2016 Kia Soul problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (353) · Engine And Engine Cooling (61) · Fuel/Propulsion System (53)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Soul model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
362 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Engine 2019-02-22 · campaign 19V120000 · 378,967 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Steering 2017-09-29 · campaign 17V608000 · 342,381 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Service bulletins (132)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-08-25 · SC334_OWNR_201 · Service Campaign
voluntary service campaign: owner renotification (sc334 flight 201) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting a voluntary service campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 my soul vehicles that were originally sold in or a
Structure:body 2026-06-09 · CS2311_TSB_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition: cylinder protector & decal installation (cs2311) - 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 provi
Engine 2026-03-24 · SC176Y_TSB_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: subsequent repair action: catalytic converter replacement and engine inspection/replacement (sc176y) - 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 pr
Engine 2026-02-24 · PI2002B_OWNR_701 · Other
product improvement campaign: owner renotification (pi2002b fl701) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting a product improvement campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 my soul vehicles equipped with 2.0l gasoline direct injection (“gdi”) engines to pro
Structure:body 2025-12-19 · CS2311_OWNR_PC201 · Other
customer satisfaction campaign: postcard owner renotification (cs2311) - this document is the owner renotification advising that kia is conducting customer satisfaction campaign. kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade and can be installed at the ignition
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Showing the 6 most recent of 132 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-29 · Engine“issues with catalytic converters , manifold, fuel 02 sensor. have had to replace multiple times. not listed as a recal vin.…”
2026-10-26 · Engine“the vehicle won't go faster than 60mph. it will go in limp mode. vehicle should be part of the engine replace campaign, but it is not showing up on the nhtsa website.…”
2026-10-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System“vehicle suffered a sudden, dangerous loss of power on the highway at 70 mph, dropping immediately to 20 mph, creating a severe safety risk. the vehicle has an active p0420 code. the official nhtsa database confirms that safety recall sc176 (campaign 19v120) is incomplete for this vehicle. however, the kia dealership and kia corporate are actively r…”
2026-09-30 · Unknown Or Other“ i have a 2016 kia soul that has been having drinking oil every 2-3 weeks but there isnt any oil leaking on the ground.last week i was driving home and my car woulnt go over 20mph i took it to kia and they said i need a catalytic converter the oil is still escaping somewhere and when i looked at the recalls my vin didnt show i had any but my car i…”
2026-09-27 · Unknown Or Other“dear kia customer care, i am writing to formally express my disappointment and serious concern regarding my 2016 kia soul, vin [xxx], its engine failure, the applicable engine recall/warranty coverage, and my experience obtaining assistance and repairs through kia. most importantly, this situation involved more than an inconvenience or ordinary m…”
2026-09-25 · Engine“my 2016 kia soul 1.6l gdi has an unresolved engine-related safety and recall concern. the vehicle is associated with safety recall sc176 / nhtsa 19v120, which remains identified as incomplete in the vehicle’s recall records. kia also sent a recall renotification stating that the recall had not been completed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized…”
2026-09-24 · Engine“the engine long-block assembly suffered a catastrophic, terminal internal collapse and sudden stall due to abrasive substrate particle ingestion from a previously failed, melted manifold catalytic converter under safety recall sc176 (nhtsa campaign 19v120000). the vehicle has been extracted to preserve evidence and is available for immediate physic…”
2026-09-16 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 139,500 mi“the contact owns a 2016 kia soul. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately and lost motive power while driving. the contact was able to continue driving at reduced power. additionally, there were abnormal sounds coming from under the hood, excessive engine oil consumption, and a plastic burning odor inside the vehicle. the ve…”
2026-09-16 · Engine“my car is under 130000 miles and about two years ago i already had to replace one catalytic converter. the past six months the oil usage of my car, which has always been high and requires frequent topping off and more frequent oil changes at my mechanic, has gotten even worse. a check engine light came on a few weeks ago due to a catalytic converte…”
2026-09-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System“component or system: catalytic converter (exhaust emissions system). the converter is physically restricted due to substrate damage consistent with the defect identified in nhtsa campaign 19v120 / kia recall sc176. the restriction limits engine rpm to approximately 3,000 under all conditions. the vehicle is available for inspection at any authorize…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.