2023 Kia Soul Recalls, Problems & MPG
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 54 owner complaints for the 2023 Kia Soul. The EPA rates it 30 to 31 MPG combined, depending on engine and drivetrain.
- Recalls
- 4
- Owner complaints
- 54
- Crashes / fires reported
- 6 / 1
- EPA combined
- 30–31 MPG
2023 Kia Soul recalls
Engine and Engine CoolingFeb 17, 2025 · NHTSA 25V099000+
Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
Kia 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.
Air BagsDec 22, 2023 · NHTSA 23V830000+
Risk: An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC289.
Kia 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.
Power TrainJul 31, 2023 · NHTSA 23V531000+
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC275.
Kia 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.
Electrical SystemApr 26, 2023 · NHTSA 23V298000+
Risk: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
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. 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."
Recall repairs are free. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours still needs one.
Most reported 2023 Kia Soul problems
Owner complaints to NHTSA by system. One complaint can name more than one system.
- Engine14
- Electrical System14
- Unknown or Other13
- Service Brakes8
- Steering8
- Lane Departure7
- Power Train5
- Air Bags5
2023 Kia Soul gas mileage
EPA ratings for each version (city / highway / combined).
| Version | Engine | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Eco dynamics | 2.0 L 4 cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 29 | 35 | 31 | $2,050 |
| Soul | 2.0 L 4 cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 28 | 33 | 30 | $2,150 |
Real-world mileage depends on how and where you drive. Logbay compares your actual MPG with these EPA numbers.
Questions
Does the 2023 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Kia Soul, most recently for the engine and engine cooling (Feb 17, 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2023 Kia Soul problems?
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported areas are engine (14), electrical system (14), unknown or other (13).
What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Soul get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Kia Soul at 30 to 31 MPG combined (best version: 29 city / 35 highway).
Sources: NHTSA recalls and owner complaints (api.nhtsa.gov), EPA fuel economy (fueleconomy.gov). Updated Oct 26, 2026. Complaint counts are unverified owner reports.