general problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Soul

I reported the issue yesterday, but we have additional information. Here is a timeline of the incident as recorded by the doorbell camera: 2026-05-03 085400 car parked 101423 car is already trying to start by itself 101713 car still starting, starter slowing down 101734 starter sounds overheated 101740 starter slows to stop 101835 first visible smoke 102304 neighbor notices 102338 I was notified 102452 used extinguisher 102600 fire out 102744 called the fire department 103600 fire department arrives shortly after I have camera videos showing much of the timeline. I cannot upload because they exceed the limits of this form. Well over an hour after the car was driven, the starter engaged. It ran for almost 4 minutes straight as far as I can tell. In the videos we have, you can hear it seize up from the heat. About a minute later, smoke is visible. Had this not been caught in thte timely manner that it was, it would have been devastating. Here is a link to two of the videos. [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

After multiple recent services at the dealership, the car caught fire while idle in the driveway. The fire was under the hood in the front part of the engine compartment, just behind the latch mechanism. Fire was extinguished and verified by the local fire department. The parking spaces are close to other cars and townhouses.

I’ve had to get three oil changes in just five months of owning my vehicle. Honda of brandon sold it to me with a clean car-fax report, but I’m now facing a possible manifold and catalytic converter replacement costing $4,200. When the service department called the warranty company, they claimed it was a catalytic converter issue, but it turned out to be an o-2 sensor, which would cost about $460. One month after purchase, I had to replace the ignition coil and requested spark plug replacements, though I wouldn’t have known if a spark plug was bad. That repair bill alone came to $802. 17, just a month after buying the car. Problem with battery. Oil has to keep being replaced and no one knows since not on ground has to be going in the engine. Service rpt are Aug/19, 2025, Jan 20,2026.

Am receiving a code for camshaft sensor bank 1 sensor a. Figured it could be timing but also know about TSB’s. Need to see if there are any posted for my specific 2017 kia Soul.

Multiple stations failed emission inspection in texas for fuel not completed and evap not completed. Tried multiple things to fix. Took it to shop that kept for days and diagnosed with logic lock with the ecm/ecu. Basically bad ecm which is common problem with kia Soul and there are recall for models older than 2016. Moritz kia kept for 17 days and said they could not figure out issue but ordered new ecm. I contacted dps and got steps to get waiver because it could take weeks to get part. Asked kia to inspect again since two failed inspections required for waiver. Some how it passed inspection with the same two not completed emissions. In texas vehicles newer than 2001 are allowed only one not ready. Kia said they would not replace ecm since it passed inspection. Appears they are trying to not fix known issue. Concern is if a real issue with car happens the ecm will not update with error since it has logic lock. There are lots of reports of issues with the ecm and kia not honoring warranty. The ecm is covered for 8 years 80k and the car has 7 years 70k now. It appears they are just trying to delay fixing issue. If battery is pulled, obd code reset, or ecm pulled out none of the codes reset like they should.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Soul. While the contact was asleep, they were awoken by an abnormal, burning smell. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the rear end of the vehicle had caught fire. A neighbor called the authorities and the fire department extinguished the fire. The fire department informed the contact that the fire was caused by an electrical wiring failure in the rear taillights. No injuries were reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle remained in the contact's possession. The vehicle had yet to be inspected or diagnosed for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Unknown.

My kia has been having a issue with the check engine light on blinking after driving it over 30 miles. . . The car then slows down to 2rpm and I'm really concerned about this after 2other people I know are having that same problem.

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.

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.

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.

My vehicle has the speaker lights package. . . For the past few months, I have noticed that when im driving my speaker lights will sometimes flash even with the switch set to off. Other times it will cycle through the mood setting. . . Again while the switch is off. Some times it will do both. . . Mood lighting and flashing to beat of the music. . . While swtiched to off. On 2/6/2021, I brought my car in for servicing. I mentioned the issue to my service advisor. Told me they would look at it. . . Cool. I'm okay with that. I leave, then come back to check the status of my car. Tells me they can't reproduce the issue. Ha! I have a video. . . I show it to the service advisor who tells me to go wait in the lobby and he'll be right back. About 30 minutes pass, my car is done. He tells me that they still can't make it do what I showed him. I'm guessing a video isn't real proof there is a real electrical issue going on. The service advisor tells me to "swing by" when it happens. Mind you I live about an hour away, I only went to friendly kia because I was told they were good. Apparently not! anyway, there is an issue kia is refusing to address. I'm guessing no one there knows what would happen if a kia vehicle were to catch fire due to a short in the system just days after having it in due to an issue with the speaker lights having a short. That would not look good being told all over the media, then in court when that person sues you for damages due to an issue you refused to correct with video proof. . . About 20 seconds of proof that there is an issue!.

While car was in motion backing in my driveway, I was able to pull drivers handle while lock engaged and door opened while vehicle was still moving. Although I planned on opening the door as car came to a rest I was surprised how easy it was to open while car is moving, and door had done so prematurely then I expected. Concerned I tested while driving forward like 20 mph & door opens when grabbing on handle. My concern is while the vehicle is in motion one should be required to manually unlock any door before it opens. I addressed with my kia dealer and they told me this is normal that opening handle overides the lock. This would make sense to do when car is parked, not when the transmission is engaged. I have 2004 Saturn and mine doesnt do that. I understand door/lock features can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. I can see a benefit to the handle overide feature that people could be in panic in case of fire or other danger that all they think about is the handle and stay trapped because they forget about the lock. The consumer should be allowed to decide if this is a feature they want enabled or not. Kia has told me there is nothing I can do. I feel this is a big safety concern since all you have to do is barely grab handle and door releases; dont need to pull handle all the way. If nothing else it should release after 5-10 seconds of continuous pressure while handle is in maxed out opening position to open door while transmission is in any gear other than park. And if nothing else, only the drivers door should be able to open while cars in motion while pulling on handle. Front passenger door tested and does same thing. Kia says only the rear doors should stay secure with child locks, I disagree! had another time when I was gonna be dropped off as a passenger and planned on openening door, it flew wide-open when turning in driveway and almost damaged 2 cars!.

Rear camera stays on when driving forward. This has happened about 5 times over the past year, while 7000 miles were driven. I have to stop the car, go in to park, then drive, sometimes more than once, for the camera to switch off, regular display to light up.

2017 kia Soul bluetooth. Doesn't work with android.

The front door on the drivers side doesn't latch or lock completely when the door is closed/shut from inside. Many times when exiting the vehicle from the drivers seat I discover the door hadn't been latched at all because I can open the door without using the door handle, it will open with a slight push from my arm. I worry the door will open when it's moving causing an accident and injuries from falling out of the vehicle. A second safety issue with my kia Soul is the hesitation and slowness of acceleration when entering the freeway and merging into traffic. With the gas pedal pressed to the floor, a safe speed can't be attained for 2-3 minutes causing other vehicles to slam on their brakes, reduce speed or change lanes to avoid hitting the back or side of my vehicle. This is the reason I no longer drive on the freeway and take the long route instead. Thirdly, when backing out of a parking spot, the backup camera fails to engage about a quarter of the time and I must rely solely on sideview and rearview mirrors. Incidents occurred from a dead stop up to 50 miles per hour.