2017 Kia Soul problems
NHTSA has received 357 complaints about the 2017 Kia Soul, and 56% of them involve engine. After that come drivetrain & axles (5%) and electrical system (5%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 357 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 56% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 21 and 19
- Injuries and deaths
- 21 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 73,000 miles 155 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 39 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 37 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 155 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 73,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 83,000 miles (84 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 21 complaints mention a crash; 19 complaints mention a fire; 21 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2017 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the Kia Soul with enough data (218 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal, knocking noise would emit from the engine without warning. The contact notified the dealer and they informed him that the knocking noise was normal vehicle operation. The contact then stated that while driving at 60 MPH as the knocking noise persisted, the noise grew increasing louder without warning.
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.
Severe front end damage in accident and airbags never deployed on 4/7/2022. Airbag light was never illuminated on the dash. Never received notification of recall before accident. Both driver and passenger taken to emergency room.
When placed in drive, and gas pedal is depressed the car jerks forward and back and will not accelerate. It shakes the whole car.. Does it if car is cold or hot but seems to happen more when car is not full hot. Unsafe when pulling into traffic.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence and diagnosed by an independent mechanic who determined that the rod bearings had failed and caused damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.