2016 Kia Soul Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year center on the engine, and the themes repeat with unusual consistency: oil that disappears between changes with no visible leak, a check-engine light, and then a catalytic converter or the engine itself needing replacement, often in the 70,000-120,000 mile range. Many owners also describe sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, and several say a recall or software repair had already been performed before the symptom returned.

1. 1
   Engine

   Catalytic converter failure and loss of power

   • 375 complaints (46%)
   • median 90,800 mi at 5.5 yrs old (163 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 31 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the check-engine light coming on followed by the engine hesitating, jerking, or refusing to accelerate past 30-55 mph, and sometimes stalling. Owners say mechanics and dealers diagnosed a failed or clogged catalytic converter, in some cases more than once, and in others also recommended engine replacement. Several connect the diagnosis to recall 19V120000, and some report the repair was declined or only partly covered. Typically reported between about 70,000 and 150,000 miles.

   Recall 19V1200002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any converter replacement receipts and whether an engine inspection was done at the same time. A scan for stored exhaust and misfire codes before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was driving car and it lost power while on highway. Causing cars to swerve to avoid hitting me. After going to shop found out it was the catalytic converter. Car was also burning oil and misfiring. Had the 3 and 4 coil relpaced ,spark plugs , but still not able to figure out what us causing oil to burn. Car had regular oil changes. Kia basically said that after I fix the coils car would be fine . Well it's not still doing the same thing. I was informed that it just needs a new engine. Kia has refused to honor warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #11343442, filed 2020-08, 76,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal ticking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to a failure of the catalytic converter. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11653273, filed 2025-04, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling, knocking or seizure while driving

   • 352 complaints (43%)
   • median 88,001 mi at 5.4 yrs old (175 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,300 (median of 30 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report the engine knocking, grinding, or making a loud noise followed by loss of motive power, stalling, or a no-restart condition, often at highway speed. Some describe smoke from the engine bay or oil on the road, and a few report a hole in the block. Dealers variously diagnosed engine failure, a seized engine needing replacement, or an exhaust-side fault, and some owners say the vehicle was out of warranty or not covered despite a recall history. Spread from about 55,000 to over 140,000 miles, with many reports around 90,000-110,000.

   Recall 19V1200003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for a knock or tick at idle and on a cold start, and ask whether the engine long block has already been replaced and under what campaign. A pre-purchase inspection that includes oil pressure and stored codes is advisable.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Motor blew up at 73,000 miles Kia wouldn't up hold warranty so I bought a short block from Kia motors had it replaced and in less than 5 min oil light came on and new short block had already spun a bearing Kia wouldn't up hold warranty on new short block either so I had to junk a car I still owed over 12,000.00 on”

   NHTSA complaint #11377164, filed 2020-11, 73,000 miles

   “Much like others on here, was driving normally when within moments, the car began to make a noise immediately followed by smoke. This car has had regular maintenance and is just over 100k miles. These engines are obviously suffering from the same problem as the 1.6 liter. Kia needs to recall these immediately.”

   NHTSA complaint #11407717, filed 2021-04, 100,800 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption with no visible leak

   Mentioned in 11 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe adding a quart or more of oil between scheduled changes, sometimes weekly, without seeing a leak, smoke, or a low-oil warning. Some say the engine begins to sound like a diesel or rattle, and that adding oil quiets it temporarily. A number report the pattern leading to a seized or failed engine, and several mention dealers attributing the loss to other parts or declining repair coverage. Most often reported from roughly 60,000 to 110,000 miles, with a few at much lower mileage.

   Recall 19V1200004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and ask for oil-change records showing how much was added between services; a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick is worth noting. Ask whether the engine software campaign (PI2002) was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Last summer we were on vacation, driving from texas to kansas. While driving on the highway, we noticed that the engine started sounding like a diesel engine. I pulled over to the shoulder, shut the engine off and checked the oil. I noticed that we had spontaneously lost oil. No leaks or anything. We pulled into an auto parts store and purchased 3 quarts of 5w-20 synthetic castrol gtx synthetic oil, I added the oil and the rattling stopped. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11365617, filed 2020-10, 65,000 miles

   “Engine loses oil without a leak or any external indication (smoke, smell, driver controls). It requires 1-2 quarts added between scheduled oil changes. This is a safety hazard as it can seize abruptly without notification. It is a clear design flaw.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342375, filed 2020-07, 75,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Check-engine light and poor running with no clear cause

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Some owners describe the check-engine light staying on while the car idles roughly, loses power at times, or shudders when started, with mechanics unable to pin down a cause. A few were told the light was a software issue to wait on, or that bad fuel was responsible, and the symptom persisted. Others report the vehicle returning with the light on shortly after a recall repair. Reported across a wide mileage range, several under 60,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the car scanned for all stored and pending codes rather than just a light reset, and ask for paperwork on any engine control software updates already applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our car was sold to us not knowing about a recall. It was taken to a local Kia. The car dealership says they didn’t know. It’s already had a replaced catalytic converter and didn’t fix the problem. Our engine light, ABS light and a skidding light come on and off. No one will listen to us. We don’t know what to do next.”

   NHTSA complaint #11496510, filed 2022-12, 123,639 miles

   “November 2019 when the car almost got into 60,000 the engine light come up and took it the dealership and they say it a mistake from the computer. The only thing we can do is wait for Kia give up an update. However, my light still on since that day and sometime it loses power. Today is 02/25/2020”

   NHTSA complaint #11311309, filed 2020-02, 59,650 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and coolant loss

   • 73 complaints (9%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the temperature warning coming on, coolant hoses swelling, a missing or loose coolant reservoir cap, and steam or smoke from under the hood. In one account the vehicle caught fire after overheating and an oil leak. Some say the engine shut down after getting hot and would not restart, or that a temperature-related fault returned after a sensor was replaced. Mostly reported from about 85,000 to 115,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and the condition of hoses and the reservoir cap, and ask whether any overheating episode has been recorded. Watch for a sweet smell or residue around the cooling system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11503677, filed 2023-01, 70,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55 mph and attempting to accelerate to pass a semi-truck in the left lane, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the overheating warning light was illuminated. The contact exited the highway and parked on the side of the roadway. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11427451, filed 2021-08, 112,187 miles

Buying note. Treat engine health as the deciding factor on this model year: get an independent inspection with a compression or oil-consumption check, and ask for documentation of any engine or converter replacement and the PI2002 and 19V120000 work. Given how often owners report oil loss and converter failure, budgeting for those repairs is reasonable.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.