Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2023 Kia Soul: common problems and reliability
One of the better Soul years.
51 owner complaints, most about engine. 4 recalls.
Should I buy a 2023 Soul?The 2023 Kia Soul has 51 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and electrical system.
Safety record for the 2023 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2023 Kia Soul vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Soul years only. How we score it
Is 2023 a good year for the Soul?
Across the 16 Soul model years we track, complaint volume runs from 51 (2023) to 1,808 (2015). With 51 complaints, the 2023 Soul sits below the model's median of 290.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2023 Soul
electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Campaign 23V298000Kia 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."
power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:pump
Campaign 23V531000Kia 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.
air bags
Campaign 23V830000Kia 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.
engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Campaign 25V099000Kia 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.
What owners say across generations
Mixed to negative sentiment, heavily dependent on model year and engine.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Soul. See the full Soul owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Soul listings typically run $13,383–$20,275 across 2015 to 2025 model years.
Other Soul model years
Compare every Soul year side by side to see how 2023 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Soul against its rivals
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