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2017 Kia Soul EV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2017 Soul EV.

Body SUVEngine Electric

The 2017 Kia Soul EV is an all-electric SUV that represents the second model year of Kia's dedicated electric hatchback. Despite its relatively modest 17 total owner complaints—a figure that stands as the lowest across the model's 2015-2019 production span—the vehicle has been subject to three recalls, with electrical system issues comprising the primary concern among owners. This complaint profile positions 2017 as the most reliable iteration in the Soul EV's early production history, suggesting meaningful improvements over the preceding years while still carrying the typical growing pains associated with a first-generation mass-market electric vehicle.

Model year202020192018201720162015

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-79 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/60R16, P215/55R17, P235/45R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5, 7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length163 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height63 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Curb weight3289 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-79 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid75W-85 · GL-4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Power Steering FluidEPS

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-79 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts17.4-24.6 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub203.0

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Standard BCI Group Number121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront or rear: 16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58-; Rear: 47-
ABS Sensor Torque8.5
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.040; Rear: .331
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishStamped on rotor
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation0.0002

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Every 3,750 miTire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
At 7,500 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect)
At 30,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the federal record, complaints and TSBs trend downward from the 2015/2016 highs and reach their lowest point in 2017 before rising again in 2018 and 2019. The 2017 Kia Soul EV logged only 17 complaints, 3 recalls, 2 investigations, and 57 TSBs—far below 2015’s 898 complaints, 7 recalls, 5 investigations, and 210 TSBs and 2016’s 800 complaints, 5 recalls, 3 investigations, and 177 TSBs, and also well under 2018’s 213 complaints and 113 TSBs and 2019’s 136 complaints and 116 TSBs. This places the 2017 model at the low point of the generation’s reliability arc, with recalls stabilizing at three per year from 2017 onward. Reported complaints concentrated in the electrical system (6) and power train (2), with one fire complaint and no crash-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. Given its markedly lower complaint volume and reduced recall/TSB counts within this five-year window, a 2017 Soul EV looks like one of the safer used-buy choices of this generation.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
57
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’15’16’17’18’19

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System6
Power Train2
Electrical System,Service Brakes,Engine1
Electrical System,Engine1
Visibility/Wiper1
Electrical System,Service Brakes1
Electrical System,Seats1
Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

22V031000Air BagsReported 25/01/2022

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… 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…

23V218000Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction BatteryReported 29/03/2023

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 57 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SC310Z_TSB_R12026-03-04Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: HIGH-VOLTAGE BPA REPLACEMENT…
SC267Z_TSB_R22026-03-04Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY PACK ASSEMBLY…
PS7972025-12-09Back Over PreventionPITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop…
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
TSB_ELE3782025-03-20Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: KIA CONNECT MODEM RESET (SA611) - This…

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Soul EV. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 121R battery

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2017 Soul EV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.