2016 Kia Soul transmission and drivetrain problems
65 of the 822 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall, 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 65 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 6
Half of the 27 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 32,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
822 complaints in all about the 2016 Kia Soul, 6 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Soul transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My Kia Soul's engine failed when we were exiting the highway. The car started making awful grinding sounds and went into "limp mode." When I tried to restart the vehicle, the oil lamp and check engine lamp illuminated.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact also stated that due to the transmission failure, the vehicle would not allow the contact to shift gears. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated.
Last year I took my car to a local dealership to reprogram the PCM due to the recall notice received in the mail related to the catalytic converter overheating issue. Ever since I got that done, I now experience very high idle in cold temperatures.
On a highway at speed, sudden loss of power account piston connecting rod failure which punctured the engine block with total loss of oil which greatly increases risk of fire from hot exhaust components. Very similar to kia's sc176 recall, but this specific vehicle was not included in that recall
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to exceed 45 MPH. The vehicle was pulled into a parking lot and towed to daytona Kia dealer, located at 510 n nova rd, daytona beach, fl 32114, where the technician was unable to retrieve an…
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 20V389000 HighJul 2, 2020 · 3,714 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- RQ23005 Vehicle Rollawayopened Sep 10, 2023 · closed Jan 16, 2024
- 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…
Trouble codes named on this system
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
- electrical problems 58 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Kia Soul?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 65 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (8% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall, 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Kia Soul?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 20V389000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Kia Soul?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 66,100 miles; half of them between 32,000 and 90,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.