2013 Kia Soul electrical problems

Engine cuts off or loses power without warning while driving, at idle, or at low speeds. No warning lights illuminate beforehand in many cases. Vehicle becomes unresponsive and requires restart; some owners report multiple occurrences.

When: Occurs randomly; reported from 10,000 miles to 101,000 miles. One owner reported engine seizing at 70 mph with no oil present.

Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off without warning; Steering wheel locks; No warning lights before shutdown; Dashboard lights illuminate after shutdown (oil, battery, steering wheel icons); Vehicle dies mid-highway at 55-75 mph; Engine seizes with no oil despite recent oil change

Repairs/costs cited: Non-Kia mechanic tested battery (good), cleaned power and ground cables, scanned all modules—no codes found. Dealership unable to replicate issue on multiple visits. One owner reports dealership kept car 9 days, later 14 days, unable to diagnose.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports dealership mentioned replacing ignition. No recalls issued for this issue. Owner notes many online complaints with same description across multiple years of Soul.

Vehicle fails to start or cranks intermittently. Lights and radio work but engine does not turn over. May require multiple turn attempts or jump-starts to start. Sometimes corrects itself after waiting a period.

When: Intermittent; occurs multiple times weekly to monthly. Reported at mileages from 10,000 to 101,000 miles.

Symptoms owners cite: Key turn produces no crank, only click; Lights and radio operate but engine does not start; Requires up to 10 turn attempts before starting; Sometimes requires jump-start; Corrects after waiting an hour or more; Alternator and battery test normal at shop

Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements (twice in one case) did not resolve issue. Automotive shop tested alternator—everything checked fine, unable to duplicate problem. One owner replaced accelerator for $717.54 without fix. Dealership ignition replacement mentioned but outcome unclear.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. One owner reports dealership kept vehicle 17 days, later 14 days, unable to replicate. Dealership planned portable diagnostic equipment testing.

Vehicle catches fire due to electrical short in engine compartment or wiring harness. One documented case where fire started under the hood with no prior warning. Another case involved sparks and smoke on startup attempt.

When: Two documented fires at 45,000 miles and during highway driving (speed unspecified). One owner reported burning smell on 4-minute trip.

Symptoms owners cite: Smoke and flames from engine compartment or hood; Burning smell from hood area; Sparks visible on startup attempt; No warning lights before fire

Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle completely destroyed by fire. Another case involved attempted startup that produced sparks; mechanic advised against further starting.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V652 issued for electrical short risk resulting in engine compartment fire. Recall SC284 (HECU fuse replacement) issued but remedy parts unavailable for months as of latest complaints. No repair available for extended periods despite fire risk.

Door ajar warning light and interior illumination (door/map lights, ignition key ring light) activate without cause when making right turns or when driver's door panel is touched lightly. Occurs only when vehicle is running.

When: Intermittent, triggered by right turns or light physical contact to driver door panel.

Symptoms owners cite: Door ajar indicator illuminates on dash; Ignition key ring illuminates; Interior door/map lights illuminate; All four doors and hatch confirmed securely closed; Occurs only with key in ignition and engine running

Repairs/costs cited: No repair mentioned. Owner reluctant to disassemble door. Multiple Souls reported with same issue dating back to 2009 model year.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite widespread online reports. Not addressed by dealership.

Catalytic converter deteriorates, overheats, or fails, restricting engine output and triggering check engine light. One case involved converter damage immediately following recall work (HECU fuse replacement). Speed limited to 40 mph in some cases.

When: Reported at various mileages; one case occurred day after recall repair. Issues span 6-month periods in some cases.

Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Loss of acceleration power; Vehicle limited to 40 mph; Muffled engine sound; Smoking from hood reported in one case; Overheating engine

Codes mentioned: Check engine light (catalyst-related)

Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replacement estimates: $4,951.41 (one dealership estimate after recall work), $2,000 (another owner). Owner notes sensors in fuel tank estimated at $1,000. One owner claims converter damage occurred during or immediately after HECU recall work at dealership.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists for catalytic converter overheating damage to engine (affects some Souls but not all). Owner reports one car excluded from this recall. One owner reports dealership denied responsibility for converter damage occurring after recall repair work.

Wiring harness manufactured with soy-based insulation coating is eaten or damaged by rodents or other animals. Wiring damage triggers check engine light and loss of function.

When: Reported at approximately 1,000 miles on first occurrence; recurred after replacement with same soy-based wiring.

Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates while driving at 40 mph; Wiring harness visibly damaged

Codes mentioned: Check engine light

Repairs/costs cited: Technician identified soy-based wiring coating as attractant to animals. Wiring harness and emission wiring replaced. Owner concerned about recurring issue since replacement used same material.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified. Vehicle was repaired, but failure recurred with same soy-based replacement wiring.

Fuel gauge drops to EMPTY immediately after fueling despite tank being full. Gauge corrects itself after short driving period. Fuel light and engine light both trigger with false readings.

When: Occurs more frequently over time. One owner reports both Souls have issue; one traded in, one still in use.

Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge reads EMPTY after fueling; Fuel light illuminates; Engine light illuminates; Gauge corrects to accurate reading after short drive; Fluctuation increasing in frequency over time

Codes mentioned: Engine light

Repairs/costs cited: Fuel tank sensors estimated to require replacement at approximately $1,000. No guarantee fix will resolve issue. Not repaired due to uncertainty of outcome and high cost.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Issue allegedly began after Kia reset engine for catalytic converter recalibration to show proper MPG. No official resolution or recall issued.

Random electrical failures including loss of all dashboard power, lights cutting off unexpectedly, and multiple simultaneous electrical component malfunctions. Interior water damage from frame weld leaks exposes electrical components to moisture.

When: Occurs intermittently. One case of water damage and resulting electrical exposure occurred over extended period with substandard factory welding.

Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard panel lights illuminate then all power cuts off; Headlights cut off during driving; Radio cuts on and off randomly; All lights on dash illuminate then everything goes off; Electrical components exposed to moisture from water leaks

Repairs/costs cited: One owner attempted patching frame welds with JD Weld without permanent fix. Water damage caused mold growth and electrical exposure. Complex to diagnose due to moisture and multiple component involvement.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia Corporation case #14586235 opened after owner complaint about dealership misdiagnosis. Dealership and corporate did not provide effective resolution. District manager contact information withheld from owner.

Battery discharges rapidly despite being new or recently charged. Vehicle will not start after short periods of disuse. Multiple battery replacements fail to resolve issue permanently.

When: Intermittent; recurs weeks after battery replacement. One case: new battery failed within one week.

Symptoms owners cite: Battery drains after a few weeks despite replacement; Vehicle won't start after battery drain; Doors lock automatically when battery is dead, trapping owner outside; Keyhole key does not work when battery dead

Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement twice in one case with continued failure. Doors cannot be opened with key when battery dead, preventing access to unlock hood for jump-start. Design flaw in door locking mechanism.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or technical service bulletin mentioned.

Radio display screen goes black and becomes unresponsive. Radio powers off unexpectedly during operation. Sound quality issues including crackling and popping on certain audio formats.

When: One case reported after driving with custom MP3 files; display dead on next startup.

Symptoms owners cite: Radio display screen goes completely black; No buttons activate radio; completely unresponsive; Radio powers off without warning while driving; Crackling/popping sounds on audio playback; Issue specific to custom MP3 files split into multiple tracks via Audacity software

Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealership stated radio would need replacement. No cost mentioned. Software incompatibility suspected with custom MP3 splits.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle out of warranty; repair would be at owner's expense.

Engine coils fail or appear damaged, causing rough running, loss of power, difficulty starting, and illumination of check engine light. One coil visibly appeared scorched.

When: Ongoing issues over 4-month periods or longer. Recurs despite replacement attempts.

Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates and flashes; Rough engine running; Loss of power and acceleration; Difficulty starting; Coil appears scorched/damaged; Sputtering and loss of power especially in reverse

Codes mentioned: Check engine light (coil-related)

Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs and coils replaced without permanent fix. Engine coil appeared burnt or fire-damaged. Owner invested significant money in diagnostics and parts replacement without resolution.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership scan tool mentioned possible engine coil failure in one case. No official recall for coil issues.

Factory frame welds are substandard and leak, allowing water to enter passenger compartment. Leaks occur on passenger-side and front areas. Water damage causes mold and exposes electrical components to corrosion and fire risk.

When: Leak present on used vehicle purchase; evidence of long-term damage. Occurs early in vehicle's life.

Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking into front passenger-side compartment; Wet carpet on passenger side; Evidence of old/chronic leaking; Water continues to leak across multiple frame weld points; Mold growth in interior; Electrical component exposure to moisture

Repairs/costs cited: Owner attempted JD Weld patches on frame welds without permanent fix. Dealership initially misdiagnosed as AC hose leak, then windshield leak after unnecessary AC hose replacement. Auto glass shop confirmed windshield not leaking; leak from frame welds.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia Corporation case #14586235 opened but not resolved. Dealership could not diagnose; corporate referral to district manager (contact information withheld) pending with no callback received.

Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input. One documented case of uncontrolled acceleration in parking lot resulting in collision. Accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive to normal input in some cases.

When: Documented case at Sonic drive-in restaurant. Other cases describe accelerator pedal resistance and non-responsiveness.

Symptoms owners cite: Uncontrolled acceleration without pedal input; Accelerator pedal unresponsive when depressed; Accelerator pedal physically resistant to movement; Vehicle continues accelerating in reverse after collision

Repairs/costs cited: One case: replacement accelerator $717.54 (after unrelated purchase). No permanent fix described. One case suggests multiple Kia makes/models have similar issue.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall mentioned. Owner notes issue widespread across various Kia models.

Brake lights fail to illuminate consistently. Lights work one day and fail the next, creating safety hazard by hiding braking to following vehicles.

When: Intermittent, recurring failure pattern.

Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights on one day, off the next; Inconsistent illumination despite brake application; Other drivers unable to see brake lights when applied

Repairs/costs cited: Owner has attempted repairs; notes widespread issue affecting many Kia vehicles, not just Soul.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite owner noting this is known widespread issue with Kia vehicles.

Engine consumes oil rapidly, leading to dangerously low or empty oil levels. No low-oil warning light illuminates before engine damage occurs. One case involved complete oil loss leading to engine seizure.

When: One case: engine seized at 70 mph with no oil despite oil change 1 month prior. Oil consumption ongoing problem over 6-month spans.

Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops to empty or critically low between changes; No low-oil warning light before engine seizes; Engine overheating; Loss of all power and acceleration; Dashboard panel lights illuminate then cut off

Codes mentioned: No warning codes before seizure in documented cases

Repairs/costs cited: Engine seizure requires engine replacement. One owner reports Kia recalls oil consumption on almost all other Kias except their 2013 Soul model specifically.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Oil consumption recall exists for most Kia models but reportedly excludes some 2013 Souls. No warning light systems triggered before catastrophic failure.

Ignition system malfunction causing start issues and intermittent electrical problems. Driver-side door locks itself automatically. Electrical issues prevent normal key operation.

When: Intermittent, recurring pattern.

Symptoms owners cite: Ignition requires multiple turn attempts to start; Door locks by itself when shut; Steering wheel lock engagement during shutdown; Clock runs slow or loses time (20 minutes behind in one case)

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership mentioned replacing ignition; outcome unclear. Multiple dealership visits (9 days, then 14 days) unable to diagnose.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership unable to replicate issue. Owner notes widespread online complaints with same pattern across multiple years. Owner mentions similar issue documented extensively online.

Check engine light illuminates, often for extended periods, with vague or impossible-to-replicate root causes. Light flickers or comes and goes without resolution.

When: Ongoing for weeks to months in multiple cases.

Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates and flickers; Check engine light comes and goes randomly; No resolution despite multiple scans showing no codes or vague codes

Codes mentioned: Check engine light (various - often no codes stored or vague codes)

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership scans show no codes in some cases. In one case, scan found no codes but dealership recommended topping off oil (which was only half full 2,000 miles after oil change).

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Scans performed but root cause often unexplained. One case mentions dealership could not adequately explain coil failure risk.