2023 Kia Soul Drivetrain Pump Recall (23V531)
Kia America, Inc. · 39,765 vehicles · Reported July 31, 2023
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 39,765 2023-2024 Kia Seltos; 2023 Kia Soul; 2023 Kia Sportage vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat. An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire. Park outside and away from buildings until it is repaired.
Recall 23V531 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V531000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC275 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023-2024 Kia Seltos; 2023 Kia Soul; 2023 Kia Sportage |
| Units affected | 39,765 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Fluid / Lubricant > Pump |
| Safety risk | An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Kia Soul in recall 23V531?
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Soul with recall 23V531?
Park it outside. NHTSA lists a fire risk for recall 23V531, so keep the vehicle away from buildings until it is repaired.
NHTSA lists this as a Park Outside recall because of a fire risk. Park the vehicle outside and away from buildings until the repair is done, even if you have not noticed any problem.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V531?
Recall 23V531 covers 39,765 vehicles: 2023-2024 Kia Seltos; 2023 Kia Soul; 2023 Kia Sportage.
NHTSA lists 39,765 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | Kia | Seltos |
| 2023 | Kia | Soul |
| 2023 | Kia | Sportage |
What is the fix for the Soul drivetrain pump recall?
Yes. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
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.
When was recall 23V531 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 23V531 to NHTSA on July 31, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 28, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 31, 2023 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V531000. |
| September 28, 2023 | Owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 38 months ago. If your Soul was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Soul is part of recall 23V531?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V531 is open on your Soul, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 23V531000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Soul owners do about recall 23V531?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V531000 applies to your Soul.
- Park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any pump symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Soul owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 333 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 33 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 23V531 was reported on July 31, 2023, owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after July 31, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 333 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 33 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2023 Kia Sportage: 190 complaints in total, 18 about the transmission
- 2023 Kia Soul: 52 complaints in total, 5 about the transmission
- 2023 Kia Seltos: 46 complaints in total, 4 about the transmission
- 2024 Kia Seltos: 45 complaints in total, 6 about the transmission
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted. However, the failure reoccurred on five separate occasions.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11689881, filed September 26, 2025
My 2023 Kia Sportage AWD has several ongoing safety issues that have been happening for over a year. The car stalls or hesitates at low speeds and during acceleration. I hear grinding or whining noises from the front end and drivetrain.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11701844, filed November 28, 2025
Frequently while driving my 2023 Kia shortage Hybrid will accelerate on its own. This happens randomly while driving straight as well as making turns. My suv also has a vary hard time driving uphill. If im driving at 25 mph when approaching the hill, my car then gradually drops down to 10-15 mph.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11708121, filed December 31, 2025
Can recall 23V531 make my Soul a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 23V531000 does not automatically make your Soul a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Soul been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Soul recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V531
Did the recall 23V531 fix work?
Since recall 23V531 was reported on July 31, 2023, owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed September 28, 2023.
Is the 23V531000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Soul is part of recall 23V531000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V531000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.