2023 Kia Soul Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 54 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

67/100

Elevated Reported Activity — 2023 Kia Soul

The 2023 Kia Soul shows elevated recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Make sure any recall campaigns are resolved before purchase and have the vehicle inspected thoroughly.

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NHTSA Recalls

4 recalls on record

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

1 fire report

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NHTSA Recalls — 2023 Kia Soul (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Kia dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this…

NHTSA #23V298000

🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Fluid/Lubricant: Pump

An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of…

NHTSA #23V531000

🔧 Air Bags

An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service…

NHTSA #23V830000

🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…

NHTSA #25V099000

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Most Common Problems — 2023 Kia Soul

Based on 54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System

Engine

Steering

Unknown Or Other

Power Train

Air Bags

Service Brakes

Exterior Lighting

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Kia Soul — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2023 model year is highlighted.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2020 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2023, 2024, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2023 Kia Soul

Is the 2023 Kia Soul reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 Kia Soul has 4 recall campaigns and 54 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Soul have?

The 2023 Kia Soul has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Soul?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2023 Kia Soul are: Electrical System, Engine, Steering, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2023 Kia Soul safe to buy?

The 2023 Kia Soul has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Kia Soul should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Kia Soul are: 2023, 2024, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2020.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.