KnownCarProblems2016 Kia Soul Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 816 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul, most often about the engine (76% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Soul model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2016 Kia Soul problems
Engine
617 complaints · 76%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine, cooling system.
Driving vehicle approximately 35-45 miles per hour on city street - load noise under engine, it started knocking, loss of power, large puddle of oil under vehicle. Had to be towed home. Prior to failure - no lights/warnings Kia Soul + with 2.0 engine found following information for the 1.6 l engine - I suspect it is…
My catalytic converter has gone bad I was told its a recall issue, yet has not been reported and other vehicles same year and model have reported the same issue yet no recall has been issued. Please look into this matter due to a lot of car owners are pay costly repairs for seams as a manufacturer defect. Thank you
Other or unspecified
123 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles.
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.
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…
Fuel system
84 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles.
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…
I have a 2016. Kia. Soul with constant problems I now have a catalog converter problems and want to know if its on recall because. I have had this vehicle less than 3 years and constant service checks. My service engine light is on and when. I took it to service they ran a check and. I was told it was a catalog…
Transmission
62 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles. Parts named most often: axle assembly.
Was driving car and it lost power while on highway. Causing cars to swerve to avoid hitting me. After going to shop found out it was the catalytic converter. Car was also burning oil and misfiring. Had the 3 and 4 coil relpaced ,spark plugs , but still not able to figure out what US causing oil to burn. Car had…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle vibrated violently and lost motive power. The contact stated that while accelerating, the vehicle failed to exceed 10 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the mechanic…
Electrical
56 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, alternator/generator/regulator, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Car was in good condition and well maintained according to manufacturer's service schedule. It was last serviced on 7/31/18 when it passed nys inspection. The owner was informed on 9/18/18 @ 7:03 pm by daughter that car started making a strange sound on 9/17/18. Planned to have dealer check out car on 9/19/18. On…
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…
Speed control
33 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shuddered and stalled while accelerating. The transmission also shifted hard, and the vehicle shook abnormally. The vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The vehicle was overheating. The check engine warning…
On sunday, may 26th, 2019, our Kia Soul caught fire as we were driving on the interstate highway. My family was in the car when my husband felt the car lose power. We heard a knocking sound between US and under US, forward between our seats and the engine. My husband saw smoke as he pulled over on the side of the…
Steering
30 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 53,500 miles. Parts named most often: column, steering wheel /handle bar.
I started complaining to the dealer that the front right side wheel doesn't seem right it seems to be spinning at a different speed as the other tires which wore the tires down and the the brakes to wear. The front end shakes back and forth while driving. They tightened the bolts that secure the body to the frame. But…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH with the cruise control feature engaged, the feature independently deactivated and the vehicle decelerated to 60 MPH. The contact stated that after the cruise control feature was disengaged the vehicle was veered to the side of the road. The…
Brakes
20 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles.
This is an electric Kia Soul. I drove the car into the garage. Put it in park and turned the car off. I normally put the parking brake on. I opened the charging door but did not plug it in immediately. I took groceries into the house and returned for more. As I walked back into the garage it looked like the car…
I started complaining to the dealer that the front right side wheel doesn't seem right it seems to be spinning at a different speed as the other tires which wore the tires down and the the brakes to wear. The front end shakes back and forth while driving. They tightened the bolts that secure the body to the frame. But…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Kia Soul recalls
Engine
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Steering
Risk: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine fires
Summary
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.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Questions about the 2016 Kia Soul
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Soul?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (617 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); other or unspecified (123 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); fuel system (84 complaints, typically around 72,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Soul have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 22, 2019 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Kia Soul?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Soul model year since 2000, with 816 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.