2016 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 821 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 29 involved a crash and 35 involved a fire. 25 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 19V120000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringSep 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.
If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 17V608000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
64 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Nov 12, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ON I-20 GOING SEE MOTHER IN LAW @ AROUND 10:30 PM AND THE CAR JUST STARTED LICKING UP SPEED ON IT OWN AND I HAD FIANCEE WITH ME . I AM DEAF SAID THERE SOMETHING WRONG I SAID WHAT THE CAR STARTED IDLING REALLY WERID . AND HE SAID PULL OFF NEXT EXIT START TRY TO STALL ON THE FREEWAY. SO PULL OVER TO EXIT AND START TO RUN NORMAL FOR FEW MINS THEN STALL AGAIN OFF AND ON. I PULL OFF HULEN ST AT TOM THUMB PARKING LOT CHECK EVERYTHING SEEM OKAY WITH MOTOR AND FIANCEE CHECK DIDNT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE NOTICE AROUND AUGUST CAR SEEM PICK UP SPEED ON IT OWN I REALLY DIDNT THINK ANYTHING OF IT. THEN I NOTICE THAT IT SEEM USE OIL BECAUSE SOMETIME THERE DOESNT SEEM BE ANY OIL IN CAR . I WOULD PUT SOME IN AND WEEK LATER SEEM ALL GONE. I DONT SEE NO OIL LEAK.. I NOTICE IT USED GAS REALLY FAST I AM HAVING FILL TANK U MAYBE 100 TO 130 A WEEK . I DONT TRAVEL FAR EITHER . 11/12/2019 WHEN STALLING STARTED AND I KNOW NONE LIGHT CAME ON AT ALL ON THE ENGINE OR ANYTHING. NO WARNING NO NOTHING. I AM FINANCING THIS CAR THERE A DEALER THEY HILEY HYUNDAI IN BURLESON TEXAS. I AM LEASING F QUILL M EXTER FINANCE. I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASE THIS IS JUST 2019 2016 KIA SOUL..
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 12, 2019
ON 8/4/19 I WAS HEADING TO WORK WHEN MY CAR DECIDED NOT TO GO ANYMORE. I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE. I COULD NOT GET PASSED 3000 RPMS. FELT THE ENGINE REV UP BUT WOULD ONLY GO 30 MPH. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ME, BECAUSE THE WHOLE RIDE EVERYTHING WAS SMOOTH SAILING AND THEN THIS HAPPEND OUT OF NOWHERE. SO I GAVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS AND COULD FEEL THE ENGINE STRUGGLING. I CAME TO THE NEXT RED LIGHT AND WHEN I STARTED TO GIVE GAS IT JUST JERKED AND I ROLLED INTO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED THE OIL. BECAUSE AS I ACCELERATED AT THE NEXT LIGHT ONCE GREEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND KEPT BLINKING. I JUST CHANGED IT TWO MONTHS AGO! THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR BURNING SMELL. NO OIL UNDER CAR OR ANY OTHER FLUID. I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED HOME, LATE TO WORK BECAUSE I GOT A RIDE IN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 6 TO 8 THOUSAND FOR A NEW ENGINE ONCE DIAGNOSED. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE ARE 79,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN READING ARTICLES ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO ME. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUES BUT FOR A 1.6L. MINE IS A 2.0. WHY ISN'T THE MANUFACTURER TAKING ANY INITIATIVE TO LOOK INTO MY SIZE ENGINE WHEN I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DONT HAVE 6 TO 8 THOUSAND FOR THIS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. PLEASE TELL ME I HAVE SOME SORT OF CHANCE OF GETTING ANYTHING FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP.
Power train, Service brakes, Jun 30, 2019
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO PARK AFTER DRIVING. THE CAR INDICATED IT WAS IN PARK, HOWEVER THE CAR ROLLED - IT WAS NOT IN PARK. APPLYING THE FOOT BRAKE WORKED. APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE WORKED, HOWEVER THE GEARSHIFT DID NOT ENGAGE PARK PROPERLY.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 3, 2019, fire
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 HIGHWAY. A FEW SECONDS AFTER WE PULLED OVER, WE SAW FLAMES ERUPT FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. WE GOT OUR THREE KIDS OUT OF THE CAR AS FAST AS WE COULD AND RAN FROM THE CAR. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DIRECT TRAFFIC, AS AT LEAST ONE LANE WAS CLOSED. IN THE TIME IT TOOK FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO ARRIVE, OUR CAR EXPLODED INTO A FIRE BALL.
Power train, May 16, 2019
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.
Power train, May 8, 2019
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.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 6, 2019
1ST ISSUE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON. CAR HAS 44K MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS LOSS OF POWER AND CUTS OFF WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE GAS MILEAGE HAS DROPPED CONSIDERABLY AND THE ENGINE IS RUNNING EXTREMELY HOT
Power train, Engine, Apr 25, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Power train, Engine, Mar 1, 2019
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.
Power train, Sep 13, 2018, crash
BACKED UP DRIVEWAY TO PARK CAR IN GARAGE. PUT CAR IN "PARK". GOT OUT TO CLEAR PARKING SPACE IN GARAGE. TURNED AROUND TO SEE CAR ROLLING DOWN DRIVEWAY INTO WALL- WHILE IN "PARK".
Power train, Engine, May 13, 2018
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. THEN TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE GOING 45 AND ENGINE RED LINED THEN DIED. WOULD NOT RESTART.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Mar 22, 2018
LAST YEAR I FOUND OUT THAT WHEN I ENGAGED REVERSE RIGHT OR LEFT A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ALSO WHEN I WAS DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP OR IN A DIP A SQUEEKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE [KIA OF ORANGE,210 KATELLA AVE.,ORANGE,CA.92867, (714)453-3800], TWICE 5/6/2017 & 14/9/2017, BUT THEY COULDN'T OR DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. ON 1/26/2018 I CALLED KIA CORPORATE OFFICE IN IRVINE (800)333-4542 AND EXPLAINED TO "LORRE" THE PROBLEMS THAT MY CAR HAS AND THAT I TOOK IT TO KIA OF ORANGE WHICH THEY COULDN'T FIX IN ADDITION TO THEIR BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT I HAD ANYTIME I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE. HER RESPONSE OVER THE PHONE AND WITH HER EMAILS WAS PATHETIC,IN DENIAL AND SUPPORTIVE FOR THE KIA OF ORANGE. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA/JUNK AGAIN.
Power train, Jul 15, 2017
AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING IT OFF, THE CAR STARTED ROLLING. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURN IT ON, PUT IT IN DRIVE, THEN TURNED IT BACK OFF. IT ROLLED AGAIN (IN A RELATIVELY FLAT PARKING STRUCTURE.) I NORMALLY SET THE PARKING BREAK SO I'M NOT SURE WHEN THIS MAY HAVE STARTED.
Power train, Dec 26, 2016
SINCE DAY ONE, MY KIA LOOSE COMMUNICATION WITH GAS PEDAL TO TRANSMISSION OR COMPUTER.FROM STOP I ACCELERATE, AND IF FOR ANY REASON I OUGHT TO RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION ACT LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL GEAR,AFTER ACCELERATE TWO OR THREE TIMES IT ACCELERATE ABRUPTLY.IT ACT EXACTLY LIKE HIUNDAI RECALL NO.16V6280.I TAKE THE VEH. TO THE DEALER, I REPORT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY TELL ME THAT THEY DOES NOT FIND NOTHIN WRONG, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.MY VEH. TRANSMISSION IS A 5 SPEED ECO SHIFT DUAL CLUTCH