The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and accelerating to merge into traffic, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated. The contact…
2013 Kia Soul brakes problems
severe 87 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
87
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
9fires
When does it fail?
Of the 87 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 11 model years of Kia Soul we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 87.
Owners have filed 87 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A used 2013 Kia Soul brake system is a serious risk: owners report complete brake failure with near-miss and actual crashes, multiple engine fires while parked, and a major recall with parts unavailable for over a year. Avoid this model year until the recall is complete and the repair history verified.
The 2013 Kia Soul brake system shows a troubling pattern across 87 complaints. The most severe: outright brake failure. Owners describe brakes that won't engage even under firm pressure, requiring 1–2 extra feet to stop, and in three documented cases, resulting in collisions—one with a tree/wall, another with a deer, and one where the driver nearly hit another vehicle at an intersection. A few owners reported these failures happening on and off for months, with dealerships unable to find anything wrong on the first visit.
Engine fires are the second major concern. Multiple parked vehicles caught fire in driveways or garages, destroying the vehicles and in one case damaging two neighboring vehicles and a motorcycle. One owner reported a bearing rod detaching and punching through the engine block; the dealer said KIA refused to authorize a replacement engine.
Brake noise—squeaking, screeching, scraping—starts early, often within 2 months. Dealers claim the brakes are "glazed" and say this is normal, though owners with decades of car experience dispute this. Premature wear is common: rotors with deep grooves appeared at 14,000 miles while front brakes were still fine, and one vehicle needed full brake replacement at 26,000 miles. KIA refused warranty coverage on the second brake job, calling it normal wear.
A major recall (23V652000) was issued for the brake hydraulic system. However, the replacement fuse has been unavailable for over a year, leaving owners unable to get repairs scheduled. Dealers have delayed appointments from September to December 2024 and beyond, citing parts shortages.
Same Kia Soul brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake failure or loss of braking force
Owners report complete or partial loss of braking ability, with the brake pedal failing to engage or requiring excessive pressure. Some describe the vehicle failing to stop at normal distances, including near-collision and collision events.
When: Early ownership (2–5 months after purchase); recurring intermittently for months in some cases; mileage varies (12,400–160,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes fail to engage when depressed; Extended stopping distance (1–2 feet beyond normal); Brake pedal becomes hard/high resistance; Loss of motive power or inability to stop during hillside driving; Brake pedal unresponsive under normal pressure
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light illuminated, Check engine light illuminated, Traction control warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce the issue in several cases; one owner reports brake booster replacement ($3,500 spent at dealer with four service visits); independent mechanics diagnosed faulty wires requiring replacement; one case involved HECU (Hydraulic Electrical Control Unit) malfunction not covered by the recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) issued; recall remedy involves HECU fuse replacement only in most cases; parts unavailable for extended periods (several months to over a year noted); dealership delays common; no repair or replacement offered in cases where dealer could not reproduce failure
Engine fire while parked or driving
Multiple reports of vehicles catching fire while parked unattended or during operation. Fires originate in or spread rapidly from the engine compartment, destroying the vehicle and in some cases nearby structures and vehicles.
When: Ranging from early ownership to high mileage (110,000–265,000 miles); fires occur both during operation and while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Flames emitting from under hood or engine compartment; Vehicle catches fire while parked unattended in garage or driveway; Smoke entering cabin during operation; Burning odor preceding fire; Rattling/abnormal noise from rear before fire in one case; Bearing rod detaching and going through motor creating hole (one case)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (in one case prior to fire), No warning lights in several cases
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled and not repaired; one case involved bearing rod detachment requiring engine replacement, which manufacturer (KIA) declined to authorize; fire department extinguished fires; in one case, fire caused damage to two adjacent vehicles and a motorcycle in a garage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one fire case, manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance; most fire cases did not involve dealer contact; one case noted NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 notification after fire but parts unavailable; manufacturer declined to authorize engine replacement in bearing rod case
Brake noise (squeaking, screeching, scraping, pulsing)
Owners report various brake noises including squeaking, screeching, scraping, and pulsing sounds during braking or backing up. Noise occurs early in vehicle ownership and persists despite service attempts.
When: Occurring within 2 months of ownership; early life with low mileage (2,900–14,000 miles in reported cases); screeching while backing up reported at 2 months
Symptoms owners cite: Squeaking/squealing from brakes during operation; Screeching sound when backing up; Scraping/pulsing sound during braking; Clicking sound when tapping brakes; Scraping noises when brake applied; Noise continues after vehicle turned off (one HECU case)
Codes mentioned: No diagnostic codes in most cases; one case involved HECU malfunction (ABS and check engine lights illuminated)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer claimed brakes were 'glazed' and would require deglazing, noting this would be recurring (one case); dealer unable to hear noise in some cases; one independent mechanic inspection found rear rotors with deep grooves and mottled braking surfaces at 14,000 miles (front brakes still fine); repair attempts unsuccessful in multiple cases; one case involved HECU fuse replacement ordered for recall (parts unavailable)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued specifically for noise; NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 issued but does not address noise complaints; dealers blamed glazing or told owners noise was normal
Premature brake wear and rotor/pad degradation
Owners report abnormal wear patterns on brake components, including grooved rotors, mottled braking surfaces, and missing pieces of pads and rotors at very low mileage.
When: Occurring at low mileage: 14,000 miles, 26,000 miles, and early ownership inspections
Symptoms owners cite: Rear rotors exhibiting deep grooves at 14,000 miles; Brake pads and rotors with missing pieces; Mottled appearance of rear brake pads; Rotors showing premature wear despite low mileage; Rear brakes not functioning properly since new (one case); Both front and rear pads needing replacement at 26,000 miles
Repairs/costs cited: Front brakes fine while rear rotors severely worn at 14,000 miles (owner questioned why rear wore before front); state emission test failed due to missing brake pad/rotor pieces; full brake replacement required at 26,000 miles; dealer replaced pads under warranty in rust-cleaning case; extended warranty (bumper-to-bumper) covered rotor/pad replacement at 26,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: KIA claimed premature wear is 'normal' and refused to cover replacement costs at 26,000 miles despite extended warranty; dealer stated no action required when wear was still within limits
ABS/brake system electrical faults and sensor issues
Owners report illuminated ABS, traction control, and check engine warning lights, along with abnormal brake system behavior linked to electrical component failures.
When: Occurring at various mileages (55,300–160,000 miles); warning lights persisting for extended periods (5 months in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated; Traction control warning light illuminated; Vehicle shaking and abnormal whining sound from engine compartment; Warning lights remain illuminated after repair attempts; Brake failure or reduced braking paired with warning lights; Whining/humming from HECU unit that continues after vehicle shut off
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light, Traction control warning light, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: One case: faulty wire replaced at independent mechanic, but warning lights returned; second mechanic unable to diagnose; another case: HECU malfunction confirmed at dealer, but recall (Campaign 23V652000) only covers HECU fuse, not HECU replacement; vehicle not repaired; one owner disconnected and reconnected battery to limp home
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 issued addressing hydraulic brake system; however, recall remedy (HECU fuse replacement) did not address HECU unit failures in at least one case; manufacturer offered no assistance in HECU failure case
Engine stalling and loss of motive power
Vehicles stall or lose power during operation, with speed limited and restart difficulties. Multiple reports link this to recall-related issues or underlying engine problems triggered by brake system failures.
When: Occurring at various mileages (unknown–188,028 miles); some cases following dealer recall repair attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while driving; Loss of motive power at speed (45–60 MPH); Vehicle unable to exceed 25 MPH after stalling; Prolonged no-start condition lasting days or longer; Vehicle loses power at 30 MPH and fails to accelerate; Vehicle stalls after recall repair work attempted
Codes mentioned: Check engine light illuminated, Engine blow diagnosis (one case)
Repairs/costs cited: One case: camshaft sensor replaced by independent mechanic; failure persisted and vehicle would not restart after a few days; another case: engine blown after dealer attempted unknown recall repair; vehicle not repaired and towed to residence; one case involved 188,028 miles and stalling at 30 MPH; vehicles not repaired in multiple cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 issued; parts unavailable in several cases; manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair time according to owners; one case notes manufacturer was unable to confirm when parts would become available
Brake pedal and throttle control issues
Owners report abnormal brake pedal behavior including hardening, elevation, and inability to modulate, sometimes paired with unintended acceleration and difficulty stopping.
When: Recurring over years in one case; spanning 4 years with increasing frequency (once or twice per year escalating to 4 times in one day); most recent incident noted 7/3/2024
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal becomes very hard and pedal height increases; RPM spikes to 3,000–4,000 before stopping event; Unable to stop vehicle even with brake pressed; Gas pedal gets touchy before stopping incident; Brake pedal jumping/pulsing during braking; Brake pedal skipping during braking, especially in wet/snowy conditions
Repairs/costs cited: $3,500 spent at dealer with four service visits for one owner; brake booster replaced in January 2024 with temporary resolution (5-month failure-free period, then recurrence); vehicle returned to dealer multiple times without resolution; regular mechanic unable to resolve; one case notes brake pedal skipping in rain and snow with 'skipping' sensation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or TSB specific to pedal behavior noted in narratives; dealer service attempts did not provide lasting remedy
Recall parts unavailability and service delays
Owners unable to complete NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) recall repairs due to prolonged parts shortages and dealer scheduling delays extending months beyond recall notice receipt.
When: Recall issued; parts unavailable at time of complaint in majority of 2023–2024 complaints; scheduling delays extending from recall notice to several months later (September 2024 appointments, December 2024 rescheduling noted)
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but part unavailable when owner schedules appointment; Dealer unable to schedule repair for months after part notification; Multiple recall notification receipts without remedy availability; Owner informed to schedule appointment twice (inspection appointment, then repair appointment after parts arrive)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse ordered for HECU fuse replacement (recall remedy); numerous cases note 'parts not available'; VIN tool confirms parts unavailable in many cases; dealer stated fuse received but refused to schedule repair until December 2024 (in September 2024 complaint)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 issued but parts unavailable for extended periods; manufacturer confirmed parts not yet available in multiple cases; one case notes manufacturer advised dealer fuse would arrive overnight but dealers still delayed scheduling; one dealer declined to repair vehicle entirely despite recall notice
Synthesized from 87 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part 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 issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The contact had noticed that…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer informed the contact that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware…
Nearly totalled Kia soul 2013, engine lost compression, then stalled. In the middle of highway, Preventing me to exit or stop, since brakes dont work when car isn't running.towwed it to dealership, they claim that it's part of recall sc176, which states engine failure, because of defect in motor, yet claim mine isn't part of recall, 19v120000
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 Kia Soul?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2013 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 87 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 14,000 and 159,198 miles, with the median around 110,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 159,198. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Kia/Soul.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.