The 2016 Kia Soul's elevated safety profile includes 2 recall campaigns and 787 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

787

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

19V1200002019-22-02

ENGINE

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.

View at NHTSA

17V6080002017-29-09

STEERING

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.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2016 Kia Soul has accumulated 787 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with engine leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Engine331

02Engine And Engine Cooling50

03Unknown Or Other46

04Engine And Engine Cooling,engine44

05Unknown Or Other,engine30

787 total across 1 model years (2016–2016)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Kia Soul Fuel Economy

26–105mpg combined

24-120city

30-92hwy

$700-$1,700/yr

With 5 configurations tested, the 2016 Kia Soul ranges from 26 to 105 MPG combined. That's a 79 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Soul Electric - Automatic (A1)

105mpg

Front-Wheel DriveEV

120 city92 hwy~$700/yr10/10 Clean

Soul - Automatic (S6)

27mpg

2.0L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

24 city31 hwy~$1,600/yr6/10 Average

Soul - Automatic (S6)

26mpg

1.6L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

24 city30 hwy~$1,700/yr6/10 Average

Soul - Manual 6-spd

26mpg

1.6L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

24 city30 hwy~$1,700/yr6/10 Average

Soul ECO dynamics - Automatic (S6)

26mpg

2.0L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

24 city30 hwy~$1,700/yr6/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2016 Kia Soul

32States

28%in top 3

If you're near Florida, you're in luck: 11% of listings are there. But with 32 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

FLFlorida

68411%

TXTexas

5799%

CACalifornia

5118%

DCWashington DC

3936%

MDMaryland

3476%

AZArizona

3135%

PAPennsylvania

2684%

GAGeorgia

2474%

NCNorth Carolina

2374%

HIHawaii

2153%

ILIllinois

1993%

DEDelaware

1843%

WAWashington

1472%

MOMissouri

1452%

OHOhio

1432%

NHNew Hampshire

1262%

MAMassachusetts

1202%

NVNevada

1142%

TNTennessee

1102%

OK106

OR105

IN103

MI75

NJ70

NY70

CT63

UT54

CO52

MN47

KY46

VA44

LA38

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2016.

Buying a 2016 Kia Soul?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 2016 Kia Soul a good car to buy?

The 2016 Kia Soul has 2 recalls on record. There are 2 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is engine, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2016 Kia Soul?

There are 2 documented recalls for the 2016 Kia Soul. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 2016 Kia Soul?

Fuel economy ranges from 26 to 105 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $1519 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2016 Kia Soul?

ENGINE is the number-one complaint area for the 2016 Kia Soul, based on 787 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.