The Lemon Index2017 Kia Soul.
The 2017 Kia Soul is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 63 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 48, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, and it has 1 recall. The best Kia Soul year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 272 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Soul year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 94K miles on the car (117 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 68K–102K miles
Recalls 1
- airbags 2022
The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 102 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information…
- PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 1.6L T-GDI AUXILIARY CANISTER INSTALLATION (SC190) - This bulletin…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Soul EV SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $700–2400 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
At 91k miles, the engine blew. At 84k miles the catalytic converter was condemned.
2017 Kia Soul owner · NHTSA complaint 11339618
More owner reports
I was told the clicking sound in the engine was normal for my car. I brought it in 1 yr and 9 months later because mechanic said it is not normal. They diagnosed my car , said I needed a whole new engine
NHTSA complaint 11383468
I stopped at a red light and my car cut off. I would not crank back up. The. Mechanic said the timing chain broke. My car will need a new motor. I have only 80,000 miles. Never had any problem and loved my car.
NHTSA complaint 11343107
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Kia Soul reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 48; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Soul year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2017 Kia Soul problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (43%), airbags (14%) and electrical (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Soul have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2017 Kia Soul safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 Kia Soul problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,000 and 94,100 miles. The middle report was at 74,000 miles, from 117 complaints.
Does the 2017 Kia Soul have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2017 Kia Soul cost in fuel a year?
About $700 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Kia Soul year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2013 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works