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EnginePart report

2016 Kia Soul Engine Problems

Complaints
561about this part
Share
69%of 816 total for the year
Median mileage
86,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 561 complaints about the engine of the 2016 Kia Soul, 69% of the 816 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 29 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“While driving and accelerating. My car loses power and slows down. Blue smoke comes out of tailpipe and smells like oil. I have a 2016 Kia SOUL. I have noticed where there were recalls for 2016 Kia SOUL. My car has alot of these problems but I have not received information about a recall. Please let me know if my car is included in the recall. Thank you.”

NHTSA complaint #11407134, filed 2021-04, 50,200 miles

“I was driving on the freeway at night at about 75 miles an hour on cruise control. I was passing a semi when all the sudden my car down shifted and started losing power. I quickly had to figure out how to deal with this and get off the freeway. I consider myself an experienced driver, but if my kid was driving the car when that happened...”

NHTSA complaint #11399170, filed 2021-03, 140,000 miles

“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

“I was driving home from work and my car started making a clicking sound. A couple minutes later it slowed down until it completely stopped. I'm thankful I was pulling up in front of my house before the car completely died. I replaced the battery but it still won't crank. The lights, radio, and air conditioning works. I was told it may be the alternator.”

NHTSA complaint #11208048, filed 2019-05, 74,500 miles

“Car would lose power while driving and could not reach any speed over 65 with out the RPM gauge going very high. It would not completely loose power and I can keep it moving. The check engine light did not come on and the temperature gauge read as normal. I got a second opinion on the car and they said it was the catalytic converter.”

NHTSA complaint #11210654, filed 2019-05, 120,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202518%
2024517%
20231426%
20225457%
202113958%
202024563%
20198864%
201814265%
201719170%
201656169%
201563170%
201455461%
201328643%
201221041%
20112412%
201097%

Other parts of the 2016 Kia Soul

Other or unknown
127 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsFuel system
84 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
62 complaintsElectrical system
56 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 27, 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