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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

121 reports
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87,100 miles · Mar 19, 2021
EngineStructureUnknown Or OtherFire

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE WHOLE CAR IS DAMAGED. THERE IS NO FRONT THE INTERIOR IS GONE. I HAVE STARTED A CASE WITH KIA. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING UP A HILL ABOUT 30 MINKES AN HOUR WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS PULLED OVER AND THE HOOD WAS POPPED. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SOON THE WHOLE FRONT AND MIDDLE OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS …

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MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE WHOLE CAR IS DAMAGED. THERE IS NO FRONT THE INTERIOR IS GONE. I HAVE STARTED A CASE WITH KIA. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING UP A HILL ABOUT 30 MINKES AN HOUR WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS PULLED OVER AND THE HOOD WAS POPPED. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SOON THE WHOLE FRONT AND MIDDLE OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS WAS AT 14000 JERICHO STREET AT THE ENTRANCE OF BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY IN BOWIE MD. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED.*DT*JB*DT*DT

NHTSA ODI #11403965

40,000 miles · Mar 18, 2021
Unknown Or Other

PANORAMIC SUNROOF WON'T CLOSE

NHTSA ODI #11403647

75,000 miles · Mar 9, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MORE THAN OFF OR SO IT SEEMS. ENGINE CODE P0S0A. DEALER ATTEMPTS TO FIX. CODE COMES BACK

NHTSA ODI #11400042

85,300 miles · Feb 27, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

AFTER TAKING MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL AND AN UPGRADE TO COMPUTER SOFTWARE, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANES OF TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND UPON THE COMPLETION OF AN INSPECTION, THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND POWE…

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AFTER TAKING MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL AND AN UPGRADE TO COMPUTER SOFTWARE, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE LANES OF TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND UPON THE COMPLETION OF AN INSPECTION, THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE AND POWER WAS RESTORED. I WAS NOT OFFERED A LOANER CAR, AND HAD TO WALK OR USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I CANNOT TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING AS A SAFETY MECHANISM TRIGGERS. I HAVE TO FIND MY OWN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND ONLY TRAVEL LOCALLY. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MORE TRAFFIC I COULD BE INVOLVED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THEY HAVE ALSO NOT OFFERED ANY FORM OF COMPENSATION FOR MY TIME LOSS WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH FROM DAY. WHEN THE SAFETY MECHANISM TRIGGERS, THE VEHICLE WILL BARELY DO 35-45 MPH. IT TAKES MORE THAN 15 SECONDS TO ATTAIN THAT SPEED WHICH IS NOT SAFE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR MODERATE TRAFFIC. THE CAR WILL START AS NORMAL; HOWEVER, WITH TRYING TO TAKEOFF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS NORMAL. PRIOR TO THIS 'UPGRADE' THE VEHICLE NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ODI #11398153

65,000 miles · Feb 20, 2021
Unknown Or Other

AFTER THE RECENT RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE'S COMPUTER ISSUE, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED MUCH THIS WINTER DUE TO COVID-19. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS RECENTLY TURNED ON WITH CODE PO50A (COLD START IDLE AIR CONTROL). THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY AFTER THE RECALL. KIA SAYS THAT THE RECALL TRIGGERED THIS …

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AFTER THE RECENT RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE'S COMPUTER ISSUE, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED MUCH THIS WINTER DUE TO COVID-19. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS RECENTLY TURNED ON WITH CODE PO50A (COLD START IDLE AIR CONTROL). THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY AFTER THE RECALL. KIA SAYS THAT THE RECALL TRIGGERED THIS FAULTY ENGINE LIGHT AND IT WON'T TURN OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11397076

80,000 miles · Jan 29, 2021
EngineStructureUnknown Or OtherFire

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. IT STARTED SMOKING AND SECONDS LATER CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY SON WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING, HE TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11390673

95,000 miles · Jan 12, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other

CATALYTIC OVERHEATING, BURNT OUT THE SPARK PLUGS AND HARNESS. CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN ABOUT 20MPH WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. ALL OTHER 2016 KIA SOUL WITH 1.6L I-4 DOHC GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION (GDI) HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THIS SERIES OF VIN SHOUL…

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CATALYTIC OVERHEATING, BURNT OUT THE SPARK PLUGS AND HARNESS. CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN ABOUT 20MPH WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. ALL OTHER 2016 KIA SOUL WITH 1.6L I-4 DOHC GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION (GDI) HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THIS SERIES OF VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND COVERED AS WELL. CAN LEAD TO TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. DEALERSHIP NOW WANTS $2000 TO FIX THIS ISSUE THAT MAY HAVE ALREADY DONE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THIS WOULD LEAVE US FOOTING THE BILL FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE THAT IS NEEDED LATER BECAUSE OF DAMAGE DONE WHEN MOTOR WAS BURNING GAS TOO HOT. THIS KIA SOUL NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL ALREADY IN INSISTENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11387700

75,000 miles · Dec 14, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE CODE THAT POPPED UP WHEN I USED MY READER TO READ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT POPPED UP TWO DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING. IT SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE KIA LADY TOOK MY VIN AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS BUT EVERYONE WITH MY CAR WAS CALLING IN ABOUT IT. AND THE PART ITSELF IS 1200 …

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WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE CODE THAT POPPED UP WHEN I USED MY READER TO READ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT POPPED UP TWO DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING. IT SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE KIA LADY TOOK MY VIN AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS BUT EVERYONE WITH MY CAR WAS CALLING IN ABOUT IT. AND THE PART ITSELF IS 1200 DOLLARS. HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING WHICH ALSO SAYS IT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. AS A MOTHER WITH A TODDLER WHO CHOSE THIS CAR BASED ON ITS AFFORDABILITY AND SAFETY FEATURES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ISSUE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR IS A 2016 KIA. THERES SHOULD BE NO REASON THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 3000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A PART THAT EVERYONE'S HAVING TO REPLACE OR YOUR CAR WILL LITERALLY BREAK DOWN FOR GOOD. THE PO50A CODE.

NHTSA ODI #11383429

81,000 miles · Dec 10, 2020
Unknown Or Other

STEVENS CREEK KIA IS DENYING TO FIX MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART OF THE RECALL. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $250 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TO FIX THE CONVERTER. THE RECALL DETAILS STATES THE DAMAGED CONVERTER WILL BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER BUT THEY ARE DENYING ANY SERVICE UNLESS I PAY. I NOTIFIED KIA AN…

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STEVENS CREEK KIA IS DENYING TO FIX MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART OF THE RECALL. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $250 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TO FIX THE CONVERTER. THE RECALL DETAILS STATES THE DAMAGED CONVERTER WILL BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER BUT THEY ARE DENYING ANY SERVICE UNLESS I PAY. I NOTIFIED KIA AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. STEVENS CREEK KIA LIED TO ME THAT MY RECALL WAS DONE ON TUESDAY 12-8-20 AND WHEN I SHOWED UP MY CAR WAS STILL NOT RUNNING, THEY STILL GAVE ME MY KEYS AND TOLD ME IT WAS ALL GOOD TO GO. THEY PUT MY IN DANGER, MY CAR WOULD'VE BLOWN. THEY KNEW MY CAR WASN'T RUNNING AND STILL DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND LIED TO ME IT WAS READY AND WHEN I TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO CHECK THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS A PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE RECALL DETAIL STATES THEY COMPLETELY DENIED AND SAID IF I DON'T PAY FOR EVERYTHING THEY WON'T BE CHECKING OR FIXING ANYTHING. THE MANAGER AT STEVENS CREEK KIA HAS NO RESPECT OR REGARDING FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY HE HANDED ME MY CAR NOT RUNNING PAST 10 MILES WITH A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHAT THE RECALL SAYS TO REPLACE. I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE TO FURTHER EXPLAIN EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AND EXPLAIN IN MUCH GREATER DETAIL. I DON'T FEEL SAFE OR COMFORTABLE STEVENS CREEK KIA HANDLING MY VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. THEY DON'T CARE TO FIX MY RECALLED CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11382813

108,076 miles · Dec 7, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

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.

NHTSA ODI #11378375

Official recalls

2

19V120000 · 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

1

EA21003 · 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.