10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,595 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Kia Soul Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Feb 132021

Soul

  • 85,000 miles

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

I was on the freeway in the fast lane and my car started acting like it wanted to stall. The engine light came on briefly and went away. I hit the gas to try to get over to the right lane so that I could exit the freeway and nothing was happening with the RPM it would not go over 2 and I thought I was going to stall on the freeway. I was so upset and finally made it to an off ramp. When I stopped at the off ramp the car was shaking and making a terrible noise like it was going to just explode. I contemplated staying off the freeway and taking the streets but I was not in a good area so I got back on the freeway and stayed in the right hand lane to exit and head straight to the dealership. I immediately called them and told them what happened to me. They said it was a cylinder that was misfiring and that they replaced it. Well I was driving yesterday and the engine light came on again and my car wanted to stall again and it had only been a week since they supposedly fixed it. I took the car in and again they blamed it on the oil and are now saying that my engine may be burning the oil faster than it should and if that is the case they will need to replace the motor. The car has me on edge as I drive my kids and grandkids everywhere. I do not feel safe in this car at all anyomre. I feel like the engine can give out at anytime without warning.

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #16

Nov 272020

Soul

  • 70,000 miles
The uvo system which includes the backup camera has failed. Kia should be required to replace as a safety item at no charge, just like Tesla is required to do for their failed screens.

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #15

Jul 302019

Soul

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V389000 (power train, electrical system). The contact received a courtesy service and software update. After leaving the dealer and while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact pulled over the side of the roadway and waited for approximately to restart the vehicle. The vehicle restarted however, while driving, the vehicle hesitated and failed to exceed 40 mph. The vehicle was taken to oakland Kia (2500 webster St, oakland, ca 94612, (888)871-7024) where the vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive. The manufacturer provided the contact with a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #14

Jan 252021

Soul

  • 60,000 miles

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

First, a couple of weeks ago my check engine light comes on and my engine temperature gauge stops working properly. It starts taking about 15 minutes for my engine temperature gauge to show the engine is warmed up. After about two days the engine light goes off by itself. So I finally get an appointment at the Kia dealership today. They say they need to put an updated program into my Kia Soul's computer..that seemed to fix the issue according to the dealership. I drive away go to a store when I come out of the store and get back into my car and pull out of the parking spot my cars check engine light comes on again. I take it to auto zone to get the code read. This time the code is P0420. I call the dealership 800-995-4203 and the service associate marty tells me to bring my Kia Soul back to the dealership. When I get there he says they are now going to charge me $109.95 an hour to diagnose what is wrong with my car. At this time I am in the waiting room feeling like I'm being taken advantage of by these people but I have no other option and I don't have anyway of knowing what, if anything, is actually wrong with my car. Not to mention all this happens between 59000 and 60000 miles on my car and the warranty expired at 60000 miles.

- Danville, VA, USA

problem #13

Mar 312020

Soul

  • 108,076 miles
Upon parking my car I noticed the engine was on fire. Smoke and flames were coming from up under the hood. The car was declared a total loss by my insurance company and the fire was deemed electrical in nature.

- Halifax, VA, USA

problem #12

Aug 262020

Soul

  • 50 miles
I keep having a reassuring issue with my headlights multiple times I have taken the vehicle to the dealer paying to get the issue fixed. Spending countless dollars on this issue for the problem to continue. The Kia dealers keep changing parts out and nothing has helped. Is it a way that this issue can get check by someone please.

- Lumber Bridge, NC, USA

problem #11

Jun 012020

Soul 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles

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

Headlights randomly will flicker, afraid they will stop working when driving at night. I notice it while driving.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #10

Jun 062020

Soul

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his wife was in a parking lot with the vehicle idling, the vehicle stalled without warning. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the battery and starter functioned as designed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 112,000.

- Locust Grove, GA, USA

problem #9

Jan 042020

Soul

  • 30 miles
I have a Kia Soul ev because this is the battery that decreases the number of kilometers per day by day I think the battery has a problem

- Irbid, AZ, USA

problem #8

Dec 232019

Soul 4-cyl

  • 106,000 miles
While driving the car in a shopping mall parking lot the vehicle stopped running. The entire electrical system of the vehicle shut down. No electric power in the vehicle would work. The entire electrical and computer system in the vehicle shut down. I was unable to restart the car. The lights, radio and power windows did not work. Vehicle was towed to Kia country (savannah, ga) on 12/23/2019. Consumer was informed that they would be responsible for the repair. Consumer contacted manufacturer to see if vehicle was covered under NHTSA #19V120, recall #SC176. Consumer is still waiting on a response from the manufacturer.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #7

Jun 282019

Soul 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

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

Driver seat giving off electrical shock to legs and butt when pressing the gas the engine stalling the cataylic converter over heating vehicle steering right air bag symbols pops up every now and then the consumer stated the vehicle experienced various life threatening cyber security risk.

- Clemson, SC, USA

problem #6

Jul 022019

Soul

  • 78,000 miles
Headlights flicker during use, especially when using the turn signals.

- Clovis, CA, USA

problem #5

May 282019

Soul 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
When I press the gas the voltage is high and amplifier my heart feels as if its going to burst my kids nose bleed and they get sick when air is on the smell is bad in cruise control around certain vehicles is speeds up on its on...I've noticed altered parts and the insurance info is altered my boyfriend [xxx] bought car 11/2019 from Kia of greer only one owner the mileage on papers is wrong and so it is online...I hear someone in and out car at nights boyfriend said leave it alone missing id social birthcertifcates oit dash when running out to see who was at car door was left opened the center of my head burns when driving the vehicle became dizzy 1/2019 almost feel asleep the thing is the vehicle is in his name not mine but insurance has his disabled brother down as primary driver my drivers record is wrong my mother accidents or on mine her phone and breached old email was on the account me and kids are victims of foreign organized crimes... information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Clemson, SC, USA

problem #4

Oct 012018

Soul

  • 0 miles
My car was not starting. I do not drive it everyday and began to think it was the battery. I had it tested at the auto zone and thery said it was great no problems. Said it could be the starter but thought that odd with as few miles as on it. I also notice the recall for the steering issue I will schedule an appt for. I also have a light in my dash that stays on all the time.

- Ozark, AL, USA

problem #3

Sep 192017

Soul

  • 12,398 miles
I was getting ready to merge onto the interstate when I heard noise coming from the engine compartment. When I got onto the interstate the car would not accelerate, so I pulled over to the shoulder, and the engine died. Smoke was coming from under the hood, and two men in two vehicles stopped and opened the hood and flames were coming out from under the hood. They had water and a fire extinguisher and also threw some dirt on the fire to put it out. The vehicle was towed to the Kia dealership where it was bought. The insurance company had the Kia Soul towed to denver Colorado to have their agent look it the Kia. It was declared a total loss and was not an arson fire. The Kia dealership from which the Kia Soul was bought never inspected the Soul. All routine maintenance was done on schedule by the Kia dealership for the 9 months I owned the Kia. It was bought new in December of 2016 and caught fire in September of 2017. The cause of the fire was never determined and Kia never took any responsible.

- Brush, CO, USA

problem #2

Sep 182018

Soul

  • 66,122 miles
Car was in good condition and well maintained according to manufacturer's service schedule. It was last serviced on 7/31/18 when it passed nys inspection. The owner was informed on 9/18/18 @ 7:03 pm by daughter that car started making a strange sound on 9/17/18. Planned to have dealer check out car on 9/19/18. On 9/18/18 @ approximately 8:35 pm, while being driven on the local portion of an interstate highway, the car's oil light blinked on and off. A few minutes later the check engine light went on. A few minutes later the car engine began to smoke and smoke came into the car through the air vents. The driver, my daughter's boyfriend, pulled over into the breakdown lane, turned off the car, got out, stepped away from it and the engine erupted in flames. By approximately 8:50 pm the car was totally engulfed in flames. The car looks like it was fire bombed.

- Albany, NY, USA

problem #1

Oct 272015

Soul

  • 1,350 miles
Driving this car high speeds (freeway) for longer periods of time (30 minutes or more per day) for more than 3 consecutive days affects my overall health and ability to drive the car. It get chronic headaches, trouble concentrating, sleeping problems, dizziness, forgetfulness, exhaustion, and anxiety which affect my reaction time and alertness while driving, and ability to make proper decisions in traffic. There was no accident, since I discontinued driving the car as soon as I became aware of the problem. I also went to a doctor who confirmed that I am sensitive to the battery of the vehicle (see attached). I contacted the manufacturer but they are not willing to help. I had the car serviced at the local Kia service dept., but they say the battery is working properly.

- Encinitas, CA, USA

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