Second generation (PS)
2017 Kia Soul
The most reported problem on the 2017 Kia Soul is engine failure, with 120 complaints, usually around 80,000 miles.
- 272owner complaints
- 1recalls
- 17involved a crash
- 74,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Soul doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2017 model year.
Is the 2017 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2017 Kia Soul has 272 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 348 for 2017 hatchbacks on this site. Of the 12 Soul model years since 2014, it has the 5th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2016 and 2018
- At 27 complaints for each year on the road, the 2017 runs well under the 2016 (74) and close to the 2018 (24).
- Top problem
- One problem takes up much of the file: engine failure, named in 120 of the 272 complaints (44%). A quarter of the 73 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure saw it by about 65,000 miles, and half by about 80,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 33 of the 272 complaints (12%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 17 reports mention a crash, 14 mention a fire and 19 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 11 of 17, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, stalling and misfire. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2022 at 46 and have dropped every year since, to 28 in 2025. So far in 2026, 20 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 120 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
272 complaints is about the median for a 2017 model on this site and 1.3 times fewer than the median 2017 hatchback. Among the 8 Soul model years here it ranks 5th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2017 Kia Soul
Kia filed 102 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2017 Kia Soul. 15 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 2 bulletins · 120 complaints
PITSTOP: LOW OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE AFTER GAMMA 1.6L GDI SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information equipped with a Gamma 1.6L GDI regarding a 'low oil pressure' concern during engine idle on vehicles engine due to a missing dowel pin, after a short block engine replacement.
PITSTOP: DTC P0011/ P0014/ P0016/ P0017 DUE TO INCORRECT CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL CONFIGURATION This Pitstop provides information on some 2010-2013MY Soul (AM), 2014-2019MY Soul (PS), and 2020~MY Soul (SK3) vehicles equipped with the engines listed below, which may set DTC P0011, P0014, P0016, or P0017 after an engine replacement.
Engine knocking or ticking 3 bulletins · 55 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2107Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI2107) titled “Nu 2.0L GDI - Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement”.
SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2107Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI2107) titled "Nu 2.0L GDI - Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement".
1 more on this problem
NU 2.0L GDI KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2107) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), in order to protect the engine from ...
Burns oil or oil level rises 5 bulletins · 38 complaints
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
3 more on this problem
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA ENGINES - This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2012-2019MY Soul (AM/PS) vehicles (refer to table below for applicable engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 14 complaints
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake line(s), on certain 2014-2019MY Soul (PS) vehicles produced from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, and ...
Rod bearing failure 3 bulletins · 13 complaints
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107) This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing ...
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter Nu GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod ...
1 more on this problem
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage ...
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
SERVICE ACTION: SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR AUDIO GEN 4.0 TYPE B (SA253) This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the Audio Gen 4.0 Type B software on some 2017MY Soul (PS), produced from July 12, 2016 to August 26, 2016, which may experience a screen freezing, black screen, or other display concerns during initial system ...
Complaints filed by year
46 complaints came in 2022. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2017 Kia Soul
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
The recall on the 2017 Kia Soul, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2017 Kia Soul?
Engine failure, with 120 of the 272 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 80,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2017 Kia Soul problems start?
Of the 156 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 41,000 miles and half by about 74,000.
Is the 2017 Kia Soul better or worse than the 2016 and 2018?
Counted per year on the road, the 2017 has fewer complaints than the 2016 and about as many complaints as the 2018: 27 a year against 74 and 24.
How many 2017 Kia Soul complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
33 of them (12%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2017 Kia Soul?
No recall on file for the 2017 Kia Soul is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.