Buying a used 2023 Kia Soul? Check these 4 recalls first
Four recalls, three of them critical: an oil pump that may overheat, the one recall here with a park-outside instruction, side airbags that may deploy unexpectedly, and engines that may stall or catch fire; a fourth covers a dashboard display that can go blank. Complaint volume is modest at 50 unverified NHTSA reports, but 15 involve injuries alongside 5 crashes and 1 fire. Engine (13), electrical (13), unclassified (12) and steering (8) lead the categories.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Confirm the oil pump recall is remedied; until then Kia says park it outside.
- Check the side airbag recall status and whether any airbag light is on.
- Verify the engine stall/fire recall and the dashboard display recall are both closed.
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Kia dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2023 Kia Soul
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul, Sportage and Seltos oil pump may overheat · park outside | Power Train | critical |
| Kia Soul and Seltos side airbags may deploy unexpectedly | AIR Bags | critical |
| Kia Seltos and Soul engines may stall or catch fire | Engine And Engine Cooling | critical |
| Kia SUVs and cars: dashboard display can go blank | Electrical System | medium |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
50 complaints filed for this model year, including 5 mentioning a crash, 1 a fire and 15 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | Yes |
| Electrical System | 13 | Yes |
| Driver Assistance | 12 | None found |
| Steering | 8 | None found |
| Brakes | 7 | None found |
| AIR Bags | 5 | Yes |