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2017 Kia Soul

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Kia Soul do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 225.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

117 reports with mileage · 154 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 190 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports14 fire reports13 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

16 reports
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8,627 miles · Oct 8, 2019
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Seat Belts

MY KIA SOUL WAS MANUFACTURED 11/16 & HAS 8,643 MILES ON IT AS 10/8/19. I STARTED MY CAR THE MORNING OF 10/719 & THE AIR BAG AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS MORNING THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS FLASHING ALSO. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THESE ITEMS FOR MY VEHICLE?

NHTSA ODI #11267017

53,000 miles · Aug 9, 2019
Air BagsSeat BeltsService BrakesCrashInjury

TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, THE BRAKES NEVER TOOK EFFECT TO MAKE ME SLIDE SKID OR STOP. SEATBEAT NEVER HELD ME BACK FROM SLAMMING INTO STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #11242840

18,000 miles · Apr 24, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AT A HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED CONTINUING HEATH ISSUES, INCLUDING BACK AND NECK INJURIES AND A CO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AT A HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED CONTINUING HEATH ISSUES, INCLUDING BACK AND NECK INJURIES AND A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. JENKINS KIA OF GAINESVILLE (2810 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609, (352) 815-2555) WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND STATED THAT TTHEY WOULD REVIEW THE CASE. THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED PHOTOS AND A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT FROM THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUBMITTED THE REQUESTED INFORMATION AND THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF THE INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #11203455

50,000 miles · Dec 13, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE SUN VISOR AND EDGE OF WINDSHIELD. BASICALLY SCALPING ME. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED YES BUT AFTER I WAS BLEEDING AND REACHING TO UNDO MY SEATBELT. HITTING MY HAND WHICH BROKE MY WRIST HAVING TO HAVE SURGERY TO PUT A PLATE AND PINS IN IT. ALSO HITTING ME IN THE CH…

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I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE SUN VISOR AND EDGE OF WINDSHIELD. BASICALLY SCALPING ME. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED YES BUT AFTER I WAS BLEEDING AND REACHING TO UNDO MY SEATBELT. HITTING MY HAND WHICH BROKE MY WRIST HAVING TO HAVE SURGERY TO PUT A PLATE AND PINS IN IT. ALSO HITTING ME IN THE CHEST SO HARD IT KNOCKE THE BREATH OUT OF ME. IT WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD TOO LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11161067

37,000 miles · Oct 18, 2018
Air BagsCrash

VIN # [XXX] I HIT A DEER AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11141320

12,000 miles · Apr 4, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, SHOULDERS, AND BACK. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, SHOULDERS, AND BACK. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #11083299

Official recalls

1

22V031000 · Air Bags

Jan 25, 2022

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.