSTANTLY CREATING A SEVERE COLLISION SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED TO CLEAR THE SNOW THE WIPER MOTORS ARE TOO WEAK TO MOVE THE SNOW REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO BLINDLY BRAKE TO A STOP UNABLE TO SEE WELL ENOUGH EVEN TO STEER THE CAR OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAFFIC TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. THIS HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AGO AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN SLICK SNOWY ROAD CONDITIONS DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR. AFTER COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER MY FIVE FOOT, TWO INCH TALL 68 YEAR OLD WIFE HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AND MANUALLY REMOVE(FOR THE SECOND TIME) SNOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHILE BEING SUBJECTED TO HONKING HORNS AND ONE-FINGERED SALUTES FROM ILL-MANNERED MOTORISTS. UNTIL KIA CHOOSES OR IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AN OTHERWISE GREAT LITTLE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10706368
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V822000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA #: 10689579
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jul 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE A-PILLAR TRIM COVER DETACHED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FORCE OF THE WIND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE NEW REPLACEMENT PART. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEFECT WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 780. UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ

NHTSA #: 10526393

Other 2013 Kia Soul Issues