2013 KIA Soul Steering Problems
Owners have filed 152 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2013 KIA Soul, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering coupler” (17% of reports).
- 152steering complaints
- 70,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $870typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering coupler: mentioned in 26 of 152 complaints (17%)
- Wheel makes: mentioned in 16 of 152 complaints (11%)
- Clicking noise: mentioned in 14 of 152 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2013 KIA Soul at $870, and half of them between $580 and $2,400.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2018–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 85 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 152 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
KIA Soul steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Soul | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2023 Soul | 8 | 15% | 8,700 |
| 2022 Soul | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Soul | 9 | 4% | 4,815 |
| 2020 Soul | 16 | 4% | 4,000 |
| 2019 Soul | 5 | 4% | 77,500 |
| 2018 Soul | 5 | 2% | 38,000 |
| 2017 Soul | 10 | 4% | 29,262 |
| 2016 Soul | 30 | 4% | 53,500 |
| 2015 Soul | 44 | 5% | 34,750 |
| 2014 Soul | 55 | 6% | 36,000 |
| 2013 Soul | 152 | 23% | 70,000 |
| 2012 Soul | 166 | 32% | 68,500 |
| 2011 Soul | 4 | 2% | 8,200 |
| 2010 Soul | 12 | 9% | 4,050 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists steering for the 2013 KIA Soul. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I've had no issues with the vehicle until 2 years ago when the steering column began getting incredibly loose. I can turn the wheel 10 degrees before turning. Now the car can no longer go above 40 MPH because the steering wheel will shake violently and the front end will vibrate and it feels like…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while making a turn, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the steering column. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel was moving freely. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to start the vehicle, there was a popping and knocking sound coming from the steering wheel. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 KIA Souls have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 152 owner complaints about steering for the 2013 KIA Soul (23% of the 666 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 KIA Soul steering?
No recall currently lists steering for this vehicle.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 70,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2013 KIA Soul?
Owners report a typical cost of $870 (half paid between $580 and $2,400), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2013 KIA Soul?
The most frequent phrase is “steering coupler”, in 26 of 152 complaints, followed by “wheel makes” (16).
Other 2013 KIA Soul problems
See all 2013 KIA Soul problems or steering problems across all Soul years.