The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 622 of 830 complaints (75%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (10) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 909 in 2015 to 830 in 2016.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 830
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,300–$2,400
- Combined MPG
- 26–27
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Station Wagons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400 | 2,400 | 2,300–2,400 | 2,200–2,300 | 2,200–2,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 26 | 26 | 26–27 | 27–28 | 27–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 23–24 / 30 | 23–24 / 30 | 24 / 30–31 | 24–26 / 30–31 | 24–26 / 30–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 335–344 | 335–344 | 335–338 | 320–335 | 320–335 | |
| Complaints filed | 905 | 909 | 830 | 291 | 223 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 34 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 15 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 69 | 84 | 35 | 15 | 14 | |
| Injuries reported | 30 | 32 | 25 | 19 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Soul have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Kia Soul?
Engine: 622 of 830 NHTSA complaints (75%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Kia Soul get?
EPA rates it 26–27 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Kia Soul?
EPA estimates $2,300–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 24 mpg | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 337 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 24 mpg | 31 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,300 (low) | 337 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 24 mpg | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 335 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons | 24 mpg | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $2,400 (high) | 338 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Station Wagons | 120 MPGe | 92 MPGe | 105 MPGe | $700 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 622 | 5 | 29 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 65 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 85 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 58 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Brakes | 28 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 30 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 21 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 34 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 23 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 129 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on.
- Consequence
- Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
- Defect
- Kia 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.
- Consequence
- A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Kia 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 a complete stop. If the parking mechanism is damaged, unintended vehicle movement may occur when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied.
- Consequence
- Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC191.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; ENGINE
- 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.
- 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 customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
STEERING
- 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.
- 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 being recalled again under this campaign.