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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

32 reports
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6,500 miles · Oct 6, 2017
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I PURCHASED MY 2017 KIA SOULS BASE MODEL ON JUN 28 THIS YEAR FROM QUIRK KIA IN BRAINTREE, MA. AFTER JUST 2 WEEKS THIS ISSUE HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WAS AT A GAS STATION GASSING UP THE CAR, ONCE I WAS DONE, I TURNED THE CAR ON, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ' I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS HAPPEN…

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I PURCHASED MY 2017 KIA SOULS BASE MODEL ON JUN 28 THIS YEAR FROM QUIRK KIA IN BRAINTREE, MA. AFTER JUST 2 WEEKS THIS ISSUE HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I WAS AT A GAS STATION GASSING UP THE CAR, ONCE I WAS DONE, I TURNED THE CAR ON, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ' I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE AGAIN. ON JULY 26 SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AND IT ALSO HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER I GASSED UP THE CAR. ON SEPTEMBER 15TH WHILE I WAS WORKING AS UBER DRIVER THIS ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, AFTER FEW MINUTES I STARTED DRIVING BUT JUST AFTER 50-60 YARDS I COMPLETELY LOST ACCELERATION. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO GAS PEDAL, WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND I HAD ELECTRICITY. I HAD TO COMPLETELY STOP THE CAR, TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I CALLED KIA USA (MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH) AND WAS ADVISED BY CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO BRING THE CARD IMMEDIATELY TO KIA DEALERSHIP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A KIA SOUL FORUM WHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS THE SITE: HTTP://WWW.KIASOULFORUMS.COM/10-SOUL-PROBLEMS/13994-2013-SOUL-BASE-ACCELERATION-PROBLEM.HTML ATTACHED ARE PICTURES FROM THIS FORUM FROM FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. AS IT APPEARS, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON KIA VEHICLES FOR A WHILE. WHILE NO ONE MENTIONED WHETHER THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE OR NOT, MANY HAVE COMPLAINED ON THIS FORUM THAT KIA DEALERSHIPS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OCTOBER 6TH - DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND ARE RELEASING THE CAR BACK TO ME. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11032004

300 miles · Aug 1, 2017
Unknown Or Other

JUST PURCHASED FIST KEYLESS ENTRY VEHICLE. DEALER TOLD ME IF THE CAR IS RUNNING AND I WALK AWAY WITH KEYS IN MY POCKET THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF. AT WORK NEXT DAY GOT OUT OF CAR WITH HANDS FULL, WENT INTO BUILDING AND EXPRECTED CAR TO SHUT DOWN THREE HOURS LATER CO-WORKER TELLS ME CAR IS RUNNING OUT IN PARKING LOT. WENT OUT…

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JUST PURCHASED FIST KEYLESS ENTRY VEHICLE. DEALER TOLD ME IF THE CAR IS RUNNING AND I WALK AWAY WITH KEYS IN MY POCKET THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF. AT WORK NEXT DAY GOT OUT OF CAR WITH HANDS FULL, WENT INTO BUILDING AND EXPRECTED CAR TO SHUT DOWN THREE HOURS LATER CO-WORKER TELLS ME CAR IS RUNNING OUT IN PARKING LOT. WENT OUT TO INVESTIGATE WITHOUT MY KEY, GOT INTO RUNNING VEHICLE AND DROVE AWAY WITH NO KEY. ANYONE COULD HAVE STOLEN THIS VEHICE IN THAT THREE HOUR PERIOD, I COULD HAVE DRIVEN AWAY AND BEEN STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR I COULD HAVE RETURNED TO THE CAR THAT WAS OUT OF GAS AND BEEN STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE IF THE KEY IS NOT NEAR THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11011914

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.