The 2016 Kia Soul has 1600 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and engine and engine cooling. Owners most often flag catastrophic engine failure (knocking, stalling, seizure) often preceded by excessive oil consumption: very frequent across 2010-2020 models. linked to recalls and extended warranty programs.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2016 Kia Soul vehicles (US, public record).
Across the 6 Soul model years we track, complaint volume runs from 87 (2022) to 1,600 (2016). With 1,600 complaints, the 2016 Soul sits abovethe model's median of 357.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
engine
Campaign 19V120000Kia 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 i…
steering
Campaign 17V608000Kia 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.
power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Campaign 20V389000Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Kia Soul Electric Vehicle (EV) vehicles. The parking mechanism may become damaged if the driver moves the gear shift lever into Park 'P' before the vehicle comes to…
electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
Campaign 23V218000Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving.
Mixed to negative sentiment, heavily dependent on model year and engine. The vehicle is consistently praised for its practicality, including exceptional interior roominess, good fuel economy, easy maneuverability, and overall value as a…
Owner insights cover all generations of the Soul. See the full Soul owner picture and every model year.
Used Soul listings typically run $11,800–$19,709 across 2014 to 2025 model years.
Compare every Soul year side by side to see how 2016 ranks against the rest.