2016 Kia Soul Safety Report
2016 KIA SOUL Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Kia Soul
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Kia Soul. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (779) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 61 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2019 | Compare against the 2019 Kia Soul with 123 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Kia Soul before buying across this generation. |
Kia Soul Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Soul years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Kia Soul | 259 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Kia Soul | 882 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Kia Soul | 199 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Kia Soul | 123 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Kia Soul | 337 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Kia Soul | 187 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Kia Soul Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Kia Soul, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
328 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
50 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other
44 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyEngine And Engine Cooling,Engine
43 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling,Engine issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other,Engine
30 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Kia onlyEngine,Fuel/Propulsion System
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Kia Soul
Reliability Score
The 2016 Kia Soul receives a reliability score of 29 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Kia Soul
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Kia Soul
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Kia Soul:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Knocking And Oil Consumption Multiple reports indicate engine knocking and excessive oil consumption, which can lead to engine failure and unsafe driving conditions. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Pinion Plug Issues Steering problems, particularly with the pinion plug, have been reported, affecting vehicle control and safety. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Catalytic Converter Failures Catalytic converter failures have been reported, leading to reduced power and potential safety issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Recalled Engine Issues Engine-related recalls have been issued by Kia, addressing issues such as knocking and oil consumption. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Kia Soul:
Engine issues are the most common problem, affecting 23% of the vehicles.
Steering problems account for 14% of the reported issues.
Catalytic converter failures are reported in 5% of the vehicles.
Recalled components, including engines and steering, are reported in 5% of the vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2016 Kia Soul
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Kia Soul by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 custom...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 bei...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Kia Soul
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Kia Soul with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
Car only goes 20 mph Engine knock Unsafe to drive I have multiple service repair documentation regarding engine knocking, oil consumption, unable to go above 20 mph. Car frequently goes into limp mode
Safety defect P1326 code is a known indicator of rod bearing wear. When it triggered, the vehicle immediately went into Limp Mode, creating a significant safety hazard. The behavior aligns with the documented defect affecting NU GDI Engines and is not consistent with normal Engine wear. I have confirmed the KSDS software update was performed. I have taken the vehicle to Clay Cooley Kia of Plano...
I can not gain speed. The dealership says it’s the catalytic converter and there is an active recall for this on Kia souls. They previously did recall work to my car but now the catalytic converters not showing as a recall
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shut off while driving on a ramp, and the vehicle coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle lost automotive power and stalled in a high-traffic area, creating a safety risk. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the vehicle was associated with NHTS...
Vehicle paint(white) is peeling off 2016 Kia Soul
Kia Soul 2016 white color. The factory paint is peeling off completely.
When car is turning a right, the car turns off. When car is parked & stearing isnt straight car wont turn on.
SUBJECT: Engine → Stall → Loss of power while driving: While driving normally, the vehicle began losing power and could not accelerate properly. The engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle repeatedly entered a reduced-power condition where it could barely maintain speed. The vehicle would stall while driving and then restart after sitting. This occurred multiple times over a period of ti...
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, while making a right turn, the right turn signal blinked extremely fast. The contact stated that while making a left turn, the left turn signal blinked normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was...
I have put my 3rd Catalytic Convertor on this car. It looses power going uphill. Which is not safe. Just had 3rd on replaced yesterday Feb. 9, 2026. The mechanic said there is too much oil going to the engine. Mechanic said next thing would be replacing the engine. Why does my 2016 not have a recall on the engine.
I paid almost 3,500 dollars and Kia kept my car two months and I’m still having transmission issues and now they are asking for service receipts. After I picked up my vehicle from the original transmission repair I was back in less than 7 days because transmission was roughly jumping in gear and shifting horribly with burning smell. The technician noticed the problem and immediately took my car to...
The vehicle is suffering from excessive oil consumption (over 1 quart per 1,000 miles) and a recurring P0420 (Catalyst Efficiency) code. This is a documented precursor to catastrophic engine failure and engine compartment fire in the 2.oL Nu GDI engine. The engine's oil consumption is poisoning the catalytic converter, causing it to clog. This creates extreme exhaust backpressure, leading to sudd...
While driving on a road trip from Charleston, South Carolina to Florida in January of 2023 the factory installed catalytic converter failed (front facing) clogging the exhaust system and damaging the engine (engine now experiences blow by and pistons rings have been damaged). A recall for the overheating of the catalytic converter was marked as repaired before I bought the car. However, I believe ...
Engine knock engine failure
They have a recall on the catalytic converters for the 1.6 engines but not the 2.0. I have had to have mine replaced two times in a year. There is definitely a problem. The second time it almost caught fire due to glowing red cause it got so hot. The same problem is happening to the 2.0 engines just like the 1.6 engines, but nothing is being done.
The Instrument Cluster, the Speedometer and "NOW" the Odometer are not working--absolutely dead. "NOW" is in caps because to my surprise I noticed just recently that the Odometer is not working. In April 2021, after several weeks of waiting for the repairs to be finished, a Kia dealer, PEAK KIA in Colorado replaced the Instrument Cluster because of the faulty Speedometer. (This repair was done ...
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 if the warranty was still good on my vehicle that it would have to go under inspection and it still would be an if he si...
Greetings, I have a base 2016 kia soul manual transmission that I thought was under safety recall for its engine, but when I search it says 0 unrepaired recalls, when I look this up it does claim my vehicle had this problem, but I never had a dealer fix it, I did contact the one I got it from a couple of years ago and asked if my vehicle qualified for the recall since it already has 200,000 miles ...
Several times in the past year the power steering has spontaneously failed requiring significant Force to stabilize the vehicle and creating an obvious Hazard while driving. The forward Collision system indicates there's a fault while this occurs. Sometimes this is cleared by cycling the power on and off. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer who indicated they cannot locate the source of t...
A. Safety Defect and Failure Sequence I am filing this complaint because my Kia Soul, which is subject to the widespread engine defect and extended warranty under the Hyundai/Kia Class Action Settlement, suffered a catastrophic failure immediately following dealership intervention. Responsible Action: I brought the vehicle to the authorized Kia dealership on September 25th the instant the Check En...
Showing 20 of 779 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Kia Soul
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine
Opened 2021-12-22 · Closed 2024-02-05
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failur...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Kia Soul
Has the 2016 KIA SOUL been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 KIA SOUL has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 KIA SOUL have?
The 2016 KIA SOUL has 779 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 29 involved crashes. 23 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 KIA SOUL?
The 2016 KIA SOUL received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 KIA SOUL?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 KIA SOUL involve engine (328 complaints), engine and engine cooling (50 complaints), unknown or other (44 complaints). Other affected components include engine and engine cooling,engine, unknown or other,engine, engine,fuel/propulsion system.
How many crash reports does the 2016 KIA SOUL have?
There are 29 crash reports associated with the 2016 KIA SOUL out of 779 total complaints (3.7% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 KIA SOUL have?
There are 32 fire reports for the 2016 KIA SOUL out of 779 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 KIA SOUL?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 KIA SOUL.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 KIA SOUL?
23 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 KIA SOUL. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 KIA SOUL?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 KIA SOUL is extreme caution advised. It has 779 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 KIA SOUL?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 KIA SOUL are: 1. ENGINE (328 complaints), 2. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (50 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (44 complaints), 4. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE (43 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE (30 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 328 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 KIA SOUL?
Be cautious of engine knocking and catalytic converter failures, as these can lead to unsafe driving conditions. Check for recalls and address any issues promptly. The 2016 KIA SOUL has 779 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 KIA SOUL?
The 2016 KIA SOUL receives a reliability score of 29/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 779 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 61 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Knocking and Oil Consumption and Steering Pinion Plug Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2016 KIA SOUL?
Known issues with the 2016 KIA SOUL include: Engine Knocking and Oil Consumption, Steering Pinion Plug Issues, Catalytic Converter Failures, Recalled Engine Issues. These are based on patterns found across 779 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2016 KIA SOUL?
Engine knocking and catalytic converter failures are the most common safety issues.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 KIA SOUL?
Yes, recalls have been issued for engine and steering issues.
What should I do if I experience engine knocking?
Have the engine checked immediately to prevent further damage and potential safety issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine knocking and catalytic converter failures, as these can lead to unsafe driving conditions. Check for recalls and address any issues promptly.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Kia Soul
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Kia Soul. The data includes 779 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 29 reported crashes, 32 fire incidents, 23 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Kia Soul an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16