2017 Kia Soul Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 6%of 272 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the air bags of the 2017 Kia Soul, 6% of the 272 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles. 11 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My Kia SOUL was manufactured 11/16 & has 8,643 miles on it as 10/8/19. I started my car the morning of 10/719 & the air bag and electronic stability control indicator lights went on and will not go off. This morning the passenger's seat belt light was flashing also. Are there any recalls on these items for my vehicle?”
NHTSA complaint #11267017, filed 2019-10, 8,627 miles“I was in a head on collision wearing my seat belt and hit my head on the sun visor and edge of windshield. Basically scalping me. The air bag deployed yes but after I was bleeding and reaching to undo my seatbelt. Hitting my hand which broke my wrist having to have surgery to put a plate and pins in it. Also hitting me in the chest so hard it knocke the breath out of me. It was smoking really bad too like it was going to catch fire.”
NHTSA complaint #11161067, filed 2018-12, 50,000 miles“This is the second time that the air bags have not gone off in a crash on this car the first crash was at 55 MPH head on and they didnt go off and the sensors were hit and damaged. Today the car was in another head on crash with injury to the driver and the air bags failed to deploy again this is a major concern as to my wife and I could have been killed due to faulty air bags . In both crashes the vechile was in motion.I will be taken pictures of the car tomorrow. Someone could have died in this crash.”
NHTSA complaint #11282943, filed 2019-11, 40,000 miles“On 10/23/2020 I was in a front end collision with a 2017 jeep wrangler and the air bags in my SOUL did not deploy. My SOUL is a total loss, due to frame damage.”
NHTSA complaint #11367048, filed 2020-10, 41,040 miles“Takata recall my airbags never deployed, the brakes never took effect to make me slide skid or stop. Seatbeat never held me back from slamming into steering wheel.”
NHTSA complaint #11242840, filed 2019-08, 53,000 milesRelated recalls
- 22V031000Jan 25, 2022Kia 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)…Covers: Kia Soul 2017–2019, Sedona 2017–2019, Soul EV 2017–2019 +2 more
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 8% |
| 2023 | 5 | 9% |
| 2022 | 3 | 3% |
| 2021 | 4 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% |
| 2019 | 15 | 11% |
| 2018 | 11 | 5% |
| 2017 | 16 | 6% |
| 2016 | 17 | 2% |
| 2015 | 20 | 2% |
| 2014 | 26 | 3% |
| 2013 | 18 | 3% |
| 2012 | 17 | 3% |
| 2011 | 26 | 13% |
| 2010 | 21 | 16% |
Other parts of the 2017 Kia Soul
191 complaintsOther or unknown
32 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsFuel system
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 Kia Soul
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology