Loses power and dies also uses alot of oil and a day after oil change I have to get more oil in it the first month I had the car it died the first week and lost power on the highway the said the Cadillac converter was clogged

12/31/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11445760.0

2016 Soul · other

I went into the store come out of the store and got in the driver seat shut my door and the rear windshield exploded. I looked it up online and there are other customer complaints of the Kia soul with the same issue of the rear window exploding I called Kia and they told me even…

12/30/2025 · NHTSA ODI #11707878.0

2016 Soul · lighting

I am experiencing the same headlight problem as has been reported for 2014-15 Kia Souls. Mine is a 2016 Kia Soul. The headlights go out intermittently when turning a corner or when signalling for a turn. I had it diagnosed at my dealership and they stated it was the…

12/29/2023 · NHTSA ODI #11562546.0

2016 Soul · engine

2016 Kia Soul. Car was very sluggish and after taking it in the engine needed to be replaced, this was covered under warranty. I think there was a recall on the engine as well. 1 day after getting my car back from the engine being replaced the engine light came back on. The…

12/29/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11445530.0

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Active recalls showing 2 of 2

severe NHTSA 17V608000 29/09/2017

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles

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.

severe NHTSA 19V120000 22/02/2019

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1

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.

Common questions

Is the 2016 Kia Soul reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 787 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Kia Soul has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2016 Kia Soul?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 459 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Kia Soul has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Kia Soul?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 787 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with kia. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.