10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 24
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,249 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Kia Soul engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Kia Soul Owner Comments (Page 18 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #100

Oct 172020

Soul 4-cyl

  • 108,307 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on the freeway (70mph), the engine began to knock and shake the car. Then there was a bang, and several puffs of white smoke, and the car died. We had it towed to the shop, and they told us that a piston shot through the bottom of the engine block, and drained all the oil in the car. The entire engine would need to be replaced. Quoted cost to repair 9K for a used engine, 15K for a new engine. The car was well maintained, and serviced regularly. Consumer stated following codes from diagnostic P0326, P0014 P0303. Consumer statedmanufacturer could not do anything about.

- Sour Lake, TX, USA

problem #99

Oct 212020

Soul

  • 122,657 miles
2016 Kia Soul 2.0L serviced regularly running full synthetic. Oil changed 10/1/2020, on 10/19/2020 the oil was checked in the morning and full at that time, on Wednesday 10/21/20 check engine light came on - code was PO441 which is an evap issue, but car started knocking pretty bad while driving on the highway. Pulled into gas station immediately and checked the oil and the oil had disappeared completely, not even registering on the dip stick. Tried to add oil at this point but it was too late the engine had thrown a rod.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #98

Jul 162019

Soul

  • 65,000 miles
Last summer we were on vacation, driving from Texas to Kansas. While driving on the highway, we noticed that the engine started sounding like a diesel engine. I pulled over to the shoulder, shut the engine off and checked the oil. I noticed that we had spontaneously lost oil. No leaks or anything. We pulled into an auto parts store and purchased 3 quarts of 5W-20 synthetic castrol gtx synthetic oil, I added the oil and the rattling stopped. Now the engine again has done the same thing and now its in need of expensive repairs because the engine has a piston rod knock due to spontaneous oil loss.

- Spring Lake, NC, USA

problem #97

Oct 122020

Soul

  • 126,700 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was on my into work and my vehicle started to slow done on the highway. I was told something popped out under neath my vehicle and the vehicle started to smoke. Some sort of a rod that must of came off. I had this towed to our company mechanic and they said that I might have to replace the whole engine.

- Mt. Sterling, KY, USA

problem #96

Oct 102020

Soul

  • 102,626 miles
I was driving normal and the car just stopped when I tried to drive she had a loud noise and no power

- Brockport, NY, USA

problem #95

Jul 022020

Soul

  • miles
Catilac converter. Kia refused to fix says not a recall. But 2017 Kia manufacturing says it's a recall and now my check engine light appears and that needs to be fixed

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #94

Jul 162020

Soul

  • 124,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving my Kia Soul on a city road I pulled over to let a car pass. I was still in gear and once the car passed I went to pull back on to the road and the car would not move. I then noticed that it had stalled. We tried to start it again but it would not turn over. No leaking oil and the oil was full. I do a full synthetic oil change every 3-4000 miles. We then towed it to our Kia dealer. They said that the engine seized. After some research I found out about the recall for the engines and the problems. After 2 months they just informed me that it doesn't fit the recall. Even though the engine clearly falls within the parameters of the chronic problems.

- Champlain, NY, USA

problem #93

Aug 012020

Soul

  • 60,000 miles
Recall 19V120000; SC176 excessive oil consumption. Manufacturer will not honor warranty and is aware of problem. I am being told costs involved with this issue are not warranty and to be paid out of pocket despite known problem.

- North Royalton, OH, USA

problem #92

Aug 012020

Soul

  • 41,050 miles
8/1/20 driving on hwy 231 at 65mph when my car felt like it was stalling, pulled over and turned engine off.it would crank but only go approximately 20 mph or rev to about 2000 RPM, then just putter out. At tuffys where it was said "nothing was coding". said needed knew fuel pump for $1600. That was replaced but was not the issue.he said there is an active recall associated w/ car and to get it to the local Kia dealership.I immediately started researching an found recall 19V120000, I called Kia 800# and was told there was no recall associated w/ car and that their search is VIN specific and was no active recalls on this car. I continued to research, called back and yes indeed there was a recall. Car arrived there Friday 8/7/20 at 9:30 am. Spoke w/ chuck and was not given any details though I called him daily.following Friday(8/14/20) I spoke w/ jared who said they wern't sure but it was looking like possibly a recall issue but that they weren't sure and to call back and they could get me set up w/ a rental car because the engine likely needed replacing. An hour and a half later a women left me a voicemail asking me to get receipts of all oil changes done on vehicle. I still had no explanation on what was wrong with my car.gave 2 receipts but was not really sure the pertinence if this was a manufacture recall. Kia says the only recall was for a system update. When asked him if this had been done he said no. But I had previously been told by robert at 1800 Kia that this had been done.I told jared this and he said "we probably just told tech support that" when I demanded to know if system update had been done he put me on hold, then replied '"oh well that was just done". he said but none of this has anything to do w/ ur car. When asked wtf the actal problem was he said engine was knocking due to my lack of maintenance and needed a new engine but in no way due to a recall

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #91

Mar 042020

Soul

  • 76,000 miles
Was driving car and it lost power while on highway. Causing cars to swerve to avoid hitting me. After going to shop found out it was the catalytic converter. Car was also burning oil and misfiring. Had the 3 and 4 coil relpaced, spark plugs, but still not able to figure out what us causing oil to burn. Car had regular oil changes. Kia basically said that after I fix the coils car would be fine. Well it's not still doing the same thing. I was informed that it just needs a new engine. Kia has refused to honor warranty.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #90

Jul 312020

Soul

  • 70,357 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It's running different makes strange noise and has engine light on.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #89

Mar 102020

Soul

  • 75,000 miles
Engine loses oil without a leak or any external indication (smoke, smell, driver controls). It requires 1-2 quarts added between scheduled oil changes. This is a safety hazard as it can seize abruptly without notification. It is a clear design flaw.

- Hellertown, PA, USA

problem #88

Jul 302020

Soul

  • 70,000 miles
Engine loses 3 quarts of oil between scheduled oil changes. Started at around 70K miles and is getting worse (now at 90K miles). There is no indication of low oil or problem in the driver controls. No smoke from burning oil. This is a safety hazard as the engine can die suddenly with no warning. I have two of these cars and both have the same problem. This should be investigated as there are many of these cars on the road and it is clearly a design flaw.

- Hellertown, PA, USA

problem #87

Jun 272020

Soul

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and the contact drove to her destination. The contact stated that the failure recurred a week later and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. Trophy Kia downtown los angeles located at 1945 S figueroa St, los angeles, ca 90007, (213) 342-0802, was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

- Hawthorne, CA, USA

problem #86

Jul 152020

Soul

  • 66,292 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated at start-up. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved a dtc fault code regarding the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The failure mileage was 66,292.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #85

May 312019

Soul 4-cyl

  • 51,188 miles
I leased a 2016 Kia Soul ! for my daughter. At the end of the lease (August 2018), I paid purchased the vehicle from the Kia. 31 May 2019 while driving her car the engine seized in the middle of the road. It was towed to dutch miller Kia of charlotte. The car had 51,188 miles. After a week the dealer told us the car wasn't going to be covered under warranty. I then filed a complaint with Kia customer relations who reviewed the case and did nothing to help. I spoke with the service manager, brant blackwelder who agreed to speak with the district service manager to see if there was anything that could be done. On 26 June, they stated they would extend a "good faith" offer of replacing the engine, but I would be responsible for the labor ($1,700 estimated). During the 3 months it took to rebuild the engine, I was forced to pay for alternate transportation and paid $1,517.47 in rental car and lyft fees. The car has had regular oil changes as directed by the maintenance minder. The last oil change was in January when the vehicle had 44,586 miles (6,6602 miles ago). There were no indications the engine was low on oil: The maintenance minder, check engine light, nor the low oil light ever came on. During my conversation with the service manager on 25 June, he admitted that Kia engines have a problem with burning excessive amounts of oil even after as little as 2,000 miles from an oil change. At no time did Kia disclose this issue of engines burning oil to me or other owners. While this car has the 2.0-liter engine that isn't currently under recall, I believe this is a similar case to the 379,000 Kia 1.6-liter engines that have been previously recalled. Kia is simply passing the blame on to customers for a known issue with their faulty engines. This issue is similar to the 1.6L engines needs to be recalled.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #84

May 012020

Soul 4-cyl

  • miles
My car is using excessive oil. There is no evidence of leaking externally (on the ground) or in the engine compartment. I go through about 4 quarts per month / 2500 miles. The oil light has never come on, even when I have forgotten to check and the oil dipstick is completely dry. This could be a huge safety issue if the engine locks up and throws a rod in the middle of nowhere.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #83

Jun 272020

Soul 4-cyl

  • 88,001 miles
Kia has 88K miles and recent oil change and car made a loud noise while driving at 60 mphon highway and now engine makes knocking noise from detached rods. It will cost over $5000 to fix( est.). bought car used from klamath falls Subaru at 58K miles

- Dorris, CA, USA

problem #82

Aug 012019

Soul 4-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed one quart of oil for every 2,500 miles driven. The vehicle was taken to Kia of dayton located at 8560 troy pike, huber heights, oh 45424, (877) 862-6928, however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was next taken to matt castrucci Kia located at 3013 mall park dr, dayton, oh 45459, (855) 250-8987, and repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 19V120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that while approaching a traffic light, the vehicle hesitated and shuddered without warning. The contact pulled over and waiting for approximately 10 minutes before continuing on to her destination. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was oil on the spark plugs, there was low compression on 3 cylinders, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.

- Miamisburg, OH, USA

problem #81

May 292020

Soul

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 80 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to rimrock Kia located at 4040 king ave w, billings, mt 59106, (866) 979-1682, where the contact was informed that the ECU system software needed to be updated. The software was updated however, the contact was also informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 19V120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was informed of failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Nampa, ID, USA

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