Skip to content
Electrical systemPart report

2016 Kia Soul Electrical system Problems

Complaints
56about this part
Share
7%of 817 total for the year
Median mileage
63,061miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 56 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Kia Soul, 7% of the 817 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,061 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I keep having a reassuring issue with my headlights multiple times I have taken the vehicle to the dealer paying to get the issue fixed. Spending countless dollars on this issue for the problem to continue. The Kia dealers keep changing parts out and nothing has helped. Is it a way that this issue can get check by someone please.”

NHTSA complaint #11351890, filed 2020-08, 50 miles

“First, a couple of weeks ago my check engine light comes on and my engine temperature gauge stops working properly. It starts taking about 15 minutes for my engine temperature gauge to show the engine is warmed up. After about two days the engine light goes off by itself. So I finally get an appointment at the Kia dealership today. They say they need to put an updated program into my Kia SOUL's computer..that seemed to fix the issue according to the dealership. …”

NHTSA complaint #11389978, filed 2021-01, 60,000 miles

“Upon parking my car I noticed the engine was on fire. Smoke and flames were coming from up under the hood. The car was declared a total loss by my insurance company and the fire was deemed electrical in nature.”

NHTSA complaint #11378375, filed 2020-12, 108,076 miles

“I was getting ready to merge onto the interstate when I heard noise coming from the engine compartment. When I got onto the interstate the car would not accelerate, so I pulled over to the shoulder, and the engine died. Smoke was coming from under the hood, and two men in two vehicles stopped and opened the hood and flames were coming out from under the hood. They had water and a fire extinguisher and also threw some dirt on the fire to put it out. The vehicle was towed to the Kia dealership where it was bought. …”

NHTSA complaint #11153156, filed 2018-11, 12,398 miles

“Driving this car high speeds (freeway) for longer periods of time (30 minutes or more per day) for more than 3 consecutive days affects my overall health and ability to drive the car. It get chronic headaches, trouble concentrating, sleeping problems, dizziness, forgetfulness, exhaustion, and anxiety which affect my reaction time and alertness while driving, and ability to make proper decisions in traffic. There was no accident, since I discontinued driving the car as soon as I became aware of the problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #10885663, filed 2016-07, 1,350 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2024930%
20231426%
20221011%
2021156%
2020287%
20191410%
2018209%
2017197%
2016567%
2015758%
20149811%
20137111%
2012387%
20113015%
20102418%

Other parts of the 2016 Kia Soul

Engine
562 complaintsOther or unknown
127 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsFuel system
84 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
62 complaintsVehicle speed control
33 complaintsSteering
30 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsExterior lighting
18 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsSuspension
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Kia Soul

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology