2016 Kia SOUL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
805 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 362 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 552 of 805 complaints (68.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 149 | 18.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 42 | 5.2% |
| Braking behavior | 39 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 39 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 26 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 552 |
| Unknown Or Other | 120 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 80 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 65 |
| Power Train | 60 |
| Electrical System | 54 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 39 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 |
Engine: 552; Unknown Or Other: 120; Fuel/Propulsion System: 80; Engine And Engine Cooling: 65; Power Train: 60; Electrical System: 54; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 39; Vehicle Speed Control: 31
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 77 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 93 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 108 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 77; 75,000 to 99,999: 93; 100,000 to 149,999: 108; 150,000 and above: 14
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (108). 443 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 83 |
| 2020 | 79 |
| 2021 | 105 |
| 2022 | 134 |
| 2023 | 132 |
| 2024 | 102 |
| 2025 | 86 |
| 2026 | 49 |
2016: 4; 2017: 13; 2018: 18; 2019: 83; 2020: 79; 2021: 105; 2022: 134; 2023: 132; 2024: 102; 2025: 86; 2026: 49
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 149 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11118177 · 2018-08-06 (August 6, 2018)
I HAVE A 2016 KIA SOUL, FULLY LOADED MODEL. SIX MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR FROM THE DEALER (BOUGHT NEW WITH 8 MILES), I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, FROM A STOP OR SLOW. THE CAR WOULD HESITATE/LAG/ALMOST STALL FOR 2-5 SECONDS, BEFORE CATCHING AND STARTING TO SPEED UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I STILL HAVE THE CAR AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND EVERY TIME, HAVE MENTIONED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM AND EACH TIME THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150655 · 2018-11-09 (November 9, 2018)
MY SOUL HAS BEEN OVER HEATING,STALLING,AND BACK FIRING,EVEN HAD SMOKE COME FROM ENGINE 2 TIMES.HAS BEEN IN SHOP OVER 7 TIMES FOR THERMOSTAT ISSUE, THAT THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIX .PLUS MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR IT NOT HAVING ANY GET UP AND GO .IT HAS TO BE REALLY FAST TO GO UP HILLS .ON HIGHWAY OR MAIN ROADS .
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885663 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
DRIVING THIS CAR HIGH SPEEDS (FREEWAY) FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME (30 MINUTES OR MORE PER DAY) FOR MORE THAN 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AFFECTS MY OVERALL HEALTH AND ABILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT GET CHRONIC HEADACHES, TROUBLE CONCENTRATING, SLEEPING PROBLEMS, DIZZINESS, FORGETFULNESS, EXHAUSTION, AND ANXIETY WHICH AFFECT MY REACTION TIME AND ALERTNESS WHILE DRIVING, AND ABILITY TO MAKE PROPER DECISIONS IN TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, SINCE I DISCONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR AS SOON AS I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO WENT TO A DOCTOR WHO CONFIRMED …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10953779 · 2017-02-10 (February 10, 2017)
THE 2016 KIA SOUL OWNERS MANUAL HAS FALSE, MISLEADING AND INCORRECT INFORMATION. BEFORE PURCHASING THIS NEW KIA SOUL IN 12/16 I LOOKED THROUGH THE CARS OWNERS MANUAL. SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT MY EYE AND HELPED SWAY ME TO PURCHASE THIS CAR WAS THE INFORMATION IN SECTION 8 PAGE 15 UNDER ONLINE FACTORY AUTHORIZED MANUALS (U.S. ONLY) IT STATES THAT THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON WWW.KIATECHINFO.CON AT NO CHARGE. SERVICE MANUAL, ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL, OWNERS MANUAL. IF YOU VISIT THAT SITE WWW.KIATEAHINFO.COM THE FIRST SCREEN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10953779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10891740 · 2016-07-29 (July 29, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING IN REGENERATIVE BRAKE MODE AND COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT, I LET THE REGENERATIVE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR TO AROUND 10 KM/HR THEN APPLIED THE NORMAL BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE REST OF THE WAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT ENGAGE WHATSOEVER. I DID NOT FEEL ANY RESISTANCE AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP, I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME - LOW SPEED SO LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. PEDAL WAS FLOORED AND THERE WAS NO ACCELER…
Owner-reported narrative. 110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10891740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019289 · 2017-08-24 (August 24, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAVENAUGH KIA (LOCATED AT 3315 STADIUM BLVD, JONESBORO, AR 72404, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10939501 · 2017-01-03 (January 3, 2017)
ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET DOING ABOUT 15 MPH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEERED TO THE RIGHT HITTING A PARKED CAR AND DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY KIA SOUL AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO A FORD EXPLORER. IT WAS MID DAY AND GOOD VISIBILITY AND I WAS ALERT ON FAMILIAR TERRITORY IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM CONCERNED THAT EVEN THOUGH KIA AND NHTSA DON'T SHOW THIS VIN # IN THE STEERING RECALL HOW CAN I AND OTHERS BE SURE IT SHOULDN'T BE? CHP DID COLLISION REPORT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V736000. PLEASE RESPOND THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS REPORT AND ANY FURTHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945883 · 2017-01-18 (January 18, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING TURNING LEFT CLICKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN I HAD TO SNATCH THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. I'VE HEARD LIGHT CLICKING BEFORE ON AND OFF, BUT TODAY WAS AT IT WORST. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10945883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10937496 · 2016-12-26 (December 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10937496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11093561 · 2018-05-13 (May 13, 2018)
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. THEN TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHILE GOING 45 AND ENGINE RED LINED THEN DIED. WOULD NOT RESTART.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11093561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11350152 · 2020-08-18 (August 18, 2020)
8/1/20 DRIVING ON HWY 231 AT 65MPH WHEN MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS STALLING, PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF.IT WOULD CRANK BUT ONLY GO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH OR REV TO ABOUT 2000 RPM, THEN JUST PUTTER OUT. AT TUFFYS WHERE IT WAS SAID "NOTHING WAS CODING". SAID NEEDED KNEW FUEL PUMP FOR $1600. THAT WAS REPLACED BUT WAS NOT THE ISSUE.HE SAID THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ASSOCIATED W/ CAR AND TO GET IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP.I IMMEDIATELY STARTED RESEARCHING AN FOUND RECALL 19V120000, I CALLED KIA 800# AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED W…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 11350152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465843 · 2022-05-23 (May 23, 2022)
Unknown have a strong gas smell from under hood passenger side and fuel leak was detected by mechanic during oil change service
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465843 at NHTSA ↗