2017 Kia Soul engine problems
203 of the 290 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Soul name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 67 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 203 reports a crash · 12 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 36 · 2022: 36 · 2023: 35 · 2024: 31 · 2025: 21 · 2026: 16
Half of the 84 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 70,000 and 102,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
290 complaints in all about the 2017 Kia Soul, 16 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Soul engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul EV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal battery voltage warning displayed. The vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The contact stated that the battery failed to charge. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated.
When driving my car 1 hour or more and turn off the car and turn on again my car and immediately turn on the AC my car engine shakes and turn off the motor. I left my car in the dealer when I buy the car in 4 times but nobody found the problem. So I feel fear for will have an accident. Please I need help. I have this problem since 2018
Mileage 75,000 and the engine threw a rod through the bottom of the engine block and through the oil pan. I purchased the car with about 22,000 miles. I've driven the car less than 2 years and have put about 50,000 miles on it.
While in motion on the highway I experience engine failure. I was told that my engine threw a rod and punctured a hole in my engine
Engine- 2017 Kia Soul 2.0 l 4-cyl. Mileage at the time of purchase 42,788. Mileage at failure was 89,144. Usage predominately hwy miles. At the time of failure, we owned the vehicle 19 months. Regular oil changes with castrol gtx and edge 100% synthetic 5w20 oil. February 02, 2020 my wife started the day driving away from home.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications67 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- PI2107_OWNR_501 OtherApr 8, 2026
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2107 Flight 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2019 MY Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter Nu GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge an
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1326 P0420 P0449 P0451 P0011 P0014 P0016 P0017
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Kia Soul names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2017 Kia Soul?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 203 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (70% of everything owners filed about it), and 67 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2017 Kia Soul?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 3 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2017 Kia Soul?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 83,000 miles; half of them between 70,000 and 102,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.