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
17,890 miles · Apr 5, 2018
Service Brakes
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE'S WILL RELEASE AND THEN GRAB ONTO THE ROTORS AGAIN. ALSO HAVE A SOFT PETAL AND HISSING WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED STATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG; HOWEVER, I AM EXPERIENCING GRINDING, MY CAR SHAKING AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, OR RANDOMLY FAILURE TO ST…
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WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE'S WILL RELEASE AND THEN GRAB ONTO THE ROTORS AGAIN. ALSO HAVE A SOFT PETAL AND HISSING WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED STATES THAT NOTHING IS WRONG; HOWEVER, I AM EXPERIENCING GRINDING, MY CAR SHAKING AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, OR RANDOMLY FAILURE TO STOP, RESULTING IN HAVING TO GO OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #11083435
12,000 miles · Apr 4, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, SHOULDERS, AND BACK. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, SHOULDERS, AND BACK. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
NHTSA ODI #11083299
1,000 miles · Feb 24, 2018
Wheels
TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM RIM WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, NO WARNINGS, HAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES , 70MPH HEARD A THUMPING NOISE THEN A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO CONTROL AFTER GETTING OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD THE TIRE SEPARATED AT RIM ALL THE WAY AROUND, NOTHING WAS HIT
NHTSA ODI #11074612
18,000 miles · Jan 30, 2018
SeatsInjury
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A BRUISE AROUND THE TAIL BONE AREA. THE CONTACT HAD AN X-RAY PERFORMED AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD SUSTAINED A FRACTURED TAIL BONE. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR THE FRACTURED TAIL BONE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CLOTH SEAT FAB…
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TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2017 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A BRUISE AROUND THE TAIL BONE AREA. THE CONTACT HAD AN X-RAY PERFORMED AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD SUSTAINED A FRACTURED TAIL BONE. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR THE FRACTURED TAIL BONE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CLOTH SEAT FABRIC COVERING WAS EXTREMELY THIN. ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS SENT TO SUMMIT PLACE KIA WEST (4575 PLAINFIELD AVE NE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49525, (616) 323-1400) NEAR ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA ODI #11065921
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2017
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
THE MANUAL DOES NOT SHOW INSTRUCTIONS ON A KIA SOUL MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE KIA SOUL BASE MODEL SEEMS TO BE PURCHASED AS A KIA SOUL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITHOUT THE UPGRADE. THE MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE KIA SOUL MODEL HAS FEATURES AND UPGRADES AND DOES NOT EVEN TOUCH ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA ODI #11048730
350 miles · Nov 15, 2017
Unknown Or Other
THE HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH TELEPHONE CONNECT SYSTEM IN MY CAR, AND ALL 2017 KIA SOUL AND SEDONA MODELS WITH THE BASE STEREO SYSTEM, DOES NOT ALLOW HANDS-FREE OPERATION WITH ANDROID PHONES. ONLY APPLE PHONES ARE SUPPORTED. TO MAKE A CALL WITH AN ANDROID PHONE ONE MUST MANIPULATE EITHER THE HANDSET ITSELF, OR THE RADIO BUTTONS AND…
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THE HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH TELEPHONE CONNECT SYSTEM IN MY CAR, AND ALL 2017 KIA SOUL AND SEDONA MODELS WITH THE BASE STEREO SYSTEM, DOES NOT ALLOW HANDS-FREE OPERATION WITH ANDROID PHONES. ONLY APPLE PHONES ARE SUPPORTED. TO MAKE A CALL WITH AN ANDROID PHONE ONE MUST MANIPULATE EITHER THE HANDSET ITSELF, OR THE RADIO BUTTONS AND KNOBS IN THE DASH. THIS VIOLATES THE DRIVING LAW IN MY STATE AND I'M SURE MANY OTHERS. IT'S ALSO EXCEEDINGLY DISTRACTING AND UNSAFE. THE SALES BROCHURE FOR THESE CARS CLEARLY STATES THAT THE SYSTEM HAS FULL FUNCTIONALITY WITH BOTH ANDROID AND IPHONE DEVICES. NEITHER SALES, OR SERVICE MANAGERS AT THE DEALERSHIPS HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT, AND WERE AS SHOCKED AS I WAS TO LEARN THE FACTS OF THE MATTER. I CONTACTED KIA CORPORATE OFFICES IN CALIFORNIA, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED BY AN ESCALATION REPRESENTATIVE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO AT LEAST CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECT AND PROMISED A SOLUTION, OR THEY WOULD TAKE THE CAR BACK AND REFUND MY DOWN PAYMENTS PLUS DAMAGES. AFTER THREE WEEKS OF NO REPLY TO THE FEW GENTLE MESSAGES I LEFT, I FINALLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM WHERE HE INFORMED ME THAT - THE SYSTEM IS WORKING CORRECTLY AS DESIGNED, IT IS DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE IPHONE - HE ALSO SAID THAT KIA WAS WILLING TO BUY ME AN IPHONE TO SETTLE THE MATTER. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A SOLUTION. THE SALES MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT HE HAS SPOKEN WITH HIS FACTORY REP ABOUT THE MATTER BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMENT AND NONE IS EXPECTED. SO I'M COMPELLED TO MAKE THIS REPORT TO YOU, AND I INTEND TO, AS THEY SAY, BLOW UP THE INTERNET, WITH POSTINGS EXPOSING THIS DEFECT AND THE CORPORATE RESPONSE. PLEASE FIND ATTACHED KIA PITSTOP DEALER TECHNICAL OPERATIONS NETWORK BULLETIN #PS462 DESCRIBING THIS DEFECT. THIS WAS PROVIDED BY THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, WHO LIKE ME IS SHOCKED BY THIS, BUT TOLD ME TODAY TO EXPECT NOTHING FROM KIA.
NHTSA ODI #11046385
14 miles · Nov 2, 2017
Unknown Or Other
VOICE ACTIVATION DOES NOT WORK ON BASE RADIO WITH ANDROID PHONE
NHTSA ODI #11042733
200 miles · Oct 23, 2017
SteeringUnknown Or Other
I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 KIA SOUL +. I HAVE AN ANDROID PHONE AND TOLD THE SALES PERSON I WANTED 2 THINGS. 1) HANDSFREE DIALING AND A BACKUP CAMERA. THEIR DESCRIPTION NEVER STATED, NOR DID YOURS ON YOUR WEBSITE, THAT THE HANDSFREE ONLY WORKS WITH IPHONES. I HAD A 2016 KIA SOUL AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FAL…
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 KIA SOUL +. I HAVE AN ANDROID PHONE AND TOLD THE SALES PERSON I WANTED 2 THINGS. 1) HANDSFREE DIALING AND A BACKUP CAMERA. THEIR DESCRIPTION NEVER STATED, NOR DID YOURS ON YOUR WEBSITE, THAT THE HANDSFREE ONLY WORKS WITH IPHONES. I HAD A 2016 KIA SOUL AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FALSE ADVERTISING. ANDROID PHONE USERS HAVE OVER 55% OF THE CELL PHONE MARKET AND WHY YOU TOOK THIS FEATURE AWAY FROM YOUR CAR IS A BAD MOVE. THEN NOT TO TELL PEOPLE WHEN SHOPPING, IS ANOTHER BAD MOVE. IM SURE LESS PEOPLE WOULD BUY YOUR CARS IF THEY KNEW THEIR ANDROID PHONES WON'T WORK. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE I KNOW I WOULDNT HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR HAD I KNOWN I NEED AN IPHONE TO USE THE HANDSFREE DIALING. I AM GOING TO REPORT THIS TO THE BBB BECAUSE THE SALES PERSON LIED TO ME EVEN THO THEY SAID THEY TOO WERE UNAWARE THAT YOU TOOK THIS FEATURE AWAY FROM THE CARS. YOU NEED TO FIX THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY KIA OWNERS ON THE FORUMS WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS ISSUE. YOU CANT ADVERTISE THAT A CAR HAS AN OPTION BUT NOT TELL THEM ONLY IF YOU HAVE IPHONE THIS OPTION WILL WORK. AGAIN, ITS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE TOO.
NHTSA ODI #11035753
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
14 miles · Sep 21, 2017
Electrical System
2017 KIA SOUL BLUETOOTH. DOESN'T WORK WITH ANDROID
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