2016 KIA SOUL
1094 complaints filed with NHTSA.
NHTSA Safety Rating
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 531 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 110 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 77 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 59 |
| POWER TRAIN | 57 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 53 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 38 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 29 |
| STEERING | 28 |
| AIR BAGS | 16 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 16 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 15 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 13 |
| SUSPENSION | 8 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 7 |
Recalls (2)
STEERING
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.
ENGINE
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
Recent Complaints
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
While driving my 2016 Kia Soul Plus on the highway, smoke began coming from the rear of the vehicle. Within seconds, flames were visible. Other drivers flagged me down, and I was able to pull over. I evacuated three dogs from the car, but the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames and was a total loss. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. There were no warning lights or unusual performance issues immediately before the fire started. The vehicle had not been modified and w
While driving my 2016 Kia Soul Plus on the highway, smoke began coming from the rear of the vehicle. Within seconds, flames were visible. Other drivers flagged me down, and I was able to pull over. I evacuated three dogs from the car, but the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames and was a total loss. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. There were no warning lights or unusual performance issues immediately before the fire started. The vehicle had not been modified and w
While driving my 2016 Kia Soul Plus on the highway, smoke began coming from the rear of the vehicle. Within seconds, flames were visible. Other drivers flagged me down, and I was able to pull over. I evacuated three dogs from the car, but the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames and was a total loss. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. There were no warning lights or unusual performance issues immediately before the fire started. The vehicle had not been modified and w
My 2016 Kia soul had the engine white come on. I took it to have the computer read what the problem was. It came back engine knock sensor. I was told there was a recall on this and I needed to take it to an authorized Kia dealer. I took this to an authorized Kia dealer who told me that that was a faulty check engine light there was nothing wrong with the sensor, but my pistons were bad and I needed a new engine. Well, when I read further into the recall, it specifically said that this check engi
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.
On July 8th at 12:15 am my 2016 Kia Soul Engine suddenly caught on fire while I was driving alone on the I-5 by the grapevine. I am a 25 year old woman and was stranded alone on the side of the highway in a very flammable remote area known for fires at 1am. I heard a strange knocking sound while driving and pulled over as it started smoking and it immediately caught fire under the hood while I was still in the vehicle. Cars were flying by and I was stranded alone in flip flops and pajamas as
I purchased this 2016 Kia Soul from a dealership in April, 2024. On [XXX], I was driving on a residential street when I heard an explosion. Smoke poured from the back of the car and from under the hood. I tried to stop, but the brakes failed. I put the car in park, but it would not stop. I finally put the emergency brake on and it stopped. By this time, the car was basically a fireball. I had to get out by stepping through fire. I inhaled smoke from the burning and melting elements of the vehicl
I purchased this 2016 Kia Soul from a dealership in April, 2024. On [XXX], I was driving on a residential street when I heard an explosion. Smoke poured from the back of the car and from under the hood. I tried to stop, but the brakes failed. I put the car in park, but it would not stop. I finally put the emergency brake on and it stopped. By this time, the car was basically a fireball. I had to get out by stepping through fire. I inhaled smoke from the burning and melting elements of the vehicl
I purchased this 2016 Kia Soul from a dealership in April, 2024. On [XXX], I was driving on a residential street when I heard an explosion. Smoke poured from the back of the car and from under the hood. I tried to stop, but the brakes failed. I put the car in park, but it would not stop. I finally put the emergency brake on and it stopped. By this time, the car was basically a fireball. I had to get out by stepping through fire. I inhaled smoke from the burning and melting elements of the vehicl
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the battery, steering, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The steering wheel then seized. The contact stopped the vehicle in the left lane of the highway when another vehicle sideswiped the passenger side of her vehicle and fled the scene. The air bags did not deploy. The contact experienced sore body pains, but medical attention was not received. No police report was filed. The contact activat
Mileage: 150,000
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the battery, steering, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The steering wheel then seized. The contact stopped the vehicle in the left lane of the highway when another vehicle sideswiped the passenger side of her vehicle and fled the scene. The air bags did not deploy. The contact experienced sore body pains, but medical attention was not received. No police report was filed. The contact activat
Mileage: 150,000
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 the insurance company adjusted the vehicle's exterior damage. The vehicle was later towed to Caliber to assess internal damages. The air bags in the vehicle fa
Mileage: 195,000
INCIDENT: [XXX] Driving from [XXX] to [XXX] Notice a slight gasoline smell in the car. I figured it was traffic smog. [XXX] I noticed the inside of the car still smelled of gasoline. Looked up on Google to see if this was an underlying issue. My quick search led me to believe that it was severe. Firestone Complete Auto Care [XXX]: After a quick lookup on Google, I called my local Firestone via Bluetooth to see if they had an opening today. When I talked to a worker describing my concerns
INCIDENT: [XXX] Driving from [XXX] to [XXX] Notice a slight gasoline smell in the car. I figured it was traffic smog. [XXX] I noticed the inside of the car still smelled of gasoline. Looked up on Google to see if this was an underlying issue. My quick search led me to believe that it was severe. Firestone Complete Auto Care [XXX]: After a quick lookup on Google, I called my local Firestone via Bluetooth to see if they had an opening today. When I talked to a worker describing my concerns
INCIDENT: [XXX] Driving from [XXX] to [XXX] Notice a slight gasoline smell in the car. I figured it was traffic smog. [XXX] I noticed the inside of the car still smelled of gasoline. Looked up on Google to see if this was an underlying issue. My quick search led me to believe that it was severe. Firestone Complete Auto Care [XXX]: After a quick lookup on Google, I called my local Firestone via Bluetooth to see if they had an opening today. When I talked to a worker describing my concerns
My 2016 soul burst into flames following a loud explosion in the engine compartment. The vehicle is a total loss; but, the fire department extinguished the fire before the flames reached the fuel tank. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine and No How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Could have easily been killed had I not recognised the symptoms immediately and had the time to react. Has the problem been r
Was idling at a red light, the engine warning light came on, and my engine set on fire. No reason. I jumped out of the car. Thankfully someone came over and threw water on it. Engine to be completely rebuilt (under warranty). Took 3 weeks.
The contact was an administrator of a probate trust who was filing a complaint on behalf of the deceased owner of a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while a relative of the deceased was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking. No warning lights were illuminated. The deceased relative pulled over into a parking lot and noticed there was smoke coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle caught fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fir
Mileage: 85,000
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle began to overheat and there was smoke coming out from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle then caught on fire. The contact stated that a significant amount of oil had leaked underneath the vehicle onto the ground. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. The contact was unsure whether
Mileage: 70,000