2016 Kia Soul electrical problems
58 of the 822 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 99 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 58 reports a crash · 7 a fire · 6 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 2
Half of the 20 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 34,000 and 106,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
822 complaints in all about the 2016 Kia Soul, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Soul electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 23V724000 HighOct 26, 2023 · 6,262 vehicles
- 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.
- 23V218000 CriticalMar 29, 2023 · 2,689 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- DP22005 Pedestrian alert soundsopened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
- 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 ele…
99 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SC310Z_TSB_R1 Service bulletinMar 5, 2026
- 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 bulletinMar 5, 2026
- 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
- PI2002B_OWNR_701 OtherFeb 24, 2026
- 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
The 3 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1326 P050A P1CF6 P0441 P1CF1 P1CF5
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Kia Soul names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Kia Soul
Source: the same files- engine problems 668 complaints
- fuel system problems 83 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 65 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Kia Soul?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 58 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (7% of everything owners filed about it), and 99 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Kia Soul?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 23V724000, 23V218000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Kia Soul?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 75,000 miles; half of them between 34,000 and 106,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.