IllustrationWHILE ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER OVER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A PISTON BROKE AND POKED THROUGH THE CRANK CASE CAUSING MAJOR OIL LOSS.
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
What owners actually said
810 reportsMY CAR WAS NOT STARTING. I DO NOT DRIVE IT EVERYDAY AND BEGAN TO THINK IT WAS THE BATTERY. I HAD IT TESTED AT THE AUTO ZONE AND THERY SAID IT WAS GREAT NO PROBLEMS. SAID IT COULD BE THE STARTER BUT THOUGHT THAT ODD WITH AS FEW MILES AS ON IT. I ALSO NOTICE THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING ISSUE I WILL SCHEDULE AN APPT FOR. I ALSO HAV…
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MY CAR WAS NOT STARTING. I DO NOT DRIVE IT EVERYDAY AND BEGAN TO THINK IT WAS THE BATTERY. I HAD IT TESTED AT THE AUTO ZONE AND THERY SAID IT WAS GREAT NO PROBLEMS. SAID IT COULD BE THE STARTER BUT THOUGHT THAT ODD WITH AS FEW MILES AS ON IT. I ALSO NOTICE THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING ISSUE I WILL SCHEDULE AN APPT FOR. I ALSO HAVE A LIGHT IN MY DASH THAT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.
MY WIFE HIT A CAR (T BONED) THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DIPLOID. SHE WENT IN THE HOSPITAL. THE S BELT WENT IN HER CHEST AND SHE HAS NECK AND BACK PAIN. I REPORTED IT TO THE KIA DEALER AND NEVER GOT AN ANSWER.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE TAKEN INTO A AUTO SHOP. TOLD IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I SAW THAT 2016 KIA SOULS WERE BEING RECALLED WITH DAMAGED CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. WANTING TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE QUALIFIED.
THIS IS REGARDING HIGH EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURES THAT MAY DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND POTENTIALLY OTHER PARTS, DEALERS ARE SUPPOSED TO UPGRADE SOFTWARE ON ALL KIA SOULS EVEN IF NOT RECALLED. THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WARRENTON OREGON SAYS MY CAR DOESN'T NEED IT, I STRONGLY DISAGREE AND WANRYTHIS SOFTWARE UPDATED ASAP!
WHEN I AM AT A STOP OR GOING TO TURN FROM A STOP MY CAR SEEMS TO LOSE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE CALLED MY DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES AND THEY JUST SAY IT IS A SAFETY SENSOR IN THE CAR. I FIND IT A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND TAKING OFF FROM STOPS AT SIGNAL LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS NUMEROUS OF TIMES.
I PURCHASED MY KIA SOUL IN FEBRUARY 2016. I'VE DRIVEN AROUND 45,000 MILES AND REALLY ENJOYED IT UNTIL THE OTHER NIGHT. DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON A MAJOR STREET WHEN A LOUD SCREECH CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR JERKED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO STALL BUT IT DIDN'T. A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE OIL LIG…
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I PURCHASED MY KIA SOUL IN FEBRUARY 2016. I'VE DRIVEN AROUND 45,000 MILES AND REALLY ENJOYED IT UNTIL THE OTHER NIGHT. DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON A MAJOR STREET WHEN A LOUD SCREECH CAME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR JERKED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO STALL BUT IT DIDN'T. A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES. DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. ADDED AROUND 1 QUART OF OIL SINCE I SAW THE OIL LIGHT FLICKER. I THEN DROVE HOME (ABOUT 5 MILES) AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES ON THE WAY. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR, THE OIL LIGHT WAS OFF BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SO, I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (1.5 MILES AT THE MOST) AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. I WAS QUOTED $4,000 TO $6,000 FOR A USED ONE AND FOR A NEW ONE IT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE. I'VE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. SEVERAL OF THE OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT WENT BANKRUPT. I HAVE NO WAY TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THOSE RECEIPTS. ALL I COULD SUPPLY THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONE RECEIPT AND THEY HAD ONE RECEIPT IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. THEREFORE, NO COPIES... NO WARRANTY. I CAN'T AFFORD THE COST TO REPAIR IT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. THE DEALER WILL BUY THE CAR BACK FOR AROUND $4,000 AT BEST. WHY IS IT THAT ONE MINUTE A 3 YEAR OLD CAR IS RUNNING GREAT WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND THE NEXT MINUTE IT'S PARKED AND IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE? SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT ABOUT THAT AND I AM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT.
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CAR STARTED SLIPPING GEARS AND HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND IT HAD NO OIL, ADDED PROPER AMOUNT AND TYPE OF OIL. WHEN IDLING CHECK OIL LIGHT FLASHES RED EVEN WITH PROPER OIL LEVEL. DEALERSHIP STATES SOUNDS LIKE, THEY CURRENTLY ARE CHECKING IT, ENGINE AND ROD ISSUE.
AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND ON START UP. MY MECHANIC HAD THE VEHICLE OVER NIGHT AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED COLD IN THE MORNING ON A QUIET STREET. I HAD NOTICED THAT WEEK, THAT WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHTS, …
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AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND ON START UP. MY MECHANIC HAD THE VEHICLE OVER NIGHT AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED COLD IN THE MORNING ON A QUIET STREET. I HAD NOTICED THAT WEEK, THAT WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHTS, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS STALLING. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR TWO FULL DAYS AND WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE BANGING SOUND AND SO COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE CAR WENT BACK TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHICH THEY COMPLETED AND AGAIN HAD THE CAR OVER NIGHT. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY MENTIONED THAT THE BANGING SOUND HAD CEASED; HOWEVER, HE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL "MISSING" ON START UP AND WHILE IDLING. GIVEN THE RECENT INCIDENTS WITH KIA MOTORS, AM I JUST WAITING FOR MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS? IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE 1.6 LITERS TRIM LEVEL IS CURRENTLY INCLUDED (BASE MODEL).
AFTER A SHORT DRIVE, I PARKED MY 2016 KIA SOUL IN THE GARAGE AND 15 MINUTES LATER I HEARD A NOISE IN THE GARAGE. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE STATIONARY KIA. THE ENTIRE GARAGE CAUGHT FIRE AND INCLUDED MY OTHER CAR WHICH WAS AN INFINITI G35. THE PRIMARY FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE H…
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AFTER A SHORT DRIVE, I PARKED MY 2016 KIA SOUL IN THE GARAGE AND 15 MINUTES LATER I HEARD A NOISE IN THE GARAGE. MY HUSBAND OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM THE STATIONARY KIA. THE ENTIRE GARAGE CAUGHT FIRE AND INCLUDED MY OTHER CAR WHICH WAS AN INFINITI G35. THE PRIMARY FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD/FRONT RIGHT FENDER SEAM WITH MINOR FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE KIA. WE KNOW THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE KIA SOUL. THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD, HAD APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES, AND HAD ONLY BEEN SERVICED ONCE AT THE HENDERSON KIA DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISK WAS THE FUEL VAPOR LEAK BECAUSE MY SON'S 2016 KIA FORTE, ALSO PURCHASED FROM HENDERSON KIA, HAD A SEVERE FUEL VAPOR LEAK THAT HE HAD REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER MY KIA SOUL FIRE. THE SPEED OF MY GARAGE FIRE IS CONSISTENT WITH A FUEL VAPOR LEAK THAT WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE HENDERSON KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MY SON'S KIA FORTE. WE HAD TO MOVE OUT OF OUR HOME FOR FIVE MONTHS WHILE THE HOUSE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THERE WAS OVER $142,000 DAMAGE TO OUR HOME AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
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.