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…
2017 Kia Soul airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Kia Soul have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Soul | 17 |
| 2014 Soul | 19 |
| 2015 Soul | 14 |
| 2016 Soul | 16 |
| 2017 Soul (this page) | 14 |
| 2018 Soul | 10 |
| 2019 Soul | 11 |
| 2020 Soul | 3 |
| 2021 Soul | 4 |
11crashes
13injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 14 airbags complaints filed for the 2017 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 Kia Souls report that front airbags fail to deploy during crashes ranging from low-speed rear-end collisions to highway-speed head-on impacts. The failure occurs at mileages from 2,800 to 120,000 miles. One owner experienced non-deployment in two separate crashes on the same vehicle; a second owner reported impacts at 55 mph and head-on—airbags failed both times, with sensors damaged in the first crash. Crash outcomes include fractured skulls, concussions, cervical and thoracic injuries, and total-loss vehicles. One owner reported airbag deployment that occurred late in a head-on collision, after the driver's head had struck interior surfaces; the deploying airbag then struck the owner's hand (causing a wrist fracture requiring surgical repair) and chest with enough force to knock the breath out. Kia issued NHTSA recall 22V031000 for airbags; one owner noted notification arrived after the accident. Separate complaints mention airbag warning lights and electronic stability control indicators illuminating and remaining on without a crash event. Two owners reported extended delays waiting for recall repair parts to become available.
Same Kia Soul airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Front airbags do not deploy on impact
Front driver and/or passenger airbags fail to deploy during crashes involving frontal or near-frontal collisions, including rear-end, head-on, and side-impact scenarios. Owners report impacts at speeds ranging from low-speed urban collisions to highway speeds, with deployment failure occurring despite adequate impact force. The failure pattern is consistent across multiple crash types and vehicle mileages.
When: During crashes; mileage range 2,800–120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during frontal or near-frontal collision; Airbag warning light not illuminated before crash in some cases; Multiple instances of non-deployment on the same vehicle in repeated crashes
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles deemed total loss in reported incidents; one owner reported sensors damaged in first crash, non-deployment occurred again in second crash on same vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V031000 (Air Bags) recall issued; manufacturer requested documentation (photos, police reports) and opened investigation cases; recall parts noted as unavailable for extended period in some cases
Airbag warning light and electronic stability control indicator illuminate without cause
Warning lights activate on the instrument cluster and remain illuminated without the vehicle experiencing a crash or obvious malfunction. Owners report the airbag light staying on persistently. One owner also reported passenger seatbelt light flashing simultaneously.
When: At unknown mileage; one case reported at 8,643 miles with vehicle manufactured 11/16
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated continuously; Electronic stability control indicator light illuminated; Passenger seatbelt warning light flashing in one case; Lights do not extinguish
Airbag deploys late or with excessive force
Airbag deploys but timing is delayed relative to impact, or deploys with force that causes secondary injuries to the occupant. One owner reported deployment occurred after head had already struck sun visor and windshield edge, and the airbag then struck the owner's hand and chest with force sufficient to break a wrist and require surgical repair.
When: During head-on collision
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys after occupant has already struck interior surfaces; Airbag impact causes fracture and lacerations; Excessive force causes chest trauma
Repairs/costs cited: Owner required wrist surgery with plate and pins; airbag housing produced smoke during deployment
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
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…
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 Kia Soul?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2017 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 12,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Kia/Soul.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.