AI Damage2016 KIA Soul: common problems
Owners of the 2016 KIA Soul filed 823 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine and cooling. The maker issued 122 service bulletins for this year. We found 2 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 823
- involving a crash
- 29
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 122
- YouTube repair videos
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 68% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 4% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 561 complaints (68% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Engine and cooling: 106 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 48.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 84 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Powertrain: 65 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Electrical system: 57 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 41.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 28 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 13 complaints
- electric
- automatic, 1-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 2 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 823 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 561 | 4 | 10 |
| Engine and cooling | 106 | 1 | 48 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 84 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 65 | 1 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 57 | 1 | 41 |
| Vehicle speed control | 33 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 30 | 2 | 9 |
| Service brakes | 21 | 2 | 9 |
| Structure | 18 | 2 | 8 |
| Exterior lighting | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 17 | 13 | 0 |
| Visibility | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Suspension | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 6 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
It came back engine knock sensor. I was told there was a recall on this and I needed to take it to an authorized Kia dealer. I took this to an authorized Kia dealer who told me that that was a faulty check engine light there was nothing wrong with the sensor, but my pistons were bad and I needed a new engine.
Steering wheel airbag did not deploy during an accident. The side aibags did deployed. Car was going 55mph and colided into another car with front passenger side took majority of the force.
The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the battery, steering, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The steering wheel then seized. The contact stopped the vehicle in the left lane of the highway when another vehicle sideswiped the passenger side of her vehicle and fled the scene.
No warning lights were illuminated. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed and that the accelerator pedal was not accidentally depressed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where the insurance company adjusted the vehicle's exterior damage.
Motor stalled while I was driving, steering wheel locked taking me to a ditch. No warning on the dashboard, no lights on. It only has 100k on it. My only car to get me where I need to be and I still owe money on it. I called Kia, they said they can’t do anything unless I take it there and paid their fees.
I paid 2400 out of pocket to have the catalytic converters replaced, along with replacing the pcv and purge valves, as they were clogged due to the overheating. My oil consumption is crazy, about 5qt a week.
Front impacted another vehicle at 35-40 mph and air bags did not deploy. This happened 3/7/2020 at 3:45 in port charolette fl. This occurred on route 776 and toledo blade
The impact knocked me across two lanes of the freeways oncoming traffic where I was hit again on driver's side. The steering wheel bag went off after the 2nd impact. The driver's side curtain airbags did not go off. Is this the car you have a 5-star crash ratings? My car was totaled.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 51 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 2% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Soul has 227 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 823, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC334 Flight 201) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (SC176Y) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2002B FL701) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 MY Soul vehicles equipped with…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. Kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector…
- PITSTOP
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC334) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Service Campaign SC334.
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC334) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 MY Soul…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC334) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary…
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC334) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain…
NHTSA lists 122 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 KIA Soul?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, engine and cooling, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 823. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (37%), knocking, grinding or other noise (17%), stalls while driving (16%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 KIA Soul?
NHTSA lists 122 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 KIA Soul from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.