2017 Kia Soul EV recalls and problems

The 2017 Kia Soul EV has 3 safety recalls and 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
18
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2017 Kia Soul EV vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2017 Kia Soul EV recalls

Recall 23V-724: Power Train, Electrical System

Reported Oct 26, 2023 · 6,262 vehicles affected · Kia America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.

Recall 23V-218: Electrical System

Reported Mar 29, 2023 · 2,689 vehicles affected · Kia America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Risk: A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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 abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.

Recall 22V-031: Air Bags

Reported Jan 25, 2022 · 410,619 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: 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. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: 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. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

2017 Kia Soul EV problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System12
Service Brakes3
Power Train2
Unknown or Other2
Engine2
Structure1
Seats1
Visibility/Wiper1
Fuel/Propulsion System1

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 15,606 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2017 Kia Soul EV complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Jul 25, 2026
My car has had intermittent faults of codes P1B25 and P1CF2 and are showing check EV system on the dash. This happens after about 30-45 minutes of driving and then restarting the car. It has been identified that the power relay assembly needs to be replaced on the vehicle, which lives in the high voltage battery pack. However, Kia does not want to replace this under warranty , claiming that it is not an EV system component. I am not going to pay out of pocket for this repair as it goes against their own warranty information, but continuing to drive the car would be dangerous as it could drop…
Electrical System · reported Aug 2, 2024
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
Engine · at 50,000 miles · reported May 15, 2024
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…
Visibility/Wiper · reported Apr 26, 2024
Driving down open road with no vehicles in front or back when suddenly the rear window made a huge bang. It was raining at the time. Once home I took the attached photo. Don't remember turning the defrost on.
Service Brakes · reported Feb 8, 2024
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…

Other Kia Soul EV years

Compare all Kia Soul EV years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Kia Soul EV have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Kia Soul EV: 23V-724 (power train, electrical system), 23V-218 (electrical system), 22V-031 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Kia Soul EV?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (12 reports), followed by service brakes (3). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 15,606 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.