Owners have filed 810 safety complaints about the 2016 Kia Soul with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.
Complaints for this vehicle report 29 crashes, 34 fires, 25 injuries. No deaths have been reported.
Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2016 Kia Soul, engine & cooling issues stand far above everything else.
"Engine block had been replaced due to recall and excessive oil consumption, but vehicle is doing this again. Local dealership refuses to give appt for oil check and is sending us 55 miles away. We’re told it will be about 1k to test it for fuel combustion and oil change before they can even test it. Replacement engine block failed to fix the issue and local Kia is not helpful."
"I have put my 3rd Catalytic Convertor on this car. It looses power going uphill. Which is not safe. Just had 3rd on replaced yesterday Feb. 9, 2026. The mechanic said there is too much oil going to the engine. Mechanic said next thing would be replacing the engine. Why does my 2016 not have a recall on the engine."
For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2016 Kia Soul peaked later than usual, in 2022.
Across the Kia Soul model years we track, the 2015 has the most complaints on file (903); the 2016 ranks 3 of 5.
2 recalls apply to some or all 2016 Kia Soul vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.
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.
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 a…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →
NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.
As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 810 complaints about the 2016 Kia Soul with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.
The 2016 Kia Soul has 2 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
NHTSA gives the 2016 Kia Soul an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.
All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.
Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.
This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.