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Your vehicleHome›Kia›Soul› 2016
Kia · Compact SUV

2016 Kia Soul

Electric Gas
Small Station Wagons
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
52 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls3 critical 5
Complaints29 crash · 35 fire · 25 injured reported 823
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 93 mi
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Kia Soul is sold in the U.S. as an electric and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Soul Electric, is EPA-rated at 93 miles with 105 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 823 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Kia Soul EV — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Kia Soul EV · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Soul ElectricElectricFWD81 kW AC PMSM12092105 MPGe93 mi32.04 h$700
SoulGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243127———$2,500
SoulGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl243026———$2,600
SoulGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl243026———$2,600
Soul ECO dynamicsGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243026———$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36553, 36233, 36234, 36235, 36232.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Soul Electric10 / 10Bin 1 / ZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite
Soul, Soul ECO dynamics5–6 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement1.6 L

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Exclaim, Plus, Plus (+), TOP (High Grade, Pano roof)). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length163.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.9 in
Height63.0 in
Wheelbase101.2 in
Track, front61.8 in
Track, rear62.6 in
Curb weight2,714–3,289 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: EV, Ex/Sx, LX. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2016 Soul
Other years The 2025 Soul Recalls Kia recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Kia Soul is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Electrical System

SC287
6,262 vehicles 63% reported repaired Electric only
Problem Kia America, Inc. (KIA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles. The parking mechanism may be damaged, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied while the vehicle is powered on. Risk Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V724000 reported Oct 26, 2023 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

SC267
2,689 vehicles 79% reported repaired Electric only
Problem Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Soul EV vehicles equipped with an E400 battery. The high-voltage battery pack may experience an electrical short-circuit while driving. Risk A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will update and/or replace the battery management system and software, as necessary, free of charge. The new software will illuminate the EV warning light, limit charging capacity, and reduce vehicle power if abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V218000 reported Mar 29, 2023 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

SC191
3,714 vehicles 72% reported repaired Electric only
Problem Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Kia Soul Electric Vehicle (EV) vehicles. The parking mechanism may become damaged if the driver moves the gear shift lever into Park 'P' before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. If the parking mechanism is damaged, unintended vehicle movement may occur when the gear shift lever is in the Park 'P' position and the parking brake is not applied. Risk Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic control unit software, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC191.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V389000 reported Jul 2, 2020 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

SC176
378,967 vehicles 63% reported repaired built Jul 8, 2011 – Aug 11, 2016
Problem 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. Risk 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V120000 reported Feb 22, 2019 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Steering

SC155
342,381 vehicles 66% reported repaired built Jul 21, 2013 – Sep 30, 2015
Problem 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. Risk If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V608000 reported Sep 29, 2017 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Internal:Park Pawl — Vehicle Rollaway closed

On July 2, 2020, Kia America Inc. (Kia) filed safety recall 20V-389 for model year (MY) 2015-2016 Kia Soul EV vehicles. This recall was in response to allegations of unintended vehicle movement while in Park and provided updated electronic control unit software for the electronic parking brake logic as the remedy. The updated logic, which was included during production for MY 2017-2019 Kia Soul EV vehicles, automatically activates the electronic parking brake when the vehicle is powered off while the gear shift lever is in the Park position. On September 10, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ23-005) to investigate allegations of unintended vehicle movem

Opened Sep 10, 2023 · closed Jan 16, 2024 · action RQ23005 · the investigation’s page →

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Engine Fires closed

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 modif

Opened Dec 22, 2021 · closed Feb 5, 2024 · action EA21003 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Soul

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Kia Soul, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 Kia Soul

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Soul →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
823complaints filed

29 involved a crash · 35 a fire · 25 injuries · 0 deaths reported

44 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 185,525 Soul built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2016: 4 · 2017: 16 · 2018: 20 · 2019: 84 · 2020: 79 · 2021: 105 · 2022: 134 · 2023: 133 · 2024: 102 · 2025: 86 · 2026: 60

Most-cited components

Engine → 669
Unspecified 125
Fuel/Propulsion System → 84
Power Train → 65
Electrical System → 58
Vehicle Speed Control 33

In depth: engine problems → · fuel system problems → · transmission and drivetrain problems → · electrical problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Backed up driveway to park car in garage. Put car in "park". Got out to clear parking space in garage. Turned around to see car rolling down driveway into wall- while in "park"
Power Train at 20,781 miles Sep 13, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11129274
Automatic transmission was placed into park after driving. The car indicated it was in park, however the car rolled - it was not in park. Applying the foot brake worked. Applying the parking brake worked, however the gearshift did not engage park properly
Service Brakes at 25,532 miles Jun 30, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11228534
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul EV. The contact stated that on several occasions while the vehicle was on the charging port, the vehicle failed to hold the charge and only displayed an 83 percent charge.
Electrical System at 129,000 miles Sep 18, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11545156
The front passenger seat belt does not engage easily. They think they are buckeled up until I point at the indicator light, or they buckle up and it just doesn't click like it's supposed to and they will pull it out and try multiple times until it engages.. This is all while the vehicle is stationary..
Seat Belts Nov 5, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11145337
When accelerating from a complete stop the vehicle will not accelerate. Pressing the accelerator a little or a lot does not matter. The engine does not produce RPM and does not accelerate for around 3-5 seconds. There is not an engine light on. All other aspects of the vehicle work properly when this happens.
Fuel/Propulsion System at 40,000 miles Aug 4, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11115729
Transmission started slipping while driving. Then transmission slipped while going 45 and engine red lined then died. Would not restart
Engine at 32,400 miles May 13, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11093561

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 27 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 29 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 15 per 100,000 built. Every Soul model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 82k

miles, typically

Half the 362 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 59,000 and 108,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 15
10k–20k 12
20k–30k 11
30k–40k 18
40k–50k 13
50k–60k 24
60k–70k 31
70k–80k 43
80k–90k 40
90k–100k 32
100k–150k 110
150k + 13

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine32791,2831.47×
Unspecified3775,000—
Power Train2766,1001.27×
Fuel/Propulsion System2475,0001.6×
Electrical System2075,0001.67×
Steering1457,0001.19×
Vehicle Speed Control1476,0002.53×
Service Brakes1341,2771.03×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: fuel/propulsion system (1.6×), electrical system (1.67×), vehicle speed control (2.53×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 208
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-28
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 186 service bulletins, 16 service campaigns, 6 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Equipment, Steering, Fuel/Propulsion System.

  • TSB_CLI049_R2 Service bulletin
    2026-08-28 · Electrical System
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor assembly on some 2011MY~ Optima Hybrid (TF HEV, JF HEV/PHEV), 2015MY~
  • SC334_OWNR_201 Service campaign
    2026-08-25 · Service Brakes
  • VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC334 Flight 201) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake line(s) in certain 2014-2019 MY Soul vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In addition, an anti-co
  • CS2311_TSB_R4 Service bulletin
    2026-06-09 · Structure — Body
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia
  • SC176Y_TSB_R1 Service bulletin
    2026-03-24 · Engine
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT AND ENGINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (SC176Y) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides catalytic converter and engine sub-assembly diagnosis and repair information on certain 2012-
  • SC310Z_TSB_R1 Service bulletin
    2026-03-05 · Electrical System
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: HIGH-VOLTAGE BPA REPLACEMENT (SC310Z REV 1) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the replacement of the High-Voltage Battery Pack Assembly (HV BPA) on certain 2015-2017MY SOUL EV (PS
  • SC267Z_TSB_R2 Service bulletin
    2026-03-05 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY PACK ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (SC267Z REV 2) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to replace the high-voltage battery pack assembly (HV BPA) on certain 2015-2019MY Soul EV (PS
  • 2026-02-24 · Engine
  • PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2002B FL701) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2014-2016 MY Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection (“GDI”) engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge
  • PS797 Other
    2025-12-09 · Back Over Prevention — Warnings
  • PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0420
P0420 on Kia →		The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Engine · Catalytic converter →2 bulletins · 20 owner reports
P1326
P1326 on Kia →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine5 bulletins · 11 owner reports
P050AManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins · 5 owner reports
P1CF6Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P0014
P0014 on Kia →		The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded.Engine1 bulletin · 2 owner reports
P0302
P0302 on Kia →		Cylinder 2 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →3 owner reports
P0326Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 owner reports
P0441The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should.Engine · EVAP purge valve →3 bulletins
P0087
P0087 on Kia →		Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →2 bulletins
P0300
P0300 on Kia →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →2 owner reports
P0303
P0303 on Kia →		Cylinder 3 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →2 owner reports
P0442
P0442 on Kia →		A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Engine · Gas cap →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Kia Soul failed the emissions check on 2.9% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.7% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 2.9%

failed emissions

2,139 initial inspections of 2,083 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 SoulEvery 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.9%4.2%2,111
Failed the safety inspection3.7%2.2%2,139
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.09%0.27%2,139
Miles driven a year8,63210,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer88,979103,109odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Soul by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2025 A 0 12 31 mpg2024 A 0 30 31 mpg2023 D 4 54 Park outside2022 A 1 95 31 mpg2021 B 2 238 31 mpg2020 A 1 388 243 mi2019 C 3 140 111 mi2018 C 3 222 111 mi2017 C 3 290 93 mi2016 this page F 5 823 93 mi

Common questions about the 2016 Soul

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Kia Soul have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Soul, 3 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 23V218000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Kia Soul?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Kia Soul 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (52/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Kia Soul?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Kia Soul, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions) and the longest EPA range is 93 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Kia Soul?

Transport Canada measured it at 163.0 in long, 70.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 63.0 in tall, on a 101.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,714–3,289 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Kia Soul?

Owners have filed 823 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul, most often about engine, unspecified, fuel/propulsion system. Of those, 29 involved a crash, 35 a fire, 25 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Kia Soul?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Kia Soul runs 5 to 10 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 1, Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV, ZEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Kia Soul?

The manufacturer has filed 208 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Soul, most often covering electrical system, engine, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-08-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Kia Soul do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Kia Soul failed the emissions check on 2.9% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.7% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates5 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints823NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins208NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations3NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA6 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2025 Soul The Soul model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Kia recall on file All campaigns filed against Kia vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Soul by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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