10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,647 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2017 Kia Soul:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #11

Feb 162023

Soul

  • miles
While sitting in line with brake applied the idle speed suddenly jumped up and car accelerated forward despite application of brakes. Without any change from me the RPMs suddenly dropped and car stopped again. The car moved a total of a quarter car length, which had I not been angled away from car in front of me would have caused a collision, and had I been at an intersection could have caused an accident or struck a pedestrian.

- Ewa Beach, HI, USA

problem #10

Jul 202022

Soul

  • miles
My struts we-??re going through my dash board and I had it repaired and my engine light is just constantly on.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

May 162022

Soul

  • miles
I was in the right lane, of two lanes, proceeding north. I had waited at a red light, the second car back from the cross street. The light turned green and I was slowly proceeding, maybe going about 15-20 mph. Suddenly, the car engine raced and the front of the car veered left. There were cars in front of me, in the lane to the left of me, and behind me. I had both of my hands on the steering wheel the entire time. I, of course, took my foot off the gas pedal and applied the brakes. The brakes were not stopping the car. The car took off and was uncontrollable. I hit the car in the lane to my left, traveled across the same lane, then luckily ran up a curb and onto a median that had grass on it. The car was out of control and moving swiftly. I steered it to the right and off the median (which avoided hitting oncoming traffic head-on). The brakes were not stopping the car. I heard and felt that the car was hitting things: the car to my left, the median, etc.) I think the car may have spun 360 degrees, one complete revolution, and then jumped the curb and went up onto the median again. Again, I steered to the right to avoid crossing the median. The car then spun 180 degrees, and stopped perfectly facing south in the left northbound lane. (I thought I had gone up the median two times; however, maybe it was only once, as my passenger thought. I don't know if it was once or two times up the curb and onto the median. It all happened so fast.) Car was towed away. What failed: the car wildly took off, veering to the left; the brakes didn't stop the car Risk: the car was uncontrollable (except steering somewhat) and moving; if not for the curb and wide median, I would have traveled head-on into oncoming traffic; the car spun as if spinning on ice Reproduced: the car has not been touched; there is a consumer affairs case open with its manufacturer Inspected: by my insurance appraiser, at the dealership Warning: none, was a shocking surprise

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #8

Apr 142022

Soul

  • miles
My air bag, ABS and Brake Lights all gave warnings at about the same time, as well as my speedometer going "haywire" on a cold start. I got a recall notice about my airbag (electrical problems) and took it in to Parkway Kia, and was told that the airbag was not part of the recall, and that it would cost $1000 to repair the lights, as several different sensors had gone out at the same time. Included was 5 or 6 repairs that had already been verified that I didn't need. If the dealership is using recall opportunities to push $1000s of unnecessary "maintenance" repairs on their vehicles, no one is going to trust those recalls and this is creating an unsafe driving environment for everyone. I contacted Kia corporate and they stated each shop is "independently owned and operated" and "repairs can be declined." Kia is making a farce of this process and using your agency to perpetuate fraud.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #7

Mar 012022

Soul

  • miles
Despite 22V031000 being repaired, the car randomly displays the following warnings, tire pressure, traction control, abs brake failure, check engine, power steering. The speedometer and tachometer cease to function at this point and power steering assistance becomes disabled. Balise Kia service manager Gary Lindsay states the car is safe to drive in this condition and has sent me home twice while waiting for parts. After the second attempt the issue remains.

- Southwick, MA, USA

problem #6

Jul 312021

Soul

  • 50,133 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact mentioned that her foot was taken off the brake pedal and that she had to repeatedly pump on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. In addition, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and there was a delay with stopping the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,133.

- Coleman, TX, USA

problem #5

Oct 052020

Soul

  • 19,990 miles
My car feels like it steers sideways down the road, it bounces, hard to control, it loses power in 3rd gear, the brakes don't work well at all, engine pings loudly constantly.I took my car to carfax in modesto California whom I purchased from and they couldn't find anything wrong, th S ir lieing, living, car was wrecked and painted over, its full of over spray, the car is dangerous to drive, I want it replaced with a new kiasoul

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #4

Jul 302019

Soul

  • 53,000 miles
Takata recall my airbags never deployed, the brakes never took effect to make me slide skid or stop. Seatbeat never held me back from slamming into steering wheel.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #3

Apr 202018

Soul

  • 9,100 miles
On Friday, April 20, 2018, on a major highway, traffic began to slow and as I applied my brakes, they felt as though they traveled to the floor, and even though I had plenty of space to stop, I was unable to and was in an accident. The car was repaired by a non-Kia dealer via my insurance. Within two days of me having the vehicle back in my possession, it happened again, this time while coming to a slow gradual stop at a light. I took the vehicle to my local dealership, price Kia, to report the concern. After multiple test drives, they felt the brakes traveling too far and replaced the master cylinder, with the claim that this could be the "only possible cause." Over the next few months, the car has been back into the dealership for the same issue; it had not been resolved with the replacement of the master cylinder. Price Kia now claims the issue isn't relocatable and refuses to do anything about it. Should further documentation be needed the work orders, accident report, and other documentation can be provided.

- Scottsville, VA, USA

problem #2

Apr 032018

Soul

  • 17,890 miles
When attempting to brake, the brake's will release and then grab onto the rotors again. Also have a soft petal and hissing when pressing on the brake. The dealership where purchased states that nothing is wrong; however, I am experiencing grinding, my car shaking at random times when attempting to stop, or randomly failure to stop, resulting in having to go off the road.

- Maxwell, IN, USA

problem #1

Nov 142017

Soul

  • miles
The manual does not show instructions on a Kia Soul manual transmission. The Kia Soul base model seems to be purchased as a Kia Soul automatic transmission without the upgrade. The manual indicates that the Kia Soul model has features and upgrades and does not even touch on manual transmission.

- Cypress, TX, USA