Problems · by component

2013 Kia Soul service brakes, hydraulic problems

68 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Soul cite service brakes, hydraulic, 10% of all 670 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
68
10% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and unoccupied, the contact heard a noise outside and discovered that the vehicle had caught on fire near the engine compartment. The contact extinguished the fire using water and salt. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the HECU fuse had failed and that the burning was coming from the ABS module. The contact was not informed of the necessary repairs or replacements. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 222,892.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2026Service brakes, hydraulicFire reportedODI 11770225
“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle spontaneously caught fire while parked unattended at 3 am. All the warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure, and the vehicle was undrivable. The contact had received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). There were no reported injuries, police report, or crash. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the scrap yard. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 265,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2026Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 11733591
“The contact owned a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at night, the neighbor knocked on the door approximately 4:00 AM in the morning to alert the contact that the vehicle was on fire in the driveway. The contact went outside and saw that the front of the vehicle was on fire. The contact believed that the fire had started in the engine compartment. The contact stated that the neighbor was already attempting to put out the fire with a gardening hose. The contact and the neighbor attempted to extinguish the fire; however, the flames spread throughout the vehicle and destroyed the vehicle. The Fire Department was called and was able to extinguish the fire. The contact stated that the vehicle was considered totaled due to the extensive damages on the outside and inside the vehicle. The contact also stated that the fire caused damages to the front of another vehicle that was parked nearby. A Police report was filed but the report number was not provided to the contact. There were no injuries sustained, and no medical attention was needed. The contact stated that the vehicle remained in the driveway. The contact was notified by the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2025Service brakes, hydraulicFire reportedODI 11701256
“The contact owned a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that while her son was driving at 60 MPH, an abnormal sound was heard coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact's son was able to pull over to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated her son exited the vehicle and noticed flames were emitting from underneath the vehicle. A passerby pulled over and helped the contact's son move the vehicle. The vehicle extinguished itself. No injuries were reported. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that her son called her, and she and the contact's brother went to the site of the accident. The contact's brother checked underneath the vehicle and picked off the pieces that were on the ground. The contact's brother noticed that a rod had detached and gone through the motor, which created a hole in the motor. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer confirmed that the bearing rod detached and damaged the engine. The dealer contacted the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2025Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 11680410
“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's daughter was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact stated that there was a fuel burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was no longer being driven. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2025Service brakes, hydraulic, EngineODI 11652860
“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2025Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11637923

Showing 6 of 68 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Service brakes

Park outsideRemedy pending

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Sep 25, 2023NHTSA 23V652000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.