Most common 2017 Kia Soul EV problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Soul EV complaints by model year
Best Soul EV years: 2018, 2015, 2016. Years to avoid: 2017. Compare all years →
2017 Kia Soul EV recalls (3)
Electrical system › Software
Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on.
Remedy: Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if…
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2017 Kia Soul EV:
Vehicle Rollaway
On July 2, 2020, Kia America Inc. (Kia) filed safety recall 20V-389 for model year (MY) 2015-2016 Kia Soul EV vehicles. This recall was in response to allegations of unintended vehicle movement while in Park and provided updated electronic control unit software for the electronic parking brake logic as the remedy.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2017 Kia Soul EV owners say
Electrical system
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. The message to "Pull Over Immediately" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an update, BMS, and wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis and repair were performed. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Original factory installed driver's side seat heater shorted out, caused fire and burned a hole in the seat back. This thermal event was reported to Kia Customer Service on March 16, 2023. Kia has not responded back for over 2 months, to address this issue. Kia case no. 15394468. Same problem with Kia Soul in Canada resulted in a recall to address the problem. Afraid to use the passenger side seat heater, as another short and fire can occur.
Brakes
Application of the brakes causes complete vehicle shutdown along with message to check electrical system. Brakes appear to fail for a brief moment, then mechanical brakes kick in. Car has zero power until stopped and restarted. Problem is reproducible a high percentage of the time provided the brakes are pressed more than just lightly or briefly. At nearly full charge, this defect can also be triggered by just the engine brake (which is triggered every time your foot is taken off the accelerator). Appears to be an electrical short circuit of some type. Other faults occur upon application of power, shifting engine into low power or turtle mode at any level of battery charge.
When I apply brake the vehicle doesn't stop it jumps out (as if someone has crashed hitting the rear of the vehicle) and the vehicle shuts down. Then I have to park the vehicle in the middle of the road and restart the vehicle. Luckily I avoided many accidents by defensively driving. Talked with Kia customer care and complained about this safety issue . I took it to near by Kia dealer for the recall and complained on 25 July 2024. 2017 Kia soul + EV Only 30 thousand miles I'm scared to drive and conserned about the safety of others around me. Please help me
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Kia Soul EV a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Soul EV rates use caution: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Soul EV at the same age. It is one of the Soul EV years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Kia Soul EV?
The electrical system — 12 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (3) and transmission & drivetrain (2).
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Soul EV have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2017 Kia Soul EV, the most recent from October 26, 2023 (software). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Soul EV?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2015 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017. See the full Kia Soul EV years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Kia Soul EV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 16,000 miles; 75% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.