2017 Kia Soul: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
271 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Soul (2014–2019) carries the Gamma and Nu engines that were subject to Kia's engine-failure investigation and the 2019 recall for catalytic-converter damage leading to piston failure; the 2014–2016 years have the highest counts, with engine noise, stalling and fire cited. The 2017–2019 years are better, and the third generation from 2020 is quiet apart from a bump in 2020. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: a year the record favours — 271 complaints, score 81/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Kia Sorento, Sportage and Soul: the recall years and the good years after them, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 271 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 30.11
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The paint is completely failing on this kia soul. The eroded paint is a well known issue with Kia, nothing is being done about the paint failing and chipping across the whole body of the car, which will lead to inevitable rusting. It has been inspected, they are aware of the issue, and are doing nothing to resolve it.
One day I noticed my oil light flashed on and off about three times during a drive down the road, simultaneously a loud knocking started in my engine. Although I had gotten my oil changed just a couple months prior and always practiced appropriate maintenance I decided to pull over and check my oil, it was empty. No warnings, the oil light had never come on, the engine light had never come on. A modern car shouldn’t …
The engine has structural manufacturer defect causing extreme internal engine oil consumption with zero external leaks, creating a severe risk of sudden oil starvation catastrophic mechanical engine failure. The severe oil consumption problem was confirmed by a certified national corporate service center (Firestone Auto Care). An intermittent P0420 catalytic converter warning is actively appearing on the dashboard, w…
Recalls: 1 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V031000 | Air Bags | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 28 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,250
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine190 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other32 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train19 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System19 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Fuel/Propulsion System18 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Air Bags16 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Kia Soul years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Kia Soul?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (190 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Kia Soul a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 81/100, computed from 271 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Kia Soul's most common problem?
190 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Kia Soul sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Kia Soul cost to run per year?
About $4,751 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,758 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2017 Kia Soul have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Kia Soul, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 25/01/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Kia Soul really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 271 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 271 NHTSA complaints on record (30.1/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (30.1/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems