2016 KIA Soul
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
These records cover every 2016 KIA Soul. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
2 recalls name the 2016 KIA Soul. Newest first.
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 and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
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.
If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.
Issues with catalytic converters , manifold, fuel 02 sensor. Have had to replace multiple times. Not listed as a recal vin.
The vehicle won't go faster than 60mph. It will go in limp mode. Vehicle should be part of the engine replace campaign, but it is not showing up on the NHTSA website.
Vehicle suffered a sudden, dangerous loss of power on the highway at 70 mph, dropping immediately to 20 mph, creating a severe safety risk. The vehicle has an active P0420 code. The official NHTSA database confirms that Safety Recall SC176 (Campaign 19V120) is INCOMPLETE for this vehicle. However, the KIA dealership and KIA corporate are actively refusing to honor the federal recall, falsely claiming the vehicle is past an 8-year/80,000-mile emissions warranty limitation. They are also forcing a $249 diagnostic fee to investigate an open, incomplete safety campaign.
I have a 2016 KIA soul that has been having drinking oil every 2-3 weeks but there isnt any oil leaking on the ground.last week I was driving home and my car woulnt go over 20mph I took it to KIA and they said I need a catalytic converter the oil IS still escaping somewhere and when I looked at the recalls my vin didnt show I had any but my car IS somehow having the same issues and I have 108,000 miles
Dear Kia Customer Care, I am writing to formally express my disappointment and serious concern regarding my 2016 Kia Soul, VIN [XXX], its engine failure, the applicable engine recall/warranty coverage, and my experience obtaining assistance and repairs through Kia. Most importantly, this situation involved more than an inconvenience or ordinary mechanical problem. My son's safety was placed at serious risk when my Kia abruptly lost power and became disabled in high-speed freeway traffic. XXX – Dangerous Freeway Breakdown On Saturday, XXXX, at approximately 9:30 p.m., my son, [XXX], was driving my Kia Soul on the [XXX] from [XXX] toward [XXX], for his 11:00 p.m. work shift. According to [XXX], the vehicle abruptly began losing speed and eventually came to a complete stop near the freeway median. The vehicle was left in an extremely dangerous position with high-speed traffic approaching nearby. [XXX] noticed that the check-engine light had illuminated. He repeatedly attempted to restart the vehicle, but it would not start. When [XXX] called me for assistance, I panicked because of the dangerous circumstances. My immediate concern was that my son or another motorist could be seriously injured. I contacted AAA for emergency roadside assistance. Because of the hazardous location, AAA contacted the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to assist until the tow truck arrived. [XXX] was instructed not to leave the vehicle because of the high-speed traffic surrounding him. AAA ultimately towed my Kia Soul to Kia Cerritos because it was the closest Kia dealership I could locate that offered an overnight vehicle drop-off. XXXX – Vehicle Received by Kia Cerritos On Sunday, XXX, a service representative contacted me to confirm that Kia Cerritos had received my vehicle. I was asked what had occurred the previous evening, and I explained the incident in detail. XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My 2016 Kia Soul 1.6L GDI has an unresolved engine-related safety and recall concern. The vehicle is associated with safety recall SC176 / NHTSA 19V120, which remains identified as incomplete in the vehicle’s recall records. Kia also sent a recall renotification stating that the recall had not been completed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Kia dealership after experiencing engine knocking, difficulty accelerating, and a no-start condition. Repair Order #544458 documents the reported engine knocking, trouble accelerating, and inability to start. The repair order also states that the vehicle was towed out because Kia Techline declined the engine request due to related recall work not having been performed. The vehicle was released without the requested engine replacement or a completed resolution. The concern is that the vehicle experienced serious engine-related symptoms while an applicable safety recall was listed as incomplete, and the manufacturer’s authorization process did not result in a completed recall-related remedy. The vehicle was subsequently removed from the dealership. I request that NHTSA document and review this complaint, including whether the recall remedy and engine-related concerns are being appropriately addressed. The vehicle and supporting records may be available for inspection upon request. Supporting documentation includes the Kia recall letter, recall verification, dealership repair order, and communications concerning the manufacturer’s review.
The engine long-block assembly suffered a catastrophic, terminal internal collapse and sudden stall due to abrasive substrate particle ingestion from a previously failed, melted manifold catalytic converter under Safety Recall SC176 (NHTSA Campaign 19V120000). The vehicle has been extracted to preserve evidence and is available for immediate physical inspection. The vehicle suffered a complete, sudden loss of motive power and stalled while traveling at high speeds on a busy public highway. It went into an un-accelerated limp mode, creating an immediate hazard of a high-speed rear-end collision on the highway shoulder. Authorized franchise facility Garden Grove Kia officially confirmed the terminal block failure under Repair Order #6238999. A diagnostic scan confirmed multi-cylinder misfires (P0300–P0304). A physical compression test confirmed a terminal drop to 59.6 psi in Cylinder 2, and an internal camera borescope confirmed a catastrophic internal Cylinder 2 wall crash damage not sealing alongside a fractured spark plug tip inside Cylinder 4. The dealership officially recommended a total engine replacement. The vehicle was inspected by a certified franchise dealer technician representing the manufacturer. A formal enforcement case has been opened regarding this vehicle asset and documentation file with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) under Reference Case #669B-C5PDRP
Component or system: Catalytic converter (exhaust emissions system). The converter is physically restricted due to substrate damage consistent with the defect identified in NHTSA Campaign 19V120 / Kia Recall SC176. The restriction limits engine RPM to approximately 3,000 under all conditions. The vehicle is available for inspection at any authorized Kia dealership. No DTC is stored because the restriction has not yet degraded catalytic efficiency below the ECU's threshold — the catalyst is still chemically functional but physically blocked. Safety risk: The RPM limitation prevents the vehicle from accelerating past ~3,000 RPM, creating a significant hazard when merging onto highways, passing in traffic, or climbing grades with risk of fire. The recall notice identifies the risk as "abnormal engine combustion and damage to pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure," which can result in sudden engine stall while in motion. The restriction is progressive and will worsen, increasing the likelihood of complete power loss. Reproduced or confirmed by a dealer: The vehicle was inspected at an authorized Kia dealer. The dealer scanned for DTCs, found none, and declined to perform the recall remedy (catalytic converter replacement) on the basis that P0420 had not been stored. The dealer confirmed catilitic converter was clogged.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately and lost motive power while driving. The contact was able to continue driving at reduced power. Additionally, there were abnormal sounds coming from under the hood, excessive engine oil consumption, and a plastic burning odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where the crankshaft position sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Kia Store Clarksville (826 E Lewis and Clark Pkwy, Clarksville, IN 47129), where Voluntary Service Campaign: SC334 (Service Brakes), Technical Service Bulletin: SA485 (ECM Logic Improvement), and Customer Satisfaction Program: CS2311 (Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector & Decal Installation) were performed. The failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the first dealer, who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had melted. The vehicle was then taken back to Kia Store Clarksville, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter had melted, the engine cylinders were scored, and the pistons had failed; however, no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) were retrieved as required for engine and catalytic converter replacement. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 139,500.
My car is under 130000 miles and about two years ago I already had to replace one catalytic converter. The past six months the oil usage of my car, which has always been high and requires frequent topping off and more frequent oil changes at my mechanic, has gotten even worse. A check engine light came on a few weeks ago due to a catalytic converter fault. While car is still functional my mechanic expects the second converter will have to be replaced soon. These are all signs of an engine and system that is not functioning properly and could cause an issue at any time.
On December 4, 2025, I presented my vehicle to Kia Carriage of Woodstock with the following symptoms: • Continuous check‑engine warning • Rattling engine noise • Oil leakage • Strong burning‑oil smell while driving These symptoms are consistent with rod bearing failure, a known Kia safety defect covered under the extended warranty and KSDS settlement. Kia’s own records confirm: • KSDS update completed on 4/10/2021 • Vehicle qualifies for the 15‑year / 150,000‑mile extended warranty • Rod bearing failure requires full engine replacement under warranty Despite this, the dealership refused warranty coverage and attempted to charge me $6,000 for an engine replacement, while also charging $300 for a diagnostic that did not resolve or address the safety issue. --- Dealer Misconduct and Warranty Avoidance Kia Carriage of Woodstock engaged in the following misconduct: • Refused to honor the extended warranty • Returned the vehicle in unsafe condition • Attempted to upsell me into purchasing another vehicle • Sales manager admitted the car “was not pumping oil” and that this was “a Kia problem” • Still refused warranty repair This behavior is predatory, unsafe, and violates Kia’s warranty obligations. --- Consumer Affairs Contradictions and Failure to Escalate On August 11, 2026, I opened Case No. 263276699. On the phone, a Consumer Affairs representative initially confirmed my vehicle is under warranty. After I referenced the denial letter I received, the representative changed her position and stated the rod bearing failure “is not covered,” citing a “multi‑point inspection” from December 2025. A multi‑point inspection does not diagnose rod bearing failure and cannot be used to deny warranty coverage. Consumer Affairs has: • Provided contradictory information • Refused to escalate the case • Relied solely on the dealership’s statements • Failed to address a clear safety hazard This is unacceptable and requires executive intervention. --- Current Statu
Was driving car lost power of steering and brakes black smoke filled vehicle I jumped out of the car and it went up in flames . The vehicle behind me said the flames were coming out of my front engine
Whistling noise and problem with acceleration over 35mph and drifting uphill. Although VIN number did not appear on the listed recall, the repair work recommended and partially completed by Kia repair dealer points directly to the description of an oil consumption problem that includes the 2016 Kia Soul. Some repairs done at Kia XXX and some done at Scott Kia in [XXX] (where I reside). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have a white 2016 Kia Soul Exclaim with 55,150 miles on it. About 3 months ago the paint started bubbling around the panoramic sunroof and has peeled off showing the gray undercoating. Ive read that this is an ongoing issue. I am the original owner and would like to have this issue fixed.
I own a 2016 Kia Soul 1.6L GDI with approximately 108,956 miles. The vehicle is consuming approximately 1/2 quart of engine oil every 1,000 miles. There is no obvious external oil leak. I am concerned about excessive oil consumption and possible internal engine damage. The vehicle also produces a very loud exhaust-type noise from the front of the vehicle when starting, which appears to be coming from the front exhaust/manifold/catalytic-converter area. The vehicle currently has no check-engine light. I checked the VIN through NHTSA and it shows zero unrepaired recalls. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and review whether these symptoms could indicate a safety-related defect affecting this vehicle or other Kia Soul vehicles with the same engine. It is getting worst and loud
My white paint is bubbling off and peeling down to the metal and it is all over and continues to do so more and more everyday. I am afraid to wash it for fear of having it all come off. It looks terrible and will really look ugly and value comes down quick enough on these cars as it is. It needs to be fixed or something. Can a lemon law be done on the manufacture or something? I still owe on this car and it will be really ugly in a month or so. Something needs to be done about these cars.
My vehicle won't pass emissions test the SC176 CATYLIC CONVERTER I've exceeded the 3 per year Temporary tags and my vehicle is a recall due to no pass emissions test . My temporary tags are expired and I got a ticket
Incident Overview & Vehicle Record Vehicle: 2016 Kia Soul Purchase Date: June 30, 2024 (Purchased from AutoNation Plano as 2nd owner) Incident Date: June 19, 2025 (Stalled on road at 113,000 miles) Current Location: Group1 Kia South Austin (Towed on July 8, 2025) Diagnosis: Severe internal engine failure (rod bearing defect) Current Status: Warranty extension claim denied by dealership due to missing Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update. We are 2nd user and this defects is due to manufectuer problem not user. Kia never issued recall regarding this matter.
I am filing a formal safety compliance complaint regarding my 2016 Kia Soul (1.6L GDI engine) and a structural failure of the exhaust/catalytic converter system related to NHTSA Campaign 19V120000 / Recall SC176. The vehicle has thrown a persistent P0420 Check Engine Code (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold) and is experiencing unsafe driving conditions, including severe power loss and sudden engine stalling in active traffic. Authorized franchise Valley Kia of Modesto has refused to honor the safety recall framework. They have denied federal compliance by refusing to perform the mandated exhaust inspections, engine combustion tests, or hardware replacement under the open recall guidelines, falsely claiming prior software updates absolve them of replacing the failed physical hardware. Corporate Case #26299283 was opened on August 19, 2026, but the franchise continues to operate in complete non-compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards, leaving an active fire and stalling hazard unresolved.
My 2016 Kia Soul with the 1.6L GDI engine lost power. On 08/21/2026 at 107,547 miles I took it to Grand Kia, 1950 West 104th Avenue, Thornton, Colorado, repair order 137483, service advisor Patricia Palmas. The dealer performed a cylinder compression test and a leak-down test and documented on the repair order that the engine has scored cylinder walls, with cylinder number 3 identified as the affected cylinder. They also performed a rod bearing clearance test, which passed. They pulled down the exhaust to inspect the downstream catalytic converter and recorded that inspection as okay. They noted new spark plugs with no signs of fouling. Despite recording scored cylinder walls on their own repair order, the dealer told me the vehicle was fine and took no further action. No diagnostic trouble code was present. I was not given a written reason for the refusal, no technical assistance or Techline case was opened that I am aware of, and no engine inspection under any campaign was offered. I was charged nothing and sent away with a vehicle that has documented internal engine damage. This vehicle is within the population covered by Kia safety recall SC176 (NHTSA campaign 19V120), which covers all 2012-2016 model year Souls with the 1.6L GDI engine. That recall describes a failure mode in which the catalytic converter is damaged by overheating, substrate particles enter the engine combustion chamber, and continuous abnormal combustion results in damage to one or more of the engine's pistons, which can cause connecting rod breakage and puncture the engine block, allowing oil to contact hot exhaust surfaces. The stated remedy includes upgrading the ECU logic, replacing the catalytic converter if damaged, and replacing the engine depending on the extent of damage. Scored cylinder walls on a single cylinder is consistent with the damage mechanism that recall describes. The recall states there are no restrictions on owner eligibility. Nevertheless, no evaluation under SC176
The contact's grandmother owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his grandmother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that due to the failure and the outside temperatures, his grandmother was stuck inside the inoperable vehicle. The contact's grandmother sustained a heat stroke while waiting for assistance. The contact's grandmother was transported to the hospital. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where DTC: P0420 and P0302 were retrieved. The contact was informed that the codes indicated an engine misfire. While driving to Firestone, the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. In addition, the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); in 2021. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 59,242.
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.
My 2016 Kia Soul is a 2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection engine. 1 prior recall for Kia Souls have occurred, which is seemingly identical to my issue. Recall SC176 addresses Kia Souls with the 1.6L engine, and it just so happens my issue is the same. Kia also issued a response to knock issues with the Soul 2.0L MPI engine, the KSDS Campaign, where Kia rolled out the Knock Sensor Detection System software update (Campaign SC200) to monitor for connecting rod bearing. I have the GDI so this was not available to me. The catalytic converter is damaged from piston corrosion. The engine hasn't been properly powering the car to allow it to accelerate, nearing stall from stop, and when trying to upshifting. Power loss combines with a regular whistling noise, and occasional knock noise. Kia has been having similar issues with their varying Soul models. They have attempted to limit the scope of what fixes they'll provide, but clearly the scope was not broad enough. The first symptom of this issue occurred several months ago, at which point I made an appointment asap with Kia, the soonest of which was almost 2 months later.
Check engine light came on and car was out of oil even though an oil change was done about a month ago. Catalytic converter was replaced once already. Per mechanic excess heat caused out to leak catalytic converter needs replacing again and now engine is damaged as all engine oil leaks out where it cannot be detected on ground. Danger of fire according to recall sc176 and mechanic. Car was smoking so it has been parked for safety to avoid fire
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was started, and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was turned off to stop the smoking. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.