2012 Kia Soul vs 2013 Kia Soul
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Kia Soul | 2013 Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 514 | 659 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 132 | 133 |
| Investigations | 5 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 22 |
| Fire reports | 23 | 44 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–27 | 25–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 88,850 mi | 92,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 209 | 282 |
| Steering | 166 | 150 |
| Electrical System | 38 | 71 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 34 | 67 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 32 | 43 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 21 | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 12 | 30 |
| Power Train | 21 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 79 | 74 |
| Check engine light | 71 | 102 |
| Stalling | 63 | 60 |
| Vibration / shaking | 26 | 34 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 22 |
| Steering problems | 12 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 10 | 22 |
| Overheating | 10 | 26 |
2012 Kia Soul
2013 Kia Soul
Compare all Kia Soul vs Kia Soul years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.