BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2016-KIASOU-7C4D

2016 Kia SoulProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,170 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,170
Crashes
34
Fires
62
Recalls
2
TSBs
132
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,170 complaints, 34 crashes, 62 fires, and 2 recalls. Complaint rate is 5.5x the class average. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

engine blown

10 complaints • Severity 9.8/10

$X,XXX
2

excessive oil consumption

5 complaints • Severity 9.2/10

$X,XXX
3

engine wont turn over wont start

4 complaints • Severity 6.5/10

$X,XXX
4

engine knocking

4 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

check engine light

3 complaints • Severity 4.7/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

628 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 81K miles.

!Inspect the Fuel SystemMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

55
0–30K
81
30–60K
172
60–90K
131
90–120K
65
120–150K
20
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (172 reports) • Median: 81K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (628 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine628 (54%)
Other123 (11%)
Fuel System84 (7%)
Drivetrain61 (5%)
Electrical54 (5%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor39 (3%)
Speed Control32 (3%)
Steering28 (2%)

2016 Kia Soul: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 54% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Soul, with 628 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 80,500 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 81K-mile mark.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Soul, with 84 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Soul, with 61 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Soul, with 54 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

4
16
15
17
26
18
114
19
111
20
161
21
185
22
189
23
147
24
125
25
93
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Kia Soul. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (2 recalls)

17V608000Nov 2017

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.

19V120000Apr 2019

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

2016 Kia Soul NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA21003ClosedOpened Dec 2021 · closed Feb 2024

Engine Fires

ENGINE

This is the worst model year for the Kia Soul according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is engine.

2016 Kia Soul vs. Class Average (Small Station Wagons)

This vehicle

1,170

Class avg

213

5.5x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical small station wagons vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,170 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Kia Soul Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
View all Kia Soul years →

2016 Kia Soul: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Kia Soul?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Kia Soul is related to the engine, with 628 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Kia Soul reliable?
The 2016 Kia Soul has 1,170 complaints, 34 crash reports, and 62 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 5.5x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2016 Kia Soul?
NHTSA rates the 2016 Kia Soul 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Kia Soul problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Kia Soul have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Kia Soul has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Kia Soul problems start?
Based on 524 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 80,500 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2016 Kia Soul data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2016 Kia Soul Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,170 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees