Most common 2016 Kia Soul EV problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Soul EV complaints by model year
Best Soul EV years: 2018, 2015, 2016. Years to avoid: 2017. Compare all years →
2016 Kia Soul EV recalls (4)
Electrical system › Software
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.
Remedy: 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.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
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.
Remedy: 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…
Electrical system › Software
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.
Remedy: 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.
Steering
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2016 Kia Soul EV:
Vehicle Rollaway
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.
Pedestrian alert sounds
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.
What 2016 Kia Soul EV owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
After putting the car in park and turning it off, the car started rolling. I stopped the car, turn it on, put it in drive, then turned it back off. It rolled again (in a relatively flat parking structure.) I normally set the parking break so I'm not sure when this May have started.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Kia Soul EV a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Soul EV rates average: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Soul EV at the same age. It is one of the best Soul EV years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Kia Soul EV?
The transmission & drivetrain — 3 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (1) and brakes (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Kia Soul EV have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2016 Kia Soul EV, the most recent from October 26, 2023 (software). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Soul EV?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2015 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017. See the full Kia Soul EV years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Soul EV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 15,000 miles; 86% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.