Has a thud while turning the steering wheel left and right at a stop. Steering wheel shakes and vibrates when droving over bumpy road or train tracks. Steering for now unaffected.
2013 Kia Soul steering problems
moderate 149 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
149
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 149 steering complaints filed for the 2013 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Owners have filed 149 steering 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.
Among the 13 model years of Kia Soul in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
I have a Kia soul 2013 I noticed a clucking noise in the stearing collum when it is stationary postion also the collum seems to have alot of play in it . I notice if I hit a bump in road it ratals . I have made an appointment with dealer next week. I have been reading all about these issuse from si many people . I cant beleive that Kia has not done something abiut this . I drive my. 94 year old…
2013 Kia soul is making a clicking noise when I turn my steering wheel. It makes one click noise once I start turn the wheel. When I stop moving it and try to move it again it clicks. Vehicle mileage: 63,667
The dealer originally said it was the steering coupler that was bad and needed replaced for $2000. Then they call back two weeks later to say the steering assist motor was bad and it needs to be replaced for an additional $2400. Still waiting for the parts and repairs. I see many other complaints on the steering, should this be a recall?
Feel no control of steering Clicking sound when turning steering wheel Tight/ hard to steer wheel…doesn’t want to turn
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2013 Kia Soul?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 149 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 81 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.