NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 5 recalls, 283 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2017 Kia Soul.
105 MPGe combined
Small Station Wagons
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Engine complaints dominate the 2017 Kia Soul's owner reports by a wide margin. The most common pattern owners describe is excessive oil consumption, where the engine burns through oil between changes faster than expected, often triggering low oil pressure warning lights. Some owners report this escalating to the engine entering limp mode, limiting vehicle speed. A smaller group describes engine failure requiring full replacement, and a handful report that problems continued or new issues emerged even after a replacement engine was installed. Powertrain complaints, at a much lower volume, touch on general drivability concerns. Airbag complaints represent a third cluster, though at low volume relative to the engine category. The oil consumption and low oil pressure warning pattern is clearly the most consistent thread across 2017 Soul complaints, appearing across a range of mileages but frequently surfacing in the 80,000–100,000-mile range.
283
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
15
Fire-Related
13
With Injuries
By System
The 2017 Kia Soul has 5 recalls, with the most serious risks including unintended vehicle rollaway, high-voltage battery fire, and sudden engine power loss — each of which can lead to a crash or fire with little warning.
Two recalls apply only to Soul EV models. In one, a damaged parking mechanism can allow the vehicle to roll even when the gear selector is in Park and the parking brake is not applied, creating a rollaway risk whenever the car is powered on. In the other, the high-voltage battery pack can develop an internal electrical short-circuit while driving, raising the risk of fire. On non-EV models equipped with the 2.0L engine, the engine control module may fail to catch early warning signs of engine trouble, which can lead to a sudden loss of power and an inability to restart; in some cases, the engine failure itself can also result in a fire.
Across all trim levels, two recalls address the same underlying concern: the airbag control unit can malfunction and leave the airbags unable to deploy in a crash. In one filing, the control unit's cover can press against a memory chip on the circuit board and damage it; in the other, a separate defect within the control unit can trigger the airbag warning light and disable the system. Either way, the practical result is the same: in a collision, the airbags may not inflate, removing a key layer of protection for both the driver and front passenger.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The parking mechanism may fail, allowing the vehicle to move unintentionally when the gear shift is in Park and the parking brake is not applied while the engine is on.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the electronic control unit software at no charge to fix the parking mechanism.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high-voltage battery pack may develop an electrical short circuit while you're driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update or replace the battery management system and software. New software detects abnormal voltage and limits charging and power. If needed, the battery will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty airbag control unit can cause the airbag warning light to illuminate. When this occurs, the airbag system may malfunction and airbags might not deploy during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the airbag control unit software. If diagnostic trouble code B1620 is present, the dealer will replace the airbag control unit.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Air Bag Control Unit cover may contact and damage a memory chip on the circuit board, causing the air bags to deactivate and fail to deploy in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the Air Bag Control Unit and update its software or replace the unit as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control module may not detect problems early enough, potentially leading to sudden engine failure and loss of power with inability to restart.
What the fix does
Kia will update the engine control module software at a dealer to improve problem detection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
