2017 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 272 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 17 involved a crash and 14 involved a fire. 19 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bagsJan 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.
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
Campaign 22V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
198 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Jun 7, 2021
My KIA Soul did not have any warning lights on or strange sounds/issues when I began driving on the highway on 6/5/21 with my 12 year old special needs son. A short time after we entered the highway I began to notice a strange knocking sound and it felt like the car was struggling to maintain speed. Within a few seconds I started to smell a "hot" smell and immediately pulled over to the side of a two lane highway with a very small shoulder. When I pulled over the knocking became very loud and then all of the warning lights on the dash flashed on and then the car died. We were stranded on the side of the road in the middle of no where while trucks and cars flew by at high rates of speed. It was also incredibly hot and the car was not functioning to be able to roll down windows. I was able to use roadside assistance through my insurance company and it was towed to a local repair shop. I was told that the engine was blown and my engine had "thrown" internal parts. They said the engine was completely dead and needed replaced. They also stated that they have seen this issue a lot with Kia Soul's especially 2015-2017 models. In fact the owner said as soon as he heard what the car was he knew it was going to be engine failure. I am very lucky that I was able to pull over to the small shoulder before the car died or I would have been stuck in the middle of the road right after a hill and my car would have been impossible to see stopped by drivers coming over the hill before it would have been hit. This has also caused my special needs son to become extremely panicked in the car and afraid to drive with me. After a quick Google search I was able to find complaint after complaint after complaint about this issue with the 2017 Kia Soul at around 70-80,000 miles which is exactly where I am at. I know owe a great deal of money on a car that is totaled out unless I spend over $6,000 to replace the engine. Money that I do NOT have after losing my job due to Covid.
Engine, Jun 4, 2021
I was headed to a family BBQ on memorial day in my 2017 Kia Soul that I have had about 2 years and is a certified pre-owned vehicle and did not notice any abnormalities or sounds prior to the incident. I went to partk and noticed that my check engine light popped on but thought nothing of it as my gas cap lock was broken and so I turned off the vehicle. I want to note there was no sounds, and no over heating. That evening I went to leave and the car would not turn over and thought maybe the battery was bad, but was reminded that it was replaced one week prior. So I had it towed in the next day to a mechanic and upon initial inspection he found that the engine had siezed and locked up as well as it would not turn over. I'm pretty good about personally completing oil changes, but was sharing vehicle with my ex partner and was told that the oil came up 2 quarts short upon checking, but was told that should not be enough to make the engine seize. So the mechanic replaced the starter and upon turning over the vehicle the engine began to produce a bad knock and I was told that the engine was needing to be replaced and was going to lock up again if driven. The vehicle is at 70,000 miles so is no longer covered under the factory warranty and the extended warranty may not cover it so I'm at a lose at the moment. I find it really hard to believe that after all the research I've done on this engine problem and seeing all the people with the same situation occurring that a recall has not been issued on this year.
Engine, Jun 2, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, he noticed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact was adding a quart of oil every 546 miles. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The engine was flushed however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Engine, Jun 1, 2021
Driver was on freeway when car lost acceleration. Driver pulled over at first exit when the dash flashed various lights and shut down. Driver attempted to start the car but was unable to do so -- there was smoking from the engine so Driver had the vehicle towed to shop. It was determined that the engine failed catastrophically and would require an engine replacement.
Engine, May 24, 2021
Without any warning, there began a clunking sound coming from under the hood of my vehicle while I operated it on the highway at highway speeds. All of a sudden, the car could not accelerate or maintain speed, and began losing speed quickly. I was lucky there was no one behind me, because the car slowed down so rapidly I almost didn’t make it to the brake down lane. My car was brought to my mechanic and it was diagnosed with a broken rod, even though there has been detailed and documented maintenance preformed in the vehicle. My mechanic said that there is no reason for the piston to have broken like that especially when there was no operator negligence.
Engine, May 21, 2021
A couple hours after getting an oil change the engine started knocking. It got so bad we couldn’t continue to safely drive it, even to get it back to the service station. Had it towed to repair shop and they have said there is a bearing rod that is messed up in the engine. There was not an accident or fire only because we stopped driving before things could get worse. Although the 2017 Kia Soul does not have any recalls it uses some of the same parts of other models that have been recalled. I have also been told this is a common issue for this model. I don’t have an estimate yet as the repair shop is still working on that. I don’t remember exact mileage and can’t check because car is at shop.
Power train, Engine, May 5, 2021
GOT IN MY CAR SEPTEMBER 2020 AND HEARD KNOCKING UNDER HOOD. DRIVE IT TO THE PENZOIL LESS THAN 15 MINUTES AWAY AND I KNOCK GOT FASTER AND LOUDER. PENZOIL TOLD ME PARK IT AND TOW TO NEAREST KIA. EXTREMELY DISHEARTENING I'M 23 Y/O SINGLE MOTHER. NOW WITH A BROKEN CAR. 16000 IN DEBT FOR A YEAR AND HALF WORTH OF DRIVING LESS THAN 80000 ON ODOMETER JEEESHHH KIA . HOPEFULLY WE GET RECALL SOON
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 27, 2021
YES IVE BEEN EXPERIENCEING A STRONG GAS SMELL WHEN IDLE AND A FAST NOT NORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION AND PROBLEMS WITHE THE ELCTRIC SYSTEM
Power train, Engine, Apr 20, 2021
OIL LIGHT CAME ON, CHECKED OIL AND IT WAS LOW. ADDED OIL. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR LOSS COMPLETE POWER AND STALLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ENGINE MADE A LOUD SOUND AND STOPPED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE BLOWED AT 82,509 MILES. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AT A DEALERSHIP IN OUR TOWN. EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS PURCHASED HAD WENT OUT 1000 MILES BACK AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THE REGULAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER BECAUSE WE WERE THE 2ND OWNER. WE WERE TOLD ABOUT $9000 TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA AND BECAUSE THEY DONT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS VIN# THEY CAN'T HELP. EVEN THOUGH WHEN YOU GOOGLE ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. IF THESE CARS ARE GIVING SO MUCH TROUBLE, WHY ISN'T THERE SOMETHING THEY CAN DO. I WORK WITH 2 PEOPLE THAT OWN KIA'S OF OTHER MODELS AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR MOTOR WAS REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE. I NEED HELP, PLEASE. WE FRONT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND MY DAUGHTER STILL OWES OVER $9000 ON THIS CAR.
Engine, Apr 15, 2021
WE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING THEN LEAKING OIL
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 14, 2021
MY KIA WAS DRIVING NORMALLY UNTIL I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE OIL AND BATTERY LIGHT SIMULTANEOUSLY CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE; HOWEVER THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND A HORRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. MY VEHICLE TRAVELLED ANOTHER 100 FEET BEFORE SHUTTING OFF AGAIN. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PRESENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO STOKES KIA IN GOOSE CREEK SC, WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE THREW A ROD, AND WOULD COST NEARLY $8,000 TO REPLACE. I'VE HAD MY KIA FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, AND CONVENIENTLY ENOUGH, MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED BY A FEW HUNDRED MILES, AND I STILL OWE $9,000 ON THE LOAN I TOOK OUT FOR THE CAR. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THIS VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN RECALLED YET; IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE BECOME A FATALITY WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN THEIR ENGINE CRASHES ON THEM.
Engine, Apr 7, 2021
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SAME ISSUE THE 2016 SOUL HAS A RECALL FOR. TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION FOLLOWED BY POWER STEERING LOSS. WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY BUT IT TOOK PRESSING HARD ON BRAKES AND PULLING E-BRAKE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. SERVICE CENTER SAYS IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM FOUND IN 2016 SOUL BUT KIA WON'T APPROVE CLAIMS FOR 2017 SOUL AS THEY AREN'T OFFICIALLY PART OF RECALL.
Power train, Engine, Apr 5, 2021
WITH NO WARNING MY CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING, NO ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON, MY OIL CHANGES WERE UP-TO-DATE, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ROD KNOCK WHICH IS WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE ON HERE IS SAYING. HOW IS THERE NOT ALREADY A RECALL ON THIS YEAR???
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 31, 2021
THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC, STEERING AND BRAKING EFFECTED, QUICKLY ROLLED TO A STOP. ENGINE TOTALLY AND QUICKLY LOST ALL POWER. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN BY KIA DEALER, AND REPLACED.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 24, 2021
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.
Engine, Mar 9, 2021
FIRST DRIVE IN THE MORNINGS, THERE IS A STRONG ODD ODOR COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS.
Engine, Feb 4, 2021, fire
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.
Engine, Jan 22, 2021
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.
Power train, Engine, Jan 13, 2021
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.
Engine, Jan 12, 2021
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?
Engine, Dec 18, 2020
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.
Engine, Dec 15, 2020
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
Engine, Dec 7, 2020
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.
Engine, Nov 9, 2020
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.
Engine, Nov 9, 2020
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.