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2017 Kia Soul
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age — inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
268 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 7, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (70% of complaints, typically reported near 62k miles).
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2017 Kia Soul, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (19) · Fuel system (18) · Airbags (16) · Brakes (14)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
70%188 complaints · typically near 62k mi · 42 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, a loud knocking sound was heard, and the vehicle's speed decreased to app…”
Electrical system
7%19 complaints · 7 in the last 2 years
“After multiple recent services at the dealership, the car caught fire while idle in the driveway. The fire was under the hood in the front part of the engine compartme…”
Transmission & drivetrain
7%18 complaints · typically near 83k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“While driving under normal conditions, the check engine light began flashing and the vehicle suddenly lost power and entered limp mode. Acceleration was severely limit…”
Fuel system
7%18 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Burning oil in 1,000 miles blowing blue smoke out exhaust”
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Air Bags · 22V031000
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: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Kia SOUL beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forCross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Kia Soul against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.