2017 Kia Soul problems and recalls

70% of owner complaints on the 2017 Kia Soul related to the Engine (191 of 272).

272
Complaints
1
Recalls
17
Crash reports
14
Fire reports
19
Injuries
98.1
Severity index

Severity index 98.1 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 98.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 20 of 138 by severity index among 2017 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 86% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2017 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 191 complaints (70.2%)191 70%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 32 complaints (11.8%)32 12%Power TrainPower Train: 19 complaints (7.0%)19 7%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 19 complaints (7.0%)19 7%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 18 complaints (6.6%)18 7%Air BagsAir Bags: 16 complaints (5.9%)16 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 14 complaints (5.1%)14 5%SteeringSteering: 10 complaints (3.7%)10 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE19170.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3211.8%
POWER TRAIN197.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM197.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM186.6%
AIR BAGS165.9%
SERVICE BRAKES145.1%
STEERING103.7%

Complaints filed per year

023462017: 72018: 122019: 152020: 292021: 432022: 462023: 412024: 312025: 282026: 20 (partial year)1718192021224623242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20177
201812
201915
202029
202143
202246
202341
202431
202528
2026 (year to date)20
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (100 against 118).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
22V03100025/01/2022AIR BAGSKia 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

Other Kia Soul model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-26. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.