2017 Kia Soul Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

188Engine complaints

70.1%Of all 268 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE188 · 70.1%

Unspecified / other32 · 11.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 · 6.7%

POWER TRAIN18 · 6.7%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM17 · 6.3%

Share of the 268 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2017 Kia Soul overview page.

What owners report

“Engine light came on, heard a loud noise. Car is using a lot of oil, there is a rattling noise, car has no power. The…”NHTSA complaint 11461550 — filed 04/20/2022

“While on the freeway the engine light suddenly came on and then immediately after that the oil light. I started to pull over immediately and…”NHTSA complaint 11451009 — filed 02/08/2022

“I was driving normal speed of around 45mph and randomly without warning engine made very loud knocking sound. I had both my children in the…”NHTSA complaint 11448840 — filed 01/25/2022

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Kia Soul have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2017 Kia Soul: 188 of 268 complaints on file (70.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2017 Kia Soul have in total?

268 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 17 involved a crash, 14 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.