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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

What owners actually said

810 reports
89,000 miles · May 28, 2019
Engine

I HAVE A RECALL ON MY 2016 KIA SOUL ENGINE CONTROL UNIT

NHTSA ODI #11210467

10,000 miles · May 28, 2019
Electrical SystemSeatsVehicle Speed ControlInjury

WHEN I PRESS THE GAS THE VOLTAGE IS HIGH AND AMPLIFIER MY HEART FEELS AS IF ITS GOING TO BURST MY KIDS NOSE BLEED AND THEY GET SICK WHEN AIR IS ON THE SMELL IS BAD IN CRUISE CONTROL AROUND CERTAIN VEHICLES IS SPEEDS UP ON ITS ON...I'VE NOTICED ALTERED PARTS AND THE INSURANCE INFO IS ALTERED MY BOYFRIEND [XXX] BOUGHT CAR 11/2019 …

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WHEN I PRESS THE GAS THE VOLTAGE IS HIGH AND AMPLIFIER MY HEART FEELS AS IF ITS GOING TO BURST MY KIDS NOSE BLEED AND THEY GET SICK WHEN AIR IS ON THE SMELL IS BAD IN CRUISE CONTROL AROUND CERTAIN VEHICLES IS SPEEDS UP ON ITS ON...I'VE NOTICED ALTERED PARTS AND THE INSURANCE INFO IS ALTERED MY BOYFRIEND [XXX] BOUGHT CAR 11/2019 FROM KIA OF GREER ONLY ONE OWNER THE MILEAGE ON PAPERS IS WRONG AND SO IT IS ONLINE...I HEAR SOMEONE IN AND OUT CAR AT NIGHTS BOYFRIEND SAID LEAVE IT ALONE MISSING ID SOCIAL BIRTHCERTIFCATES OIT DASH WHEN RUNNING OUT TO SEE WHO WAS AT CAR DOOR WAS LEFT OPENED THE CENTER OF MY HEAD BURNS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME DIZZY 1/2019 ALMOST FEEL ASLEEP THE THING IS THE VEHICLE IS IN HIS NAME NOT MINE BUT INSURANCE HAS HIS DISABLED BROTHER DOWN AS PRIMARY DRIVER MY DRIVERS RECORD IS WRONG MY MOTHER ACCIDENTS OR ON MINE HER PHONE AND BREACHED OLD EMAIL WAS ON THE ACCOUNT ME AND KIDS ARE VICTIMS OF FOREIGN ORGANIZED CRIMES... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11210227

129,129 miles · May 24, 2019
Unknown Or Other

I GOT A RECALL NOTICE (NHTSA RECALL#19V120). BEFORE I COULD GET IT LOOKED AT AND CORRECTED, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I WAS ON AN INTERCHANGE BETWEEN HIGHWAYS AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TOTAL…

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I GOT A RECALL NOTICE (NHTSA RECALL#19V120). BEFORE I COULD GET IT LOOKED AT AND CORRECTED, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I WAS ON AN INTERCHANGE BETWEEN HIGHWAYS AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TOTALLY PLUGGED UP. IT SAYS IN MY RECALL NOTICE THAT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP "MAY: ILLUMINATE. MY MIL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. AND BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE "COMPUTER " SHOWED NO CODE THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT UNDER THE RECALL. NOW I AM VERY IRRITATED. I DON'T CARE THAT MY MIL LAMP WASN'T ILLUMINATED, I DON'T CARE THAT IT DIDN'T SHOW A CODE, IT SAYS RIGHT ON MY RECALL NOTICE THAT THEY WILL UPGRADE MY COP ECU LOGIC TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. EVIDENTLY THE DAMAGE TO MY CONVERTER WAS DONE BEFORE I COULD HAVE THE UPGRADE DONE. NOW THE DEVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO CODES, SO I'M CURIOUS HOW THEY NEW IT WAS THA CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS EITHER A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OR KIA IS RUNNING SOME KIND OF A SCAM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME OVER 1200 DOLLARS PLUS THE TOW BILL TO FIX THE CAR, TOTAL OF 1400 + DOLLARS. I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR A CONSUMER SAFETY RECALL. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. I THANK GOD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN..I TALKED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWED ABSOLUTELY NO CODES AT ALL. ACCORDING TO THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE RUNNING FINE, BUT IT IS NOT. SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO NOT SHOW ANYTHING AND MY CONVERTER IS PLUGGED. THIS JUST IS NOT RIGHT. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME ACTION ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER THROUGH KIA FOR THIS ISSUE. CASE NUMBER IS13177167. THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #11209691

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2019
Engine

TAMARA RECALL: MY CAR HAS BEEN LOSING OIL BUT DO NOT SEE OIL ANYWHERE. RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE CONVERTER, GAVE ME AN OIL CHANGE AND REPLACED A PRESSURE VALVE. FOUR DAYS AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK, THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. I T…

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TAMARA RECALL: MY CAR HAS BEEN LOSING OIL BUT DO NOT SEE OIL ANYWHERE. RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDING REPLACED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE CONVERTER, GAVE ME AN OIL CHANGE AND REPLACED A PRESSURE VALVE. FOUR DAYS AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK, THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT BACK TO KIA AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11209534

74,500 miles · May 16, 2019
Engine

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. A COUPLE MINUTES LATER IT SLOWED DOWN UNTIL IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I'M THANKFUL I WAS PULLING UP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. I REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT IT STILL WON'T CRANK. THE LIGHTS, RADIO, AND AIR CONDITIONING WORKS. I WAS TOLD…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND. A COUPLE MINUTES LATER IT SLOWED DOWN UNTIL IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. I'M THANKFUL I WAS PULLING UP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. I REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT IT STILL WON'T CRANK. THE LIGHTS, RADIO, AND AIR CONDITIONING WORKS. I WAS TOLD IT MAY BE THE ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA ODI #11208048

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2019
Unknown Or Other

GOT LETTER (4/12/2019) STATING THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DID AS INSTRUCTED AND PUT IT IN THE COMPUTER. NOTHING. CALLED THEM TWICE STILL NOTHING. CASE NO. 13166847.THAT 'S ALL WE GOT

NHTSA ODI #11208026

30,000 miles · May 16, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INDEPENDENTLY MOVED OUT OF THE DRIVE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER MOVED TO THE LEFT OF THE DRIVE INDICATOR DESIGNATION AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER INDEPENDENTLY MOVED OUT OF THE DRIVE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER MOVED TO THE LEFT OF THE DRIVE INDICATOR DESIGNATION AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DELAND KIA (LOCATED AT 2322 S WOODLAND BLVD, DELAND, FL 32720, (386) 734-7800) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO FAILURE CODES WERE RETRIEVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13150055. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #11208008

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS NOT PROPERLY STAYING IN GEAR AND INADVERTENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO MANEUVER THE GEAR SHIFT AND APPLY THE BRAKES TO PREVENT A CRASH. DELAND KIA (2322 S WOODLAND BLVD, DELAND, FL 32720, (386) 734-7800) …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS NOT PROPERLY STAYING IN GEAR AND INADVERTENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO MANEUVER THE GEAR SHIFT AND APPLY THE BRAKES TO PREVENT A CRASH. DELAND KIA (2322 S WOODLAND BLVD, DELAND, FL 32720, (386) 734-7800) WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR TEST DRIVEN TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ASKED THE VEHICLE OWNER TO VIDEO RECORD THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE IF THE DEALER WOULD PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11206221

60,000 miles · May 8, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SKID AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CAU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SKID AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11206184

100 miles · May 6, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

GAS MILEAGE STATED IS NOWHERE EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT'S STATED ON EITHER CITY OR HIGHWAY. I WOULD GUESS 10-15% OFF

NHTSA ODI #11205900

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.