RoadVitals

2013 Kia Soul Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 24, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 660 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Kia Soul submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Apr 24, 2020

DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED IN THE CENTER. THE CAR LIKES TO FISHTAIL ON BUMPY ROADS CAUSING SOME LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CAR VIBRATES AT 60 PLUS MPH

NHTSA ID
11322205
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 9, 2020

KIA SOUL 2013 JUST BOUGHT THROUGH DEALER MARCH 13 2020, AND IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHENEVER IT'S DRIVEN AND I HAVE KIDS IN THIS CAR SO IF THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH KIAS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ! MAKES NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, TURNING AND VERY LOUD

NHTSA ID
11320710
Incident
Mar 13, 2020
Mileage
101,000 mi
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Feb 18, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE BATTERY POWER WAS DRAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER HOLLYWOOD KIA LOCATED AT (6011 PEMBROKE RD. HOLLYWOOD FL) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11309804
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Mileage
43,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 26, 2019

THE VEHICLE MAKES THE NOISE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION IS LOUD FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMING APART I SEEN VIDEOS OF THE PROBLEM ON YOUTUBE THERE ARE MANY AND HOW TO FIX IT KIA HAS NOT RECALL THE YEAR 2013 MODEL PLZ WHAT CAN WE DO.

NHTSA ID
11210031
Incident
Feb 22, 2019
Mileage
139,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 10, 2019

RACK AND PINION SOUND

NHTSA ID
11206877
Incident
May 2, 2019
Mileage
140,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 2, 2019

STEERING WHEEL PLAY IS INCREASING AND CLICKS ON EACH SIDE OF THE PLAY. SUSPENSION FEELS AS IF THE CAR DRIFT/SLIDES WHENEVER DRIVING OVER DIVIDER LANE LINES OR DIRECTION ARROWS PLACED ON THE STREET.

NHTSA ID
11183671
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
Mileage
29,269 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Aug 12, 2016

CRUISE CONTROL HAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ALSO HAS RANDOM TURN OFFS. ALSO THE WAY IT TURNS ON IN CANNOT SLOW DOWN DURING TURN ON UNLESS YOU PRESS THE SLOW (SET - ) BUTTON A SECOND TIME. DIFFERENT THAN AMERICAN. DANGEROUS. SOMETIMES CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES WITH THE RESUME BUTTON, SOMETIMES NOT. SUSPENSION: DURING A TURN ON HIGHWAY AT 45 MI HOUR CAR HOPS OVER WHEN YOU HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP. MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. NEVER HAD A CAR IN 40 YEARS THAT DID THIS. LIGHTING: AUTOMATIC LIGHTS TURN OFF, AND CHANGE POSITION FUNCTION DUE TO POOR DESIGN ON TIP OF BLINKER STICK. RESULTS IN LIGHTS NOT COMING ON AT DUSK WHEN EXPECTED. STEERING: DOES NOT HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE ON A WINDY DAY ON FLAT HIGHWAY ROADS. SAME ROAD 15 YEAR OLD 100K MILE CAR WE TRADED IN WAS FINE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. ENGINE: SHAKES TERRIBLE AT AT IDLE WHETHER IN PARK, NEUTRAL, DRIVE OR WITH OR WITHOUT A/C ON. NO MATTER. TRANSMISSION: GRINDING NOISE TURNING LEFT LOUDER THAN RIGHT. TOLD DEALR ALL THESE THINGS, THEY DENIED IT AND WOULDN'T FIX. HUGE BANG AS CAR SLOWS DOWN WHEN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. LURCHES FORWARD AS YOU TRY TO STOP, MAKING YOU PASS YOUR EXPECTED STOP POINT. GAS MILEAGE LOW: 26 OR SO, OLD CAR HAD 120 HP MORE AND GOT 31MPG ON HIGHWAY AND WAS 700 POUNDS HEAVIER. DEALER HAD ALREADY REMOVED STICKER BEFORE WE PICKED UP CAR. ONGOING.

NHTSA ID
10895402
Incident
Sep 13, 2013
Mileage
125 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jul 30, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING NORTH AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. DRIVER VEERED RIGHT ACCIDENTLY AND WENT OFF ASPHALT SURFACE INTO DITCH. VEHICLE ROLLED END OVER END TWICE AND LANDED UPRIGHT FACING SOUTH ON THIRD ROLLOVER. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON BOTH SIDES OF FRONT, TOP WAS CRUSHED IN, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BENT INTO WHEEL WELL, WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED AND CAVED IN. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AND THE HOOD. DRIVER WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. THE MAJOR COMPLAINT WAS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY TO PROTECT DRIVER. VEHICLE ENGINEERS FROM KIA MOTORS NATIONAL CONSUMER AFFAIRS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED IN A ROLLOVER BECAUSE CAR WAS NOT EQUIPPED THAT WAY. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIR BAGS IN FRONT WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN A FRONT IMPACT, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN A SIDE IMPACT. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS AND NOT REPAIRABLE.

NHTSA ID
10745084
Incident
May 15, 2015
Mileage
18,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 29, 2015

VEHICLE SKITTERS AND FISHTAILS WHEN GOING OVER 40 MPH ON BUMPY ROADS, ESPECIALLY CURVES. THE ESC SEEMS TO CORRECT THE SKITTERING IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT IS QUITE SCARY. SO FAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ON DRY PAVEMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN ON WET OR ICY PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ID
10731116
Incident
Sep 1, 2013
Mileage
3,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .