What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 KIA Soul

No clear pattern

1% of complaints about the 2016 KIA Soul arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2016 vehicle, but with only 1,158 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is engine (555 complaints), typically at 6.9 yr or about 86,000 miles.

Complaints
1,158
Median age at failure
6.8 yr
Median mileage
80,419 n=521
Crash / fire / tow
16.6% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
555 reports · 86,000 mi
6.9 yr
14.8%
Other
121 reports · 75,000 mi
6.6 yr
9.1%
Engine cooling
107 reports · 100,000 mi
7.3 yr
35.5%
Fuel / propulsion
83 reports · 75,000 mi
6.9 yr
7.2%
Power train
61 reports · 76,000 mi
6.0 yr
4.9%
Electrical system
57 reports · 66,122 mi
6.5 yr
19.3%
Speed control
33 reports · 68,000 mi
5.9 yr
15.2%
Steering
30 reports · 57,000 mi
5.7 yr
13.3%
Service brakes
18 reports · 50,000 mi
7.6 yr
22.2%
Structure
18 reports · 66,122 mi
5.4 yr
33.3%
Exterior lighting
18 reports · 52,080 mi
5.8 yr
0%
Air bags
17 reports · 32,000 mi
4.8 yr
76.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V120000 2019-02-22
Engine

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.

17V608000 2017-09-29
Steering

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.

In owners’ own words

Other mileage not reported 4 mo in service
THE PANIC BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB IS NOT RECESSED SO IT ACTIVATES WHEN YOU DON'T WANT IT TO. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE KIA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND ALSO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BOTH COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. ANYTIME I HAVE THE KEY FOB IN MY POCKET IT IS LIKELY TO ENGAGE THE PANIC BUTTON. IT HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES. PEOPLE THINK THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT NHTSA CAN DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. (I PREVIOUSLY HAD A 2013 KIA SOUL AND THE DESIGN OF THE KEY FOB WAS DIFFERENT SO I NEVER HAD THE PANIC BUTTON GO OFF BY MISTAKE.) HELP.
Other 12,000 mi 1.8 yr in service
KEY WILL GET STUCK IN IGNITION AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE KEY AFTER TURNING KEY TO OFF POSITION. KEY WILL ALSO NOT TURN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THE INABILITY TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. THE INABILITY TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 SEPARATE TIMES. MOST RECENTLY WAS SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2017 AND I WAS AT A HIKING TRAIL IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Other mileage not reported 2.8 yr in service
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING. I SHUT THE CAR DOOR TO GO BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE AND I HEARD A POP NOISE. THE FRONT PART OF THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF HAD BROKEN AND SHATTERED.
Electrical system mileage not reported 3.1 yr in service
MY CAR WAS NOT STARTING. I DO NOT DRIVE IT EVERYDAY AND BEGAN TO THINK IT WAS THE BATTERY. I HAD IT TESTED AT THE AUTO ZONE AND THERY SAID IT WAS GREAT NO PROBLEMS. SAID IT COULD BE THE STARTER BUT THOUGHT THAT ODD WITH AS FEW MILES AS ON IT. I ALSO NOTICE THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING ISSUE I WILL SCHEDULE AN APPT FOR. I ALSO HAVE A LIGHT IN MY DASH THAT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.

Other Soul model years

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010

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