2017 Kia Soul
Common Problems
Ranked from 130 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
18 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine Failure with Check Engine Light
41complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine fails unexpectedly, often accompanied by a check engine light, leading to loss of power and potential accidents.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Engine Burning Excessive Oil
32complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine consumes an excessive amount of oil, leading to potential engine failure and fire risks.
- 3
Engine Failure Due to Rod Knocking
32complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine experiences a rod knocking or puncturing through the engine block, leading to complete engine failure.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Engine Misfire and Knocking
31complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine misfires and produces a knocking sound, often without warning, leading to reduced performance and potential engine damage.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Engine Overheating
20complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine overheats, often without warning, leading to potential engine damage and fire risks.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Unintended Acceleration
18complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe vehicle experiences unintended acceleration, posing a significant safety risk to the driver and passengers.
- 7
Engine Seizure and Total Failure
15complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine suddenly seizes and fails, causing the vehicle to lose power and potentially crash.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Performance Issues Post-Recall
10complaintsMedium severityEngineAfter a recall, the engine continues to exhibit performance issues such as stalling and misfires.
- 9
Engine stalling and unexpected shutdown
6complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine unexpectedly stalls or shuts off while driving, posing a risk of loss of control.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Catalytic Converter Failure
5complaintsHigh severityEngineThe catalytic converter fails due to excessive oil consumption, leading to engine damage and potential emissions violations.
$900–$2,500est. catalytic converter replacement · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Engine Stall at Idle
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls at idle, often due to stop-start system failure or other internal issues.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Hands-free Bluetooth system compatibility issues
4complaintsLow severityElectricalHands-free Bluetooth system only works with Apple phones, not Android, violating state laws.
- 13
Airbag deployment failure during collision
2complaintsSafety riskOtherAirbags failed to deploy during collisions resulting in injuries.
- 14
Air Bag Malfunction
2complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe air bags fail to deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
- 15
Brake system failure leading to loss of control
2complaintsHigh severityBrakesService brakes fail to function properly causing loss of vehicle control.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Engine Burning Oil and Overheating Catalytic Converter
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine burns oil excessively and the catalytic converter overheats, potentially causing engine failure.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 17
Engine Failure Due to Lack of Recall Notification
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe owner did not receive notification for a safety recall, resulting in engine failure during operation.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 18
Vehicle Smoke and Defogger Issues
2complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe vehicle emits smoke and fog from the defogger, indicating a potential fuel system issue.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.