Skip to content
Trimslate
SavedHelp

2016 Kia

Soul

Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L

Kia Soul: best and worst years

Overview

Body
Small Station WagonsEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel DriveEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Transmission
Manual 6-spdEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Powertrain
GasEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Fuel
RegularEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Engine & performance

HP
130
Power to weight
0.046 hp/lb
Axle ratio
4.56
Cyl
4EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Aspiration
Naturally aspiratedEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Start-stop system
NoEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Efficiency

MPG Hwy
30 mpgEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
MPG City
24 mpgEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
MPG Comb
26 mpgEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Fuel $/yr
$2,400EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
CO₂
338 g/miEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Eco Score
6/10EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Smog score
5/10
Elec. Range
0 miEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
SmartWay certified
No

Dimensions & capacity

Length
163 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Width
71 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Height
63 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Wheelbase
101 inNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Curb Weight
2,837 lbNHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 6/5/2026
Pass. Vol
101 ft³EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Cargo Vol
24 ft³EPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Safety NHTSA, model year

Overall crash rating
★★★★★
Rollover rating
★★★★
Stability control (ESC)
Standard
Forward-collision warning
Optional
Lane-departure warning
No
Recalls
2
Owner complaints
794
Reported injuries
24

Reported problems NHTSA owner complaints, model year

  • ENGINE48%
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER10%
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING9%
  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7%
  • POWER TRAIN6%
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5%

Source: NHTSA owner complaints, 1,133 total.

Kia Soul: best and worst years

Federal investigations NHTSA defect investigations, model year

  • RQ23005opened Sep 10, 2023POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL

    Vehicle Rollaway

  • DP22005opened Jan 27, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

    Pedestrian alert sounds

  • EA21003opened Dec 22, 2021ENGINE

    Engine Fires

Known issues manufacturer service bulletins, model year

172 service bulletins filed with NHTSA for this model year

  • Mar 24, 2026ENGINESC176Y_TSB_R1

    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 2012-2016MY Soul (AM, PS) vehicles produced from July 8, 2011 through August 11, 2016, that previously ha

  • Mar 5, 2026FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMSC310Z_TSB_R1

    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 EV) produced from July 15, 2014 through June 30, 2017 which were not included in SC267 Safety Recall

  • Mar 5, 2026ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSC267Z_TSB_R2

    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 EV) vehicles produced from July 15, 2014 through September 28, 2018. After completing SC267 with the

  • Feb 24, 2026ENGINEPI2002B_OWNR_701

    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 and will only involve the addition of this computer software for the Engine Control Unit (“ECU”).

  • Dec 19, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYCS2311_OWNR_PC201

    CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. Kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade and can be installed at the ignition cylinder location to provide additional protection against the social media theft method. Prior notifications stated that this modification had to be performed by July 1, 2025, but the subject vehic

  • Dec 9, 2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGSPS797

    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 film of the ultrasonic sensor is used for object detention and can be damaged by stone chips or for

  • Aug 20, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYTSB_SC334_R1

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - 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 apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake line(s), on certain 2014-2019MY Soul (PS) vehicles produced from July 21,

  • Jun 26, 2025SERVICE BRAKESSC334_TSB

    VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: UNDERBODY INSPECTION & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC334) - This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to underbody components, including inspection/replacement of the brake line(s), on certain 2014-2019MY Soul (PS) vehicles produced from July 21, 2013 through December 24, 2018, and were originally sold or are currently registered in one of the 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt are used: AK, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN,

  • and 164 more

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

Warranty manufacturer terms, by make

Basic
5 yr / 60k mi
Powertrain
10 yr / 100k mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60k mi
EV battery
10 yr / 100k mi

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.