TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Kia Soul lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Kia Soul have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Soul | 7 |
| 2013 Soul | 5 |
| 2014 Soul | 87 |
| 2015 Soul | 24 |
| 2016 Soul (this page) | 13 |
| 2019 Soul | 3 |
| 2020 Soul | 5 |
What stands out
Among the 11 model years of Kia Soul in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗PITSTOP: HEADLIGHTS FLICKER/INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE OR REMAIN ON INDEFINITELY - If a customer has a concern regarding intermittent flickering, inoperative headlights, or that the headlights stay on indefinitely after the vehicle is turned off, confirm the following actions in this publication have been performed, when applicable.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a cluster of intermittent headlight failures on 2016 Kia Souls, with lights cutting out during highway driving and at various speeds, sometimes regaining function on their own. Several owners describe lights that flicker or go completely dark when using turn signals or blinkers—a pattern that suggests a multi-function switch issue. One owner at 37,770 miles experienced multiple warning lights and headlight flashing that required driving home on hazards; another at 52,080 miles reported near head-on collision risk when lights failed unpredictably.
Beyond headlights, owners report turn signal bulbs that fail repeatedly (one owner replacing monthly, claiming the right side won't last more than days), turn signals that blink abnormally fast, and dashboard lights that flicker intermittently. One owner noted a recall for 2014–15 Souls covering the multi-function switch and identical symptoms, yet their 2016 has no recall despite the same failure mode and dealer diagnosis pointing to the same part. Headlights also activate on their own with the vehicle parked, draining the battery over hours or days. One owner mentions "brake lights in the front of the vehicle" that don't work, though the narrative conflates this with unrelated engine issues. Overall, the failures appear electrical in nature and concentrated in the headlight and turn-signal control circuits.
Same Kia Soul lighting reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent headlight failure during driving
Headlights cut out completely or flicker on and off while the vehicle is moving at various speeds. Lights may regain function after several seconds or minutes without driver intervention.
When: Varies; reported at 52,080 miles, 37,770 miles, 67,000 miles, and at unspecified mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights fail to illuminate at highway and various speeds; Lights flicker and return to normal without warning; Complete loss of low-beam illumination while high-beams function; Lights go dark for several seconds during operation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner references NHTSA recall for 2014–15 Souls citing multi-function switch defect; 2016 model has no active recall despite matching symptoms and dealer diagnosis identifying the same part.
Headlight/turn signal interaction failures
When turn signals or blinkers are activated while the vehicle is in motion with lights on, headlights flicker, brighten erratically, or cut off completely. All vehicle lights may flash or cut off simultaneously.
When: Started after approximately 6 months of ownership for one owner; issue present at 73,000 miles for another
Symptoms owners cite: High-beams flash unexpectedly when blinker is activated; All vehicle lights cut off when turn signal is used; All lights flicker in sync with blinker operation; Headlights flicker on and off when turn signals engaged
Turn signal rapid blinking and bulb failure
Right turn signal blinks at an abnormally fast rate. Bulbs fail repeatedly and do not last more than a few days despite replacement and verification that bulbs are functional. Left turn signal operates normally.
When: Approximately 73,000 miles for fast blinking; ongoing monthly failures for bulb replacement owner
Symptoms owners cite: Right turn signal blinks extremely fast compared to left; Turn signal bulbs fail within days of installation; Monthly bulb replacement required with no lasting fix; Bulbs confirmed functional when tested on left side
Repairs/costs cited: Owner changes right-side turn signal bulb monthly but bulbs fail or do not work within days.
Headlights activating on parked vehicle
Headlights turn on automatically while the vehicle is parked and switched off, despite being set to normal auto on/off with engine start/stop. Occurs repeatedly over extended periods.
When: Four instances over one year; vehicle parked for hours to several days
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights turn on without driver input while parked; No DRL option available to disable auto-on behavior; Lights remain on for extended periods, potentially draining battery; Occurs at both nighttime and daytime with no pattern
Dashboard and interior light flickering
Interior and dashboard lights flicker on and off intermittently without warning or driver input.
When: At 52,080 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Interior lights flicker on and off; Dashboard lights flicker on and off; No warning signs before flickering occurs
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
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 Multi-function Switch that was mentioned as a recall for 2014-2015 Souls on your webpage. The dealership said there is no recall and…
My engine is burning oil on the pistons and does not retain oil. I am having to top the engine oil off every 10-14 days. I went in to repair the catalytic converter, but I was told by the dealership that if I repair the converter, because I have a bad engine, it would be useless. The first warning sign was an H2O engine error that remains. My safety with a bad engine is put at risk with…
Had lighting trouble with your 2016 Kia Soul?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2016 Kia Soul?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 47,255 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Kia/Soul.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.