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    Kia Soul

    EPA MPG: 27 mpg

    RECALL ALERT:
    There are 3 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

    Reliability

    Overall Reliability

    We expect the 2025 Soul will have about average reliability when compared to the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2022, 2023, and 2024 models and the Kia brand score.

    The 2017 Kia Soul has been recalled 3 times by NHTSA. View Recalls
    Most Common Trouble Spots
    Common Trouble Spot
    Common Trouble Spot

    Owner Reported Trouble Spots

    The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2017 Kia Soul owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

    Paint And Trim

    Paint (fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking), loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, rust.

    What Owners Say

    Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling)

    "Paint flaked off the hood area in multiple places"

    Anonymous A., NC (2017 Kia Soul Base 1.6-L 4 Cyl)

    "At about 45,000 large faded ovals began to appear on all of the upward facing surfaces. The dealer made a joke about cheap paint telling me there was no recourse."

    Anonymous A., (2017 Kia Soul Base 1.6-L 4 Cyl)
    Rust

    "Tailgate has been rusting for past two years. I've tried my best to stop it, but its rusting from inside out. Again, I'll never buy a KIA again."

    Anonymous, ON (2017 Kia Soul Exclaim 1.6-L 4 Cyl)

    Exhaust

    Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Other/unsure

    "new starter replacement."

    Anonymous, ND (2017 Kia Soul Plus 2.0-L 4 Cyl)

    "Engine was lagging and making puff sounds. They still dont know why."

    Anonymous, OR (2017 Kia Soul Exclaim 2.0-L 4 Cyl)

    Engine Minor

    Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, fuel leaks, oil leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Engine knock or ping

    "I have reported this on three different occasions to the dealer. The problem remains."

    Anonymous A., WI (2017 Kia Soul Plus 2.0-L 4 Cyl)
    Oil leaks

    "Dealer reported and "fixed" problem in July 2023. Other repair shop reported and "fixed problem in September 2023. Dealer reported and "fixed" problem in April 2024. Altho it was warranty covered, had to rent a car each time and pay for the external shop repair. My issue is with the dealer as well as the product."

    Anonymous A., WI (2017 Kia Soul Plus 2.0-L 4 Cyl)

    Brakes

    Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.

    What Owners Say

    Antilock braking system (ABS)

    "Intermittent ABS + anti-skid red warning lights ... manual says car can driven .. waiting to get diagnosed"

    Anonymous A., RI (2017 Kia Soul EV 1.6-L 4 Cyl)
    Regular brake failure

    "Back in July of 2023 I left the car parked for a month. When I got back, the rotors were fully rusted. I was told by my local KIA service dept. that all rotors/brake pads and calipers had to be replaced along with the brake fluid. About a month after the service, my wife lost all braking power. Apparently the brake lines had rusted and all the fluid blew out when the car was stopped. I had to pay full price (car wasn't under warranty) to replace the brake lines. I have NEVER had brake lines fail like this before. I will NEVER purchase a KIA again after this incident."

    Anonymous, ON (2017 Kia Soul Exclaim 1.6-L 4 Cyl)

    Drive System

    Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive components, driveline vibration, electrical failure, traction control, electronic stability control.

    What Owners Say

    Other driveline problem

    "Replaced joint assembly"

    Anonymous, GA (2017 Kia Soul Plus 2.0-L 4 Cyl)

    Transmission Minor

    Gear selector and linkage, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission, leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Rough shifting

    "This is the second time I have had the dealer work on the rough downshift. It was repaired once at 30,000. It began again at 46,000. I bought the car for the 100,000 ten year warranty as advertised. The dealer claims thae transmission is only 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty. Deceptive!!"

    Anonymous A., (2017 Kia Soul Base 1.6-L 4 Cyl)

    Climate System

    AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.

    What Owners Say

    A/C compressor

    "Quit working. Replaced u der extended wanantee"

    Anonymous, BC (2017 Kia Soul Base 1.6-L 4 Cyl)

    Engine Major

    Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbocharger or supercharger, timing chain or belt.

    What Owners Say

    Other major engine problem

    "Just over 3 months of ownership and exactly 1675 miles driven, the car shut down while driving and there was oil pouring out of it. Can not afford to take it to dealership and no private garage has been willing to diagnose it."

    Anonymous, OK (2017 Kia Soul)

    Engine Cooling

    Radiator, cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze leaks, overheating.

    Noises And Leaks

    Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, seals and/or weather stripping, air and water leaks.

    Transmission Major

    Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, premature clutch replacement.

    In-car Electronics

    Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display.

    Engine Electrical

    Alternator, starter, hybrid battery replacement, hybrid battery related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, spark plugs and wires failure, auto stop/start.

    Steering And Suspension

    Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

    Body Hardware

    Windows, locks and latches, doors or sliding doors, tailgate, trunk or hatch, mirrors, seat controls (power or manual), seat belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect.

    Electrical Accessories

    Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, USB ports, alarm or security system, remote engine start, heated or cooled seats, heated steering wheel, headlights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, wireless charging pad.

    Fuel System/Emissions

    Sensors (O₂, or oxygen, sensor), emission-control devices (includes EGR), fuel-injection system, fuel gauge/sender, fuel pump, problems filling up the tank.

    2017 Sedans & Hatchbacks Reliability

    This Car
    vs. Similar Cars

    Kia vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

    Reliability History
    * Redesign year
    00
    01
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    05
    06
    07
    08
    09
    10*
    11
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    14*
    15
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    20*
    21
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    Overall Reliability Verdict
    NA
    NA

    POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS
    Powertrain
    NA
    NA
    Engine Major
    NA
    NA
    Engine Minor
    NA
    NA
    Engine Cooling
    NA
    NA
    Engine Electrical
    NA
    NA
    Transmission Major
    NA
    NA
    Transmission Minor
    NA
    NA
    Drive System
    NA
    NA
    Fuel System/Emissions
    NA
    NA
    Exhaust
    NA
    NA
    Steering and Suspension
    NA
    NA
    Brakes
    NA
    NA
    Climate System
    NA
    NA
    Build Quality
    NA
    NA
    Electrical Accessories
    NA
    NA
    Body Hardware
    NA
    NA
    Paint/Trim
    NA
    NA
    Noises/Leaks
    NA
    NA
    In-car Electronics
    NA
    NA
    Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey for over 300,000 vehicles, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how 2000 through 2024 vehicles are holding up in 20 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, electric motor, EV charging, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical accessories. NA indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
    Recalls
    PROVIDED BY
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
    Oct 26, 2023
    Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
    Summary:
    Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on.
    What should you do:
    Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 23V724000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 6262
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Mar 29, 2023
    A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
    Summary:
    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.
    What should you do:
    Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 23V218000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 2689
    AIR BAGS
    Jan 25, 2022
    Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
    Summary:
    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.
    What should you do:
    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.
    For more information:
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
    NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 22V031000
    Potential Number of Units Affected: 410619
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