2023 Kia Soul Safety Report
2023 KIA SOUL Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2023 Kia Soul
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2023 Kia Soul. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (45) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 5 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2025 | Compare against the 2025 Kia Soul with 9 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2020 | Check the 2020 Kia Soul before buying across this generation. |
Kia Soul Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Soul years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Kia Soul | 23 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2022 Kia Soul | 72 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2025 Kia Soul | 9 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Kia Soul | 187 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Kia Soul | 337 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Kia Soul | 123 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2023 Kia Soul Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2023 Kia Soul, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyEngine
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyExterior Lighting
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Kia onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyElectrical System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlyPower Train
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2023 Kia Soul
Reliability Score
The 2023 Kia Soul receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2023 Kia Soul
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2023 Kia Soul
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2023 Kia Soul:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling Kia is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles due to potential hard parts internal/mechanical issues in the engine and engine cooling system. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Pump Kia is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles due to potential issues with the automatic transmission fluid pump. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Instrument Cluster Kia is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, and Sportage Plug-in Hybrid vehicles due to potential issues with the instrument cluster. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag Deployment Kia is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles due to potential issues with airbag deployment. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2023 Kia Soul:
Engine and engine cooling issues are the most common problem, affecting 23% of vehicles.
Automatic transmission fluid pump issues are the second most common problem, affecting 15% of vehicles.
Instrument cluster issues are the third most common problem, affecting 10% of vehicles.
Airbag deployment issues are the fourth most common problem, affecting 8% of vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2023 Kia Soul
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Kia Soul by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Summary: 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.
Summary: 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.
Summary: 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 Monitorin...
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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2023 Kia Soul
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2023 Kia Soul with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 5 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The instrument panel went blank while operating the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
See attached document for complaint.
3/6/26 5:50 am unintended acceleration w such force pulling car toward right side n unable to stop, jumped over side walk, then stopped, it happened very fast, very scary accident, I was in shock and shaking so bad. Wknd disrupted, couldn't sleep n reliving bad experience over n over. Bringing it to the dealer 3/9/26. no damage to anybody or third party, unknown under car damage. Didn't file a re...
The airbag in this 2023 Kia Soul vehicle had a faulty airbag deployment. The steering wheel airbag exploded upon a minor impact of under 20 mph and no other airbags deployed. The steering wheel airbag never fully deployed or made driver contact, it just simply exploded. The dealership was notified, but declined to research the car immediately following the impact and said that was not part of th...
Honking function no longer works, this is a consistent problem noticed first on the beginning of December 2025, when I needed to notify another driver of a potential safety hazard. There is no honking sound available at any speed or at any time. Have an appointment with dealership this week.
When driving my vehicle under normal conditions, the car will unexpectedly slow down on its own, and the system brake lights and hazard lights will activate as if I am about to be in a collision, even though no accident is occurring. I have noticed this issue most frequently when I am stopped at a traffic light and begin to accelerate again. Once I turn the car off and restart it, the warning ligh...
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the battery discharge and Auto START/STOP warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V531000 (Power Train), for which the dealer replaced the electric oil pump controller as the remedy. After the repair, the cruise control was unintendedly activated. The Lane Keep Assist feature was intermittently...
Since I purchased the car the steering wheel will jerk, when im on a 2 lane road. It always jerks towards on-coming traffic, and it only does this when there is a car coming in the opposite lane and is just about to pass me. I have to fight with the steering wheel to get it back to go straight. Because of this whenever I am on a 2 lane road like this I always drive slow. This is the first car I'v...
I am reporting a recurring safety issue with my Kia vehicle that began around Labor Day 2025. The vehicle has abruptly shut down multiple times while I was driving on public roads in Hillsborough County, Florida. These shutdowns occurred without any dashboard warning lights, including while stopped at red lights and while in motion, creating dangerous traffic situations. Despite having a schedule...
First I get a safety issue warning with the front camera then I get a safety issue warning with a back camera well those warnings go off and I'm left with an ABS signal on my dashboard orange triangle with a exclamation point in it skid something with the car it shows it's weaving and I'm not sure what the fourth one was. But this has been going on going issue with this dashboard because when it ...
Was driving and the pistons shot out of the engine. Oil in the coolant as well.
Radio recall 2025 Uvo work stop
2023 kia soul lx problems clarity dive problems
FM radio Black screen Black screen replacement kia soul
The rear windshield spontaneously shattered while parked in the driveway and was not running. I was standing beside it when it happened. There was no glass inside vehicle all the glass was outside vehicle indicating that nothing hit the windshield, and nothing was around vehicle that could have hit the vehicle. The vehicle will be repaired tomorrow by Safelite as it is a commuting vehicle, and I h...
Periodically while driving, I receive error notifications on the dashboard through both sound alerts and warning lights, resulting in the affected systems temporarily ceasing to function. The dashboard provides specific warnings: "check forward safety system," "check lane safety system," "check speed limit system," "check high beam assist system," and "check inattentive driving warning system." T...
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while pulling into a mall, there was an abnormally low rumbling and ticking sound coming from the vehicle. While driving 45 MPH, the message to turn off and restart the vehicle was displayed with an audible alarm. The contact stated that the vehicle had shut off on three separate occasions. There were no warning lights illuminated. The cont...
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. When I put the car into drive it accelerate very quickly even with my foot on the brake and I crashed into a door gara...
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. I pulled the emergency brake as it was rolling with my legs stuck between the car and the door. I was finally able to push myself into the car to hit the brake with my foo...
Brand new car 5800 miles engine failure after first oil change at dealership
Showing 20 of 45 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2023 Kia Soul
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Opened 2025-08-06 · Closed 2025-12-18
On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, inconsistent inspection results to determine whether an engine replacement was needed, and the unavail...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2023 Kia Soul
Has the 2023 KIA SOUL been recalled?
Yes, the 2023 KIA SOUL has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2023 KIA SOUL have?
The 2023 KIA SOUL has 45 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 4 involved crashes. 14 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2023 KIA SOUL?
The 2023 KIA SOUL received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 KIA SOUL?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2023 KIA SOUL involve unknown or other (6 complaints), engine (5 complaints), exterior lighting (3 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system,unknown or other, electrical system, power train.
How many crash reports does the 2023 KIA SOUL have?
There are 4 crash reports associated with the 2023 KIA SOUL out of 45 total complaints (8.9% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2023 KIA SOUL have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2023 KIA SOUL out of 45 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2023 KIA SOUL?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 KIA SOUL. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2023 KIA SOUL?
14 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 KIA SOUL. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2023 KIA SOUL?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 KIA SOUL is acceptable with caveats. It has 45 complaints, 4 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2023 KIA SOUL?
The components with the most failures on the 2023 KIA SOUL are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6 complaints), 2. ENGINE (5 complaints), 3. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (3 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 6 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2023 KIA SOUL?
Be aware of potential engine and engine cooling issues, as well as instrument cluster and airbag deployment problems. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2023 KIA SOUL has 45 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2023 KIA SOUL?
The 2023 KIA SOUL receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 45 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 5 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and Engine Cooling and Automatic Transmission Fluid Pump.
What are the known issues with the 2023 KIA SOUL?
Known issues with the 2023 KIA SOUL include: Engine and Engine Cooling, Automatic Transmission Fluid Pump, Instrument Cluster, Airbag Deployment. These are based on patterns found across 45 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2023 KIA SOUL?
Engine and engine cooling issues, instrument cluster problems, and airbag deployment issues are the most common safety concerns.
Can you explain the engine and engine cooling recall?
Kia is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles due to potential hard parts internal/mechanical issues in the engine and engine cooling system.
What should I do if I experience unintended acceleration?
If you experience unintended acceleration, immediately pull over to a safe location and turn off the engine. Report the issue to Kia and consider having the vehicle inspected.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential engine and engine cooling issues, as well as instrument cluster and airbag deployment problems. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2023 Kia Soul
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023 Kia Soul. The data includes 45 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 4 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 14 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2023 Kia Soul an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16