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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
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I STOP AT LIGHT AND START TO PULL OUT MY CAR IS LIKE IT HAS KNOW POWER AT ALL THEN IT WILL JUST TAKE OFF ITS DONE THAT WHEN IHAVE PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC JUST COMPLETY STOP THAN TAKE OFF IS THERE ANY RECALLS ON SOMETHING LIKES THIS WORRIED ONE DAY NOT GOING TO TAKE OFF GOING TO GET HIT

NHTSA ODI #11172204

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

FOOT PRESSED ON GAS JUST STOPS IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. HAVE TO LET UP AND PRESS SECOND TIME TO GO AGAIN . WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11171988

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

14,523 miles · Nov 8, 2018
SteeringCrash

THE STEERING WHEEL GO LOCKED WHEN IN CURVE RESULTING IN A CRASH WHERE I HIT A POLE IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET.

NHTSA ODI #11150083

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

9,100 miles · Aug 20, 2018
Service BrakesCrash

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018, ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW AND AS I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY FELT AS THOUGH THEY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP, I WAS UNABLE TO AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY A NON-KIA DEALER VIA MY INSURANCE. WITHIN TWO DAYS OF ME HAVING THE VEH…

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ON FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018, ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW AND AS I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY FELT AS THOUGH THEY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP, I WAS UNABLE TO AND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY A NON-KIA DEALER VIA MY INSURANCE. WITHIN TWO DAYS OF ME HAVING THE VEHICLE BACK IN MY POSSESSION, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME WHILE COMING TO A SLOW GRADUAL STOP AT A LIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, PRICE KIA, TO REPORT THE CONCERN. AFTER MULTIPLE TEST DRIVES, THEY FELT THE BRAKES TRAVELING TOO FAR AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, WITH THE CLAIM THAT THIS COULD BE THE "ONLY POSSIBLE CAUSE." OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME ISSUE; IT HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. PRICE KIA NOW CLAIMS THE ISSUE ISN'T RELOCATABLE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHOULD FURTHER DOCUMENTATION BE NEEDED THE WORK ORDERS, ACCIDENT REPORT, AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION CAN BE PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI #11121001

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2018
Electrical System

REAR CAMERA STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHILE 7000 MILES WERE DRIVEN. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, GO IN TO PARK, THEN DRIVE, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE, FOR THE CAMERA TO SWITCH OFF, REGULAR DISPLAY TO LIGHT UP.

NHTSA ODI #11115160

15,000 miles · Jun 11, 2018
Engine

MY ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, ON AN INCLINE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT HAPPENED. ONCE THE TRAIN PASSED, I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT A WARNING OR INDICATION. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO TRAFFIC. I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, PUT THE CAR …

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MY ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, ON AN INCLINE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT HAPPENED. ONCE THE TRAIN PASSED, I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT A WARNING OR INDICATION. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO TRAFFIC. I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK A MINUTE OR SO BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED 3 DAYS LATER - I WAS JUST ABOUT TO MAKE MY TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO A MAJOR STREET. I MADE A STOP TO MAKE SURE THE ROAD WAS CLEAR. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK TO RESTART THE ENGINE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11101156

5,900 miles · May 9, 2018
Wheels

WE DROVE THE CAR FOR 5900 MILES WHEN WE NOTICED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL FOR ONE OF THE TIRES. THE TIRES ARE KUMHO SOLUS TA31. WE CONTACTED THE USA REP AND WERE DIRECTED TO A SEARS AUTOCENTER FOR AN INSPECTION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SEARS CENTRE WILL OPEN THE CLAIM FOR US. TE SERAS CENTER DID NOT OPENED THE CLAIM AND ISSUED A…

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WE DROVE THE CAR FOR 5900 MILES WHEN WE NOTICED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL FOR ONE OF THE TIRES. THE TIRES ARE KUMHO SOLUS TA31. WE CONTACTED THE USA REP AND WERE DIRECTED TO A SEARS AUTOCENTER FOR AN INSPECTION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SEARS CENTRE WILL OPEN THE CLAIM FOR US. TE SERAS CENTER DID NOT OPENED THE CLAIM AND ISSUED A REPORT WITHOUT ANY DETAILS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE TIRE. WE MADE A SECOND CALL TO THE KUMHO REP AND GOT THE RUN AROUND ABOUT GOING TO THE CENTER WITHOUT A CLAIM OPENED. THEY OPENED FINALLY A CLAIM AND THEY SUGGESTED TO GO TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. WE VOICED OUR CONCERN ABOUT LOSING TIME AND WORK HOURS, NOT TALKING ABOUT USING A CAR THAT MAY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT ANOTHER TIRE MAY EXHIBIT THE SAME ISSUE IF THEY ARE FROM THE SAME SERIES?! WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THAT KUMHO HONORED THE WARRANTY THEY ISSUED FOR THESE TIRES. IT WILL BE MUCH FASTER TO PAY 120$ AND PURCHASE A NEW TIRE, HOWEVER WE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TYPE OF WARRANTY THAT IS OFFERED BY KUMHO

NHTSA ODI #11092780

6,000 miles · May 3, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION FAILS TO SEE MOST BUSES, RVS, AND LARGE TRUCKS WITH TRAILERS. IT SEEMS THAT ABOUT 90% OF THESE VEHICLE TYPES IT DOES NOT SEE. CARS ARE NOT A PROBLEM. WE NOTICED THAT HIS WAS THE CASE NEARLY EVERY TIME WE PASSED A SEMI OR BUS. I COULD BE GOING 40 TO 75 MPH. SPEED DID NOT SEEM TO MATER. I REPORTED THIS TO…

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THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION FAILS TO SEE MOST BUSES, RVS, AND LARGE TRUCKS WITH TRAILERS. IT SEEMS THAT ABOUT 90% OF THESE VEHICLE TYPES IT DOES NOT SEE. CARS ARE NOT A PROBLEM. WE NOTICED THAT HIS WAS THE CASE NEARLY EVERY TIME WE PASSED A SEMI OR BUS. I COULD BE GOING 40 TO 75 MPH. SPEED DID NOT SEEM TO MATER. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID YES IT DOES THIS ON THIS MODEL. WHY PAY FOR BLIND SPOT DETECTION WHEN IT CANNOT SEE A TRUCK?

NHTSA ODI #11091589

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.