Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
290–25K
725–50K
2550–75K
3175–100K
23100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
271 reports
73,835 miles · Mar 24, 2021
EngineVehicle Speed Control
SO EVEN SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR IT SOMETIMES WOULD HESITATE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE AND I WOULD SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS AND GETTING LITTLE TO NO ACTUAL RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO MY ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING SIGN, MY OIL AND COOLANT WERE EMPTY EVEN THOUGH I KNOW ALL MY FLUIDS WERE FINE. …
Read full complaint
SO EVEN SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR IT SOMETIMES WOULD HESITATE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE AND I WOULD SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS AND GETTING LITTLE TO NO ACTUAL RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO MY ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING SIGN, MY OIL AND COOLANT WERE EMPTY EVEN THOUGH I KNOW ALL MY FLUIDS WERE FINE. I DO COMMUTE TO WORK AND I KNOW THAT'S HARDER ON A VEHICLE BUT NONE OF MY OTHER CARS WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN OLDER MODELS HAVE EVER GIVEN ME AN ISSUE LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WITH THIS ONE. SEEMS ODD IF ANYTHING. WHEN I WAS STARTING UP MY CAR LEAVING WORK IT JUST RANDOMLY STARTED WITH THE NOISES AND THEN THE ENTIRE WAY HOME IT GOT WORSE I DID NOT DRIVE IT AFTER THAT I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP HOWEVER IT HAD TO BE TOWED THERE. I NOTICED A BUNCH OF FLUID COMING OUT ON MY PARKING LOT WHEN WE GOT IT MOVED, NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED ANY OF THIS OR HOW MY ENGINE BLEW.
NHTSA ODI #11404635
49,000 miles · Mar 9, 2021
Engine
FIRST DRIVE IN THE MORNINGS, THERE IS A STRONG ODD ODOR COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS.
NHTSA ODI #11400048
52,300 miles · Feb 8, 2021
Unknown Or Other
MY VEHICLE HAS THE SPEAKER LIGHTS PACKAGE... FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN IM DRIVING MY SPEAKER LIGHTS WILL SOMETIMES FLASH EVEN WITH THE SWITCH SET TO OFF. OTHER TIMES IT WILL CYCLE THROUGH THE MOOD SETTING...AGAIN WHILE THE SWITCH IS OFF. SOME TIMES IT WILL DO BOTH...MOOD LIGHTING AND FLASHING TO BEAT OF T…
Read full complaint
MY VEHICLE HAS THE SPEAKER LIGHTS PACKAGE... FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN IM DRIVING MY SPEAKER LIGHTS WILL SOMETIMES FLASH EVEN WITH THE SWITCH SET TO OFF. OTHER TIMES IT WILL CYCLE THROUGH THE MOOD SETTING...AGAIN WHILE THE SWITCH IS OFF. SOME TIMES IT WILL DO BOTH...MOOD LIGHTING AND FLASHING TO BEAT OF THE MUSIC...WHILE SWTICHED TO OFF. ON 2/6/2021, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING. I MENTIONED THE ISSUE TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR. TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT...COOL. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I LEAVE, THEN COME BACK TO CHECK THE STATUS OF MY CAR. TELLS ME THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. HA! I HAVE A VIDEO...I SHOW IT TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO TELLS ME TO GO WAIT IN THE LOBBY AND HE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. ABOUT 30 MINUTES PASS, MY CAR IS DONE. HE TELLS ME THAT THEY STILL CAN'T MAKE IT DO WHAT I SHOWED HIM. I'M GUESSING A VIDEO ISN'T REAL PROOF THERE IS A REAL ELECTRICAL ISSUE GOING ON. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TELLS ME TO "SWING BY" WHEN IT HAPPENS. MIND YOU I LIVE ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY, I ONLY WENT TO FRIENDLY KIA BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE GOOD. APPARENTLY NOT! ANYWAY, THERE IS AN ISSUE KIA IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS. I'M GUESSING NO ONE THERE KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A KIA VEHICLE WERE TO CATCH FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM JUST DAYS AFTER HAVING IT IN DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE SPEAKER LIGHTS HAVING A SHORT. THAT WOULD NOT LOOK GOOD BEING TOLD ALL OVER THE MEDIA, THEN IN COURT WHEN THAT PERSON SUES YOU FOR DAMAGES DUE TO AN ISSUE YOU REFUSED TO CORRECT WITH VIDEO PROOF...ABOUT 20 SECONDS OF PROOF THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE!
NHTSA ODI #11395317
121,000 miles · Feb 5, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteeringSuspension
FAILURE TO ACCELERATE,JURKING,STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WAS TOLD THERE A RACK AND PINION TIE ROD SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND STEERING PIN. CAR DOES DECELERATION, OIL BURNS UP IN A WEEK.
NHTSA ODI #11394762
65,000 miles · Feb 4, 2021
EngineFire
BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2017 KIA SOUL IN 2019 AND 1 YEAR AFTER USAGE THERE WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR WHAT IT APPEARED TO BE NO REASON. I'VE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING AROUND 60,000 MILES AND CONVENIENTLY ENOUGH OUR VEHICLE HAD 65000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKI…
Read full complaint
BOUGHT A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2017 KIA SOUL IN 2019 AND 1 YEAR AFTER USAGE THERE WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE FOR WHAT IT APPEARED TO BE NO REASON. I'VE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING AROUND 60,000 MILES AND CONVENIENTLY ENOUGH OUR VEHICLE HAD 65000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THEN SMOKE WHEN IT FAILED. IT CAUSED A CRACK TO GO UP THROUGH THE SHORT BLOCK AND LUCKILY WASN'T ABLE TO DAMAGE THE VALVE TRAIN. I'VE TRIED CONTACTING EVERY KIA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT I GOT THE SENSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE COSTLY HEADACHE, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE FACT I WAS BARELY OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY THRESHOLD OF 60000 MILES. I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES ESPECIALLY IF THEY IS AN ONGOING LAWSUIT AGAINST OTHER KIA MODELS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ODI #11394722
97 miles · Jan 22, 2021
Engine
GOT THE OIL CHANGED IN OCTOBER. WAS HEADING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY & WAS GOING UP A HILL THEN THE CAR STARTED ACTING UP. LOOKED BACK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR & SAW SMOKE. PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED & OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AFTER IT COOLED OFF & THE WAS A HOLE IN THE MOT…
Read full complaint
GOT THE OIL CHANGED IN OCTOBER. WAS HEADING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY & WAS GOING UP A HILL THEN THE CAR STARTED ACTING UP. LOOKED BACK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR & SAW SMOKE. PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED & OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AFTER IT COOLED OFF & THE WAS A HOLE IN THE MOTOR. A ROD SHOT THROUGH. THE CAR HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE READ OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT KIA SOULS HAVING RECALLS WITH THE ENGINES & IF I WOULD OF KNOWN THAT WE WOULDN'T OF BOUGHT A KIA SOUL BECAUSE OUR DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO HELP US FIX IT.
NHTSA ODI #11389492
82,000 miles · Jan 13, 2021
EnginePower Train
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATION ALERTED WHILE DRIVING. HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED FOR AN EVALUATION. OIL WAS FULL BUT ENGINE FAILURE WAS DETECTED. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO KNOCKING OR STALLING OF ENGINE. CAR STILL RUNS BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FEAR OF CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. NOW OUT OF A CAR AND STILL OWE $8500 ON THE LOAN.…
Read full complaint
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATION ALERTED WHILE DRIVING. HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED FOR AN EVALUATION. OIL WAS FULL BUT ENGINE FAILURE WAS DETECTED. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO KNOCKING OR STALLING OF ENGINE. CAR STILL RUNS BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FEAR OF CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. NOW OUT OF A CAR AND STILL OWE $8500 ON THE LOAN. 82,000 MILES ON CAR. OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE I'M THE SECOND OWNER. KIA SERVICE CENTER REPS LAUGHED AT ME. INFURIATING SITUATION. WAS TOLD MY OPTIONS WERE 'FIX IT OR DON'T' THANKS KIA.
NHTSA ODI #11387891
94,500 miles · Jan 12, 2021
Engine
IT WAS TIME FOR MY SECOND 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE ON AN ENGINE REPLACED IN JULY 2020. I GO IN, AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A DIAGNOSTIC DUE TO OIL ALL OVER THE UNDER CARRIAGE. I REFUSE BECAUSE THIS ENGINE HAS A WARRANTY AND IS 6 MOS. OLD. THEY CHANGE THE OIL, INJECT DYE INTO IT AND TELL ME TO COME BACK IN 500 MILES. I GO BACK ON TUESD…
Read full complaint
IT WAS TIME FOR MY SECOND 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE ON AN ENGINE REPLACED IN JULY 2020. I GO IN, AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A DIAGNOSTIC DUE TO OIL ALL OVER THE UNDER CARRIAGE. I REFUSE BECAUSE THIS ENGINE HAS A WARRANTY AND IS 6 MOS. OLD. THEY CHANGE THE OIL, INJECT DYE INTO IT AND TELL ME TO COME BACK IN 500 MILES. I GO BACK ON TUESDAY AND THEY TELL ME THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR IS DRY ROTTED AND LEAKING OIL AND IT WILL BE 400.00. WHY WAS IT NOT CHANGED? I STILL TO THIS DAY HAVE NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR LOW OIL LIGHT COME ON. WHY WON'T KIA STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS? WHY WON'T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
NHTSA ODI #11387664
Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2020
Power Train
MY SITUATION IS HAPPENING EVERYDAY WITH MY KIA SOUL 2017 IT CONSTANTLY SMOKES, IF FOGS UP MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD WHEN I TURN THE DEFROSTER ON IT SMELLS LIKE IT'S BURNING IT IS VERY FEARFUL I DON'T GO FAR I ONLY HAVE A EIGHT MILE DRIVE TO WORK AND I GO THROUGH THIS EVERYDAY AND NIGHT.MY WORRIES ARE VALID I FEEL BECAUSE I HAVE THE 2.…
Read full complaint
MY SITUATION IS HAPPENING EVERYDAY WITH MY KIA SOUL 2017 IT CONSTANTLY SMOKES, IF FOGS UP MY WHOLE WINDSHIELD WHEN I TURN THE DEFROSTER ON IT SMELLS LIKE IT'S BURNING IT IS VERY FEARFUL I DON'T GO FAR I ONLY HAVE A EIGHT MILE DRIVE TO WORK AND I GO THROUGH THIS EVERYDAY AND NIGHT.MY WORRIES ARE VALID I FEEL BECAUSE I HAVE THE 2.0 ENGINE AND FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS IS THE ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN CAUSING ALL OF THE FIRES THE POPPING SOUND HAS NOT STOPPED THIS IS A SECOND REPORT FOR ME AND I AM PLEADING FOR YOUR COMPANY TO PLEASE ADD 2017 KIA SOUL TO THE RECALL LIST THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #11384560
97,528 miles · Dec 18, 2020
Engine
WHEN CRANKING MY VEHICLE ON MONDAY EVENING, 12/14, APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE, I NOTICED A NOISE AFTER INITIAL STARTUP THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOU PUT A CARD OR A SODA CAN ON THE TIRE OF YOUR BIKE. THE NOISE DIDN'T CONTINUE SO I DROVE IT HOME, APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES FROM WHERE IT WAS PARKED INITIALLY. I DIDN'T HEAR IT ON THE…
Read full complaint
WHEN CRANKING MY VEHICLE ON MONDAY EVENING, 12/14, APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE, I NOTICED A NOISE AFTER INITIAL STARTUP THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOU PUT A CARD OR A SODA CAN ON THE TIRE OF YOUR BIKE. THE NOISE DIDN'T CONTINUE SO I DROVE IT HOME, APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES FROM WHERE IT WAS PARKED INITIALLY. I DIDN'T HEAR IT ON THE DRIVE HOME, UNTIL I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW SLIGHTLY AS I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT, AND IT WAS MAKING THE SAME TICKING NOISE, BUT MUCH LOUDER, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FIANCE, AND WHEN I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY HE IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED I TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. PULLED THE OIL STICK, AND NOTED THAT IT WAS ALMOST BONE DRY. WHICH IS CRAZY BECAUSE WE PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR, AS IT'S THE DAILY DRIVER FOR MY 7 YEAR OLD AND MYSELF. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ROUGHLY END OF SEPTEMBER. HE PUT OIL IN IT, AND HOPED IT WOULD STOP THE NOISE, BUT IT DIDN'T. AFTER HAVING IT EVALUATED, WE'RE TOLD IT WILL NEED A NEW MOTOR. I CALLED KIA, AND EVEN THOUGH THE PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS 2012-16 ALL HAVE THESE SAME EXACT ISSUES, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE MOTOR, SINCE THERE ISN'T A RECALL ISSUED FOR MY YEAR MODEL YET. THIS IS SO CONCERNING, AS MY CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, AND IT HAS BEEN TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF.
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.
2017 Kia Soul Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year