2016 Kia Soul EV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2016 Kia Soul EV, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2016 Kia Soul EV
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Gear position indication (prndl) (power train) and software (electrical system)
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. Kia's number for this…
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Traction battery (electrical system)
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…
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Software (electrical system) and gear position indication (prndl) (power train)
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…
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. Kia's number for this…
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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. Owners may contact Kia customer…
7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Kia Soul EV have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 30,711 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 cha”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2023 · Electrical system
“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 wor”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 30, 2019 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 Kia Soul (Soul ECO dynamics, Soul Electric). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 26–105 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 24–120 / 30–92 |
| Fuel | Electricity, Regular |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (A1); Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Kia Soul EV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Soul EV model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Kia Soul EV | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 Kia Soul EV | 4 | 6 |
| 2016 Kia Soul EV | 4 | 7 |
| 2017 Kia Soul EV | 3 | 18 |
| 2018 Kia Soul EV | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 Kia Soul EV | 3 | 3 |
Checking a specific 2016 Kia Soul EV
How do I know if my 2016 Kia Soul EV has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2016 Kia Soul EV; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 17V608000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.