I WAS TOLD THE CLICKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE WAS NORMAL FOR MY CAR. I BROUGHT IT IN 1 YR AND 9 MONTHS LATER BECAUSE MECHANIC SAID IT IS NOT NORMAL. THEY DIAGNOSED MY CAR , SAID I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Soul years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
271 reportsWHILE DRIVING I HEAR A POPPING SOUND -- THINKING THAT I ROLLED OVER SOMETHING WITH MY TIRE BUT THAT'S NOT IT THEN MY CAR STARTS SMOKING IN THE FRONT AND MY WINDSHIELD GETS FOGGED UP I USE THE DEFROSTER TO TRY TO CLEAR MY WINDOW BUT THE SMOKE KEEPS COMING UP FROM THE FRONT . THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME DRIVING, PARKING, HIGHWAY, CITY ST…
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WHILE DRIVING I HEAR A POPPING SOUND -- THINKING THAT I ROLLED OVER SOMETHING WITH MY TIRE BUT THAT'S NOT IT THEN MY CAR STARTS SMOKING IN THE FRONT AND MY WINDSHIELD GETS FOGGED UP I USE THE DEFROSTER TO TRY TO CLEAR MY WINDOW BUT THE SMOKE KEEPS COMING UP FROM THE FRONT . THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME DRIVING, PARKING, HIGHWAY, CITY STREETS OR JUST SITTING AT A LIGHT AND I PARK IN THE GARAGE I DON'T PARK ON THE STREET. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I ALREADY HAD THE PURGE VALVE REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VIBRATED, ABNORMALLY, MISFIRED WHILE IDLING DUE TO A LOSS OF COMPRESSION AND COMBUSTION. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE AND RETRIEVED TROUBLE CODE: P0242 (CATALYST LOW EFFICIENCY BELOW EFFICIENCY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF EAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VIBRATED, ABNORMALLY, MISFIRED WHILE IDLING DUE TO A LOSS OF COMPRESSION AND COMBUSTION. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE AND RETRIEVED TROUBLE CODE: P0242 (CATALYST LOW EFFICIENCY BELOW EFFICIENCY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF EAST SYRACUSE (6717 MANILUS CENTER ROAD, EAST SYRACUSE, NY 13057, (315)701-5898) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS LOSS OF COMPRESSION ON CYLINDER #3. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
WHILE AT WORK, DRIVING, AND IN ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE WOULD START KNOCKING. ON MY WAY HOME, THE KNOCKING GOT LOUDER. HALF WAY HOME, THE ENGINE STALLED OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE THROUGH EN EXIT RAMP TO STOP ON A SERVICE ROAD. FLUID WAS FOUND LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. HAVING PUT THE VEHICLE…
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WHILE AT WORK, DRIVING, AND IN ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE WOULD START KNOCKING. ON MY WAY HOME, THE KNOCKING GOT LOUDER. HALF WAY HOME, THE ENGINE STALLED OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE THROUGH EN EXIT RAMP TO STOP ON A SERVICE ROAD. FLUID WAS FOUND LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. HAVING PUT THE VEHICLE IN A SERVICE SHOP, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ROD BLEW A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. SAID IT WAS MORE LIKELY FROM THE ENGINE OVERHEATING, BUT WOULD NOT BE OFFICIALLY CERTAIN. MECHANIC LATER PULLED ME ASIDE AND INFORMED ME THAT KIA HAD BEEN HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES BLOWING. HE ALSO ADVISED ME THERE WAS A RECALL SITUATION GOING ON, BUT COULDN'T BE CERTAIN WHETHER MY VEHICLE WAS OR WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT.
ON 10/23/2020 I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A 2017 JEEP WRANGLER AND THE AIR BAGS IN MY SOUL DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SOUL IS A TOTAL LOSS, DUE TO FRAME DAMAGE.
MY SON BOUGHT A 2017 KIA SOUL LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WITH ABOUT 57,000 MILES. ON TUESDAY OCT 11, 2020 THE CAR KEPT STALLING WHEN DRIVING AND THEN WOULDN'T START. ALSO, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT KEPT FLASHING SO HE CHECKED THE OIL. HE HAD THE OIL PREVIOUSLY CHANGED ON AUG 29, 2020. THE DIPSTICK CAME UP EMPTY. HE ADDED OIL AND WHEN HE …
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MY SON BOUGHT A 2017 KIA SOUL LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WITH ABOUT 57,000 MILES. ON TUESDAY OCT 11, 2020 THE CAR KEPT STALLING WHEN DRIVING AND THEN WOULDN'T START. ALSO, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT KEPT FLASHING SO HE CHECKED THE OIL. HE HAD THE OIL PREVIOUSLY CHANGED ON AUG 29, 2020. THE DIPSTICK CAME UP EMPTY. HE ADDED OIL AND WHEN HE DROVE IT TO FIRESTONE AUTO REPAIR SHOP, THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED EVERY TIME THE CAR STOPPED AT A LIGHT. FIRESTONE FIRST SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. HE LEFT THERE ONLY TO FIND IT DOING THE SAME THING. IT STALLED WHEN HE WAS MAKING A TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD. HE TOOK IT BACK TO FIRESTONE WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC FINALLY SAID IT WAS A BAD OIL PUMP. THEY SUGGESTED TO HIM TO TAKE IT TO KIA BECAUSE IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. FORD/KIA SAID THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE HE IS THE SECOND OWNER. THE WARRANTY FOR THE SECOND OWNER ENDS AT 60,000 MILES AND THIS CAR NOW HAS 68,000 MILES.
MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT STEERS SIDEWAYS DOWN THE ROAD,IT BOUNCES,HARD TO CONTROL,IT LOSES POWER IN 3RD GEAR,THE BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL AT ALL,ENGINE PINGS LOUDLY CONSTANTLY.I TOOK MY CAR TO CARFAX IN MODESTO CALIFORNIA WHOM I PURCHASED FROM AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG,TH S IR LIEING,LIVING, CAR WAS WRECKED AND PAINTED OVE…
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MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT STEERS SIDEWAYS DOWN THE ROAD,IT BOUNCES,HARD TO CONTROL,IT LOSES POWER IN 3RD GEAR,THE BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL AT ALL,ENGINE PINGS LOUDLY CONSTANTLY.I TOOK MY CAR TO CARFAX IN MODESTO CALIFORNIA WHOM I PURCHASED FROM AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG,TH S IR LIEING,LIVING, CAR WAS WRECKED AND PAINTED OVER ,ITS FULL OF OVER SPRAY,THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE,I WANT IT REPLACED WITH A NEW KIASOUL
MY 2017 KIA SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS UNTIL I WAS DRIVING TO STORE ON STATE ROAD 9 GOING 40 MPH AND WHILE IN DRIVE IN DIED OUT ON ME. I TURNED THE KEY OVER A FEW TIMES. IT FINALLY CAUGHT AND STARTED. I CONTINUED HOME AND IT DID THIS AGAIN. ONLY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT IT STARTED AND MOVED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO …
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MY 2017 KIA SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS UNTIL I WAS DRIVING TO STORE ON STATE ROAD 9 GOING 40 MPH AND WHILE IN DRIVE IN DIED OUT ON ME. I TURNED THE KEY OVER A FEW TIMES. IT FINALLY CAUGHT AND STARTED. I CONTINUED HOME AND IT DID THIS AGAIN. ONLY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT IT STARTED AND MOVED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MOTHERS. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN IT WOULDNT START. MY STEP FATHER LOOKED AT IT AND THE PISTON HAD FLOWN IT TO THE SPARK PLUG. AND I WAS TOLD MY MOTER WAS BLOWN.
VEHICLE HAS ONLY 75K MILES ON IT MOTOR SPUN A BARRING ON BOTTOM IT DONE ALL THE THE THINGS ON THE LAST MOTOR RECALL BUT WAS ON DIFFRENT MODEL CONTACTED DEALER AN SHOWED IT WAS THE SAME MOTOR AN NOTHING HAS HAPPEN WANT HONOR WARNTY OR ANYTHING AN IM NOT THE FIRST PERSON HAVE TALKED TO SEVERY AN THEY CONTACTED KIA DEALER SHIPS PR…
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VEHICLE HAS ONLY 75K MILES ON IT MOTOR SPUN A BARRING ON BOTTOM IT DONE ALL THE THE THINGS ON THE LAST MOTOR RECALL BUT WAS ON DIFFRENT MODEL CONTACTED DEALER AN SHOWED IT WAS THE SAME MOTOR AN NOTHING HAS HAPPEN WANT HONOR WARNTY OR ANYTHING AN IM NOT THE FIRST PERSON HAVE TALKED TO SEVERY AN THEY CONTACTED KIA DEALER SHIPS PRIOR TO AN THEY GET THE SAME THING ONLY THING VEHICLE DONE WAS SAY LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MOTOR WAS KNOCKING VERY BAD AN KNOCK MOTOR SENSOR NEVER CAME ON EITHER IVE HOOKED CODE READER UP TO IT MY SELF NOTHING NOW THE CAR IS ABOUT TO HIT MY CREDIT DUE TO FAULTY MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE JERKED AND SHUTOFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MATT CASTRUCCI KIA DEALER LOCATED AT 3013 MALL …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE JERKED AND SHUTOFF. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MATT CASTRUCCI KIA DEALER LOCATED AT 3013 MALL PARK DR, DAYTON, OH 45459, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
Official recalls
122V031000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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