Kia Soul 2023 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls issued for the Kia Soul 2023 and 54 complaints filed by owners. One of them carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning until repaired. It has 76% fewer complaints than the average Kia Soul from 2016–2025 (226 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Kia Soul 2023? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Kia Soul 2023
Engine and cooling
NHTSA campaign 25V099000 · 2025-02-17
What happens
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.
Consequence
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 April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 23V830000 · 2023-12-22
What happens
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.
Consequence
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 at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC289.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Powertrain and transmission
NHTSA campaign 23V531000 · 2023-07-31 !
Owners are advised to park it outside and away from structures until repaired (fire risk).
What happens
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.
Consequence
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 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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Electrical system
NHTSA campaign 23V298000 · 2023-04-26
What happens
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."
Consequence
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 recall is SC270.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
54 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
6 with a crash · 1 with a fire · 15 injuries · 1 deaths
Most reported problems on the Kia Soul 2023
- Engine: 14 (26% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 14 (26% of complaints)
- Brakes: 8 (15% of complaints)
- Steering: 8 (15% of complaints)
- Lane departure assist: 7 (13% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Kia Soul 2023
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- Test lights, windows, locks, the screen and dashboard warning lights; have trouble codes scanned.
- Brake hard somewhere safe: the car shouldn't pull to one side and the pedal shouldn't sink; check rotors and pads.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Kia Soul SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Kia Soul recalls by year
- 2016 : 2 recalls · 823 complaints
- 2017 : 1 recalls · 272 complaints
- 2018 : 1 recalls · 218 complaints
- 2019 : 1 recalls · 136 complaints
- 2020 : 1 recalls · 384 complaints
- 2021 : 2 recalls · 237 complaints
- 2022 : 1 recalls · 92 complaints
- 2023 : 4 recalls · 54 complaints
- 2024 : 0 recalls · 30 complaints
- 2025 : 0 recalls · 12 complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Kia Soul 2023 have?
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls issued for the Kia Soul 2023. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Kia Soul 2023?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: engine (14 of 54 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 14, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).