2017 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 120owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- $6,600median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
198 of the 272 complaints on this car are about the engine. 120 of those describe engine failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 Soul.
Narrower sheets: Engine knocking or ticking (55 reports)
Tick what matches of 120 reports
Engine failure on other Soul years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (115 reports) and the short block or long block (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Soul
Kia 25v099 piston oil ring recall effectiveness. Closed dec 18, 2025.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
What owners paid
24 of the 120 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,200 to $8,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 65,000 and 100,000 miles, from the 73 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 8 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Kia Soul that deal with this problem. 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.
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”.
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 ...
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.
4 more on the 2017 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“We heard a ticking noise, and took it to the autoshop. After investigating, they found that it was a total engine failure. The mechanics encouraged us to check the vin number, because total engine failure for the 2017 Kia Soul was very common. Our vin did not appear in this recall, but all the symptoms are the same. We've had regular maintenance, and it's less than 80k miles.”
Filed Mar 31, 2026 · 80,000 miles
“Vehicle is consuming oil far before service is due. Easily a quart or more before 1000mi. Read about a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT regarding engine failure due to this.”
Filed Sep 6, 2024 · 1,000 miles
“Engine locked up at around 69,000 miles when contacting Kia about warranty the man on the phone knew the problem when told what the vehicle was and said that it is very common. There was no warning except for knock shorty before happening standing me on the interstate on January 19th 2022.”
Filed Jan 24, 2022 · 69,000 miles
“Engined seized and had to be replaced due to an issue known to dealer. (Learned after the fact) Zero issues before it happend. Nearly caused accident. Going up a hill and all at once dead shake, lost acceleration and steering for a moment.”
Filed Sep 8, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 120 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 60 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 51 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 38 reports