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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

271 reports
92,000 miles · Dec 15, 2020
Engine

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

NHTSA ODI #11383468

74,000 miles · Dec 7, 2020
Engine

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 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.

NHTSA ODI #11378360

120,000 miles · Nov 9, 2020
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11373856

113,000 miles · Nov 9, 2020
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11373784

41,040 miles · Oct 29, 2020
Air BagsCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI #11367048

68,000 miles · Oct 24, 2020
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11366181

19,990 miles · Oct 6, 2020
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

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

NHTSA ODI #11362960

100,000 miles · Aug 31, 2020
EnginePower Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #11352239

80,000 miles · Aug 26, 2020
EnginePower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #11351378

48,000 miles · Aug 14, 2020
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11349207

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.