2016 Kia Soul Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 90,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under Kia Campaign Number: SC176 (Engine Control Unit (ECU) Logic Improvement). A compression test was performed by the dealer, and it was determined that the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 122,000 miles

Issues with catalytic converters , manifold, fuel 02 sensor. Have had to replace multiple times. Not listed as a recal vin.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 73,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I’m reaching out as my Catalytic Converter is needing to be replaced due to being faulty and my vehicle per VIN is not included in this recall for some reason however it is the exact issue all of the others have that are included in it. I have only had my vehicle for a year and it is an extremely expensive repair so I am asking if there…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 74,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

There is an active recall on 2016 Kia Catalytic Converters. I was told my VIN is not included, even though I have this make and model. The car consistently struggled at 60 MPH, and was driving rough at lower speeds, but randomly. I had to travel no more than 45-50 MPH. This was dangerous since i was on the Highway when the car started to…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

When the steering wheel tilt is adjusted while driving, the vehicle experiences a complete electrical shutdown, dashboard goes black and the engine may shut off. Electrical power may return when the steering wheel position is changed again. Because this involves a total loss of power while the vehicle is in motion, I am concerned about…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Inhibitor Switch has to be replaced. 2017 vehicles had a recall, dealership wants 747.00 to fix same when a recall for same a year later?Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 68,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact was parking the vehicle when it inadvertently accelerated resulting in crashing into a store. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed and that the accelerator pedal was not accidentally depressed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 195,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 kia soul. While driving various speeds, the vehicle independently [VIN] without warning. Also, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (spitzer kia cleveland 3414 brookpark road, cleveland, oh 44134), but the cause of the failure could not…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 30 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 54,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Driving around curves my car slows dramatically and traction control light comes on. I have no ability to steer at this point until the car “breaks free” and allows acceleration again. It’s as if the ABS system kicks on all on its own. The sound it makes is as though the brakes are kicking in to slow the vehicle. It almost comes to a…Owner complaint, filed 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Kia soul. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH with the cruise control feature engaged, the feature independently deactivated and the vehicle decelerated to 60 MPH. The contact stated that after the cruise control feature was disengaged the vehicle was veered to the side of the road. The contact then drove the…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 57,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 35 MPH, the brakes became inoperable. The contact’s husband, who is an independent mechanic, inspected the vehicle and became aware that the brake fluid lines were rusted and ruptured underneath the middle of the vehicle. The contact stated that brake…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 40,000 miles

I reported to Kia regarding 2016 KIA Soul EV electronic gear shift and power system as follows. "I am writing to formally report a serious safety concern regarding the electronic gear shift and power system on my Kia Soul EV. I have experienced several dangerous incidents involving the vehicle's behavior when parking on an incline.…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 52,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 73,000 miles

I leave for work early in the morning and several times the lights would start blinking and go out. The lights would come back on after blinking again. There were no warning signs and it makes me scared to drive the car. I took the car to a mechanic who told me he checked the recall list. My state does not require an inspection and I…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 55,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (18).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2016 Kia Soul has under 47,000 miles, and is experiencing severe clear-coat failure across multiple panels, including the roof, hood, rear quarter panel, lip of hatch, tops of door handles, and both mirrors. The roof began peeling about 4 years ago, but over the past two years, before the weather was even warm, the clear coat suddenly…Owner complaint, filed 2026

UNKNOWN. See my statement below. I also have pictures I will upload. My vehicle is suffering from Severe factory paint and clear coat delamination on the vehicle's flat surfaces (hood and roof and now starting on the door handles and mirrors), resulting in total material deterioration down to the bare primer and exposed underlying metal…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 32,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Steering wheel airbag did not deploy during an accident. The side aibags did deployed. Car was going 55mph and colided into another car with front passenger side took majority of the force.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Airbag Control Model malfunction discovered during diagnostic test at inspection and confirmed at service center. Must be replaced. Safety compromised as airbag may not deploy in an accident.Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The front end creaks every time I slowly ride over a speed bump or experience dip in the road. I originally reported it to the dealership when still under warranty. I took the mechanic on a ride with me in the vehicle so he could hear the noise. He agreed something was wrong, probably with the suspension. After several visits to the…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 25,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 kia soul. While driving approximately 25 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle turned to the left and crashed into a curb. The incident damaged one of the tires. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (superior kia, 260 w. Mitchell ave, cincinnati, oh) and was awaiting diagnostic…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 31,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

My friend and I picked up a kayak that I bought and we had to put it in the car. When she was in the car I had to fasten the seat belt for her. We got it home and removed it from the vehicle, I had to unfastened the seat belt. When I took her home, the seat belt would not pull out. I still cannot pull out the seat belt. I contacted the…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Takata recall the headrests on both driver and passenger are tilted way too forward and interferes with your visual and driving, and creates unsafe conditions. The only thing my husband could do was to take them off and put them backwards which still makes it very uncomfortable and sometimes painful to your neck. This has always been…Owner complaint, filed 2019

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Cruise control doesn't maintain speed, speed decreases. Car shakes under 10 mph and after 40 mph. Engine light starts blinking.Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

We live in Virginia, and we were driving in Florida on 12-23-2022, when the tire size 215/55 R17 94V blew up. Car tire pressure lit up and then we heard a noise. We stopped immediately at the gorge of Highway 75 and exit number 213. My husband and I were super streesed and in panic mode as the traffic on highway 75 was super heavy. While…Owner complaint, filed 2023