IllustrationTHE UVO SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS FAILED. KIA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE AS A SAFETY ITEM AT NO CHARGE, JUST LIKE TESLA IS REQUIRED TO DO FOR THEIR FAILED SCREENS.
2016 Kia Soul
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Soul years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Soul are substantially higher than the model-year median of 225.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Soul years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
320–25K
3825–50K
7750–75K
9375–100K
108100–150K
14150K+
362 reports with mileage · 448 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 555 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
28 crash reports35 fire reports17 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
56 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V389000 (POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT RECEIVED A COURTESY SERVICE AND SOFTWARE UPDATE. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER AND WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER THE SIDE OF …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V389000 (POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT RECEIVED A COURTESY SERVICE AND SOFTWARE UPDATE. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER AND WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO EXCEED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OAKLAND KIA (2500 WEBSTER ST, OAKLAND, CA 94612, (888)871-7024) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.
FIRST, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPS WORKING PROPERLY. IT STARTS TAKING ABOUT 15 MINUTES FOR MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO SHOW THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP. AFTER ABOUT TWO DAYS THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF BY ITSELF. SO I FINALLY GET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOD…
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FIRST, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPS WORKING PROPERLY. IT STARTS TAKING ABOUT 15 MINUTES FOR MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO SHOW THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP. AFTER ABOUT TWO DAYS THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF BY ITSELF. SO I FINALLY GET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TODAY. THEY SAY THEY NEED TO PUT AN UPDATED PROGRAM INTO MY KIA SOUL'S COMPUTER..THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DRIVE AWAY GO TO A STORE WHEN I COME OUT OF THE STORE AND GET BACK INTO MY CAR AND PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. I TAKE IT TO AUTO ZONE TO GET THE CODE READ. THIS TIME THE CODE IS P0420. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP 800-995-4203 AND THE SERVICE ASSOCIATE MARTY TELLS ME TO BRING MY KIA SOUL BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I GET THERE HE SAYS THEY ARE NOW GOING TO CHARGE ME $109.95 AN HOUR TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. AT THIS TIME I AM IN THE WAITING ROOM FEELING LIKE I'M BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THESE PEOPLE BUT I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION AND I DON'T HAVE ANYWAY OF KNOWING WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH MY CAR. NOT TO MENTION ALL THIS HAPPENS BETWEEN 59000 AND 60000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60000 MILES.
UPON PARKING MY CAR I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE FIRE WAS DEEMED ELECTRICAL IN NATURE.
I KEEP HAVING A REASSURING ISSUE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER PAYING TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED. SPENDING COUNTLESS DOLLARS ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE PROBLEM TO CONTINUE. THE KIA DEALERS KEEP CHANGING PARTS OUT AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. IS IT A WAY THAT THIS ISSUE CAN GET CHECK BY SOMEONE PLEASE…
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I KEEP HAVING A REASSURING ISSUE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER PAYING TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED. SPENDING COUNTLESS DOLLARS ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE PROBLEM TO CONTINUE. THE KIA DEALERS KEEP CHANGING PARTS OUT AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. IS IT A WAY THAT THIS ISSUE CAN GET CHECK BY SOMEONE PLEASE.
HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY WILL FLICKER, AFRAID THEY WILL STOP WORKING WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. I NOTICE IT WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE VEHICLE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY AND STARTER FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CON…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE VEHICLE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY AND STARTER FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
I HAVE A KIA SOUL EV BECAUSE THIS IS THE BATTERY THAT DECREASES THE NUMBER OF KILOMETERS PER DAY BY DAY I THINK THE BATTERY HAS A PROBLEM
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. NO ELECTRIC POWER IN THE VEHICLE WOULD WORK. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS DID NO…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. NO ELECTRIC POWER IN THE VEHICLE WOULD WORK. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA COUNTRY (SAVANNAH, GA) ON 12/23/2019. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER NHTSA #19V120, RECALL #SC176. CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *DL
DRIVER SEAT GIVING OFF ELECTRICAL SHOCK TO LEGS AND BUTT WHEN PRESSING THE GAS THE ENGINE STALLING THE CATAYLIC CONVERTER OVER HEATING VEHICLE STEERING RIGHT AIR BAG SYMBOLS POPS UP EVERY NOW AND THEN *BF*TP THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS LIFE THREATENING CYBER SECURITY RISK. *JS
Official recalls
219V120000 · Engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
Feb 22, 2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
17V608000 · Steering
Sep 29, 2017
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA21003 · Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.