2016 Kia Soul problems and complaints
Owners have filed 823 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul. The most-reported areas: Engine (561), Unknown Or Other (125), Engine And Engine Cooling (106).
Key takeaways
- 823 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 29 involve a crash, 35 a fire, 25 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 561 | 68% |
| Unknown Or Other | 125 | 15% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 106 | 13% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 84 | 10% |
| Power Train | 65 | 8% |
| Electrical System | 57 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 4% |
| Steering | 30 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 3% |
| Structure | 18 | 2% |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 2% |
| Air Bags | 17 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Kia Soul SUV FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-10-02
Vehicle suffered a sudden, dangerous loss of power on the highway at 70 mph, dropping immediately to 20 mph, creating a severe safety risk. The vehicle has an active P0420 code. The official NHTSA database confirms that Safety Recall SC176 (Campaign 19V120) is INCOMPLETE for this vehicle. However, the KIA dealership an...
Power Train,unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2026-09-30
I HAVE A 2016 KIA SOUL THAT HAS BEEN HAVING DRINKING OIL EVERY 2-3 WEEKS BUT THERE ISNT ANY OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND.LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR WOULNT GO OVER 20MPH I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY SAID I NEED A CATALYTIC CONVERTER THE OIL IS STILL ESCAPING SOMEWHERE AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE RECALLS MY VIN DIDN...
Unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2026-09-27
Dear Kia Customer Care, I am writing to formally express my disappointment and serious concern regarding my 2016 Kia Soul, VIN [XXX], its engine failure, the applicable engine recall/warranty coverage, and my experience obtaining assistance and repairs through Kia. Most importantly, this situation involved more than ...
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More for the 2016 Kia Soul
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.