2023 Kia Soul: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
50 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Soul (2014–2019) carries the Gamma and Nu engines that were subject to Kia's engine-failure investigation and the 2019 recall for catalytic-converter damage leading to piston failure; the 2014–2016 years have the highest counts, with engine noise, stalling and fire cited. The 2017–2019 years are better, and the third generation from 2020 is quiet apart from a bump in 2020. Read the full note on the model page. 2023 specifically: a year the record favours — 50 complaints, score 84/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Kia Sorento, Sportage and Soul: the recall years and the good years after them, including 2023 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 50 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 16.67
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
While driving an alarm noise sounds and on the dash a message will appear stating engine off put car in p or n and I cannot accelerate.
2023 Kia soul purchased brand new. Vehicle does not display speedometer, blinkers don't work, reverse camera doesn't work, nothing displays on dash, continuous alarm sound while vehicle is on. Having no indication of speed traveling or ability to signal turns is a safety concern. failure at approximately 1 year after purchase. Has been in the dealership for repair multiple times without success. Currently been at…
Before the accident which my car was totaled, I would take it in with issues. Electrical lights coming on the car would stop .my transmission locking up . I would tell them that there was something wrong with the car . I had videos to show pannel lights coming on at 70 on freeway and car locking up and would just stop . That's what happened to son driving. My car was totaled. Why should I loose and now I don't have …
Recalls: 4 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V099000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. |
| 23V830000 | Air Bags | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. |
| 23V298000 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 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. |
| 23V531000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Fluid/Lubricant:Pump | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 30 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine13 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System13 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other12 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Steering8 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Lane Departure7 complaints · typical job: Camera module replacement and calibration (2.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,700
- Service Brakes7 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Kia Soul years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Soul?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (13 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Kia Soul a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 84/100, computed from 50 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Kia Soul's most common problem?
13 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Kia Soul sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2023 Kia Soul cost to run per year?
About $3,506 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $17,532 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2023 Kia Soul have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Kia Soul, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 17/02/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Kia Soul really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 50 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 50 NHTSA complaints on record (16.7/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (30.1/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems