2013 Kia Soul Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

281Engine complaints

42.8%Of all 657 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE281 · 42.8%

STEERING148 · 22.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM68 · 10.4%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC67 · 10.2%

Unspecified / other60 · 9.1%

Share of the 657 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Kia Soul overview page.

What owners report

“WE WERE DRIVING I-15 NB IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CALIFORNIA. WE WERE HEADING UPHILL ON A GRADE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY…”NHTSA complaint 11163325 — filed 12/25/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SMOKE UNDER THE…”NHTSA complaint 11154095 — filed 11/26/2018

“MY CAR WOULD STALL AS I AM DRIVING OR TURNING A CORNER. MY JERKS AS I AM DRIVING”NHTSA complaint 11141192 — filed 10/18/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Kia Soul have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Kia Soul: 281 of 657 complaints on file (42.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Kia Soul have in total?

657 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 22 involved a crash, 44 involved a fire, 25 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.