Every 2023 Kia Soul recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA 25V099000
Feb 17, 2025Engine and Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
- Problem
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
- Risk
- Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Fix
- 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 April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
Full recall details for 25V099000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 23V830000
Dec 22, 2023Air Bags
- Problem
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.
- Risk
- An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.
- Fix
- 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 at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC289.
Full recall details for 23V830000 →Power Train · NHTSA 23V531000
Jul 31, 2023Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Fluid/Lubricant:PumpPark outside
- Problem
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
- Risk
- An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
- Fix
- 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 charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC275.
Full recall details for 23V531000 →Electrical System · NHTSA 23V298000
Apr 26, 2023Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
- Problem
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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 recall is SC270.
Full recall details for 23V298000 →
2023 Kia Soul complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Soul, reporting 6 crashes, 1 fires, 15 injuries, 1 deaths. Kia has issued at least 51 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Electrical System14
- Engine13
- Unknown Or Other13
- Lane Departure8
- Service Brakes8
- Steering8
Service bulletins by component
- Electrical System (34)
- Engine (5)
- Power Train (5)
- Structure (4)
- Engine and Engine Cooling (3)
- Suspension (3)
Read Kia Soul owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2023 Kia Soul
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in one investigation. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
What people reported
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Soul. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Crash
“My brakes failed to stop my car I was driving down [XXX]. I went to brake because I was going to slow down cause I was just over the speed limit and my brakes went all the way to the floor and I I could not stop the car with the brakes , so I pulled over to the side and slowly came to a halt.”
2023 KIA SOULOct 2, 2026 · AZ
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11768428
Injury reportedCrash
“Before the accident which my car was totaled, I would take it in with issues. Electrical lights coming on the car would stop .my transmission locking up . I would tell them that there was something wrong with the car .”
2023 KIA SOULMay 26, 2026 · TX
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11740264
Crash
“I was backing up into my parking place in an alley way. I was turning slightly to the right to fit in and the car started to accelerate. I hit the back wall with the rear of my car. I put the car into drive not realizing it was still accelerating. I had my right foot on the brake.”
2023 KIA SOULJul 2, 2024
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11598272
Injury reported
“I had my vehicle in PARK in my driveway. I was standing outside the vehicle & after I pulled the keys out of the ignition, the vehicle started rolling backward. My feet were on the ground the whole time, the vehicle was in park.”
2023 KIA SOULJun 6, 2024
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11592773
Injury reportedCrash
“Event Summary: The incident involved a 2023 Kia Soul, a relatively new vehicle, which had been in use for only three months at the time of the incident. The driver, hereafter referred to as the "operator," was attempting to park the vehicle in a parking space.”
2023 KIA SOULOct 19, 2023
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11550927
Check your Soul by VIN
Not every 2023 Kia Soul is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Kia dealer.
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