NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Kia Soul EV Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Kia Soul EV has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 7 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Kia Soul EV. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2016 Kia Soul EV owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Soul EV, describing incidents dated March 16, 2017 to September 18, 2023.

Most-cited components

Power Train 3 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Of the 7 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11545156 · Filed September 18, 2023
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. Additionally, the contact stated that when the vehicle was fully charged, the energy percentage…
ODI #11228534 · Filed June 30, 2019
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.
ODI #11150663 · Filed November 10, 2018
THE HORN AND ALARM DONT WORK EVEN WHEN I SET THE ALARM THERES NO BEEP JUST FLASHES AND IVE PRESS THE HORN MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A SOUND THIS OCCUR DURING DRIVING AND AFTER WHILE I WAS STATIONARY JUST TO CHECK

Read all 7 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2016 Kia Soul EV in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ23-005: Vehicle Rollaway
Closed January 16, 2024
- Recall 23V-724
Defect Petition DP22-005: Pedestrian alert sounds
Closed August 7, 2023
- Recall 22V-063

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Unintended Movement Due to Damaged Park Mechanism

NHTSA #23V724000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Gear Position Indication (PRNDL) · NHTSA notice

Reported October 26, 2023 · Kia America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 6,262 vehicles

Repair completion: 62.68% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC287 · Owners notified December 21, 2023 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 recall is SC287. This recall expands and replaces recall number 20V-389. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-389 will need to have the new remedy completed.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

High-Voltage Battery Pack May Short-Circuit

NHTSA #23V218000 · Electrical System — Propulsion System — Traction Battery · NHTSA notice

Reported March 29, 2023 · Kia America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 2,689 vehicles

Repair completion: 79.14% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC267 · Owners notified August 18, 2023

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A battery electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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 abnormal voltage is detected. If this occurs, the battery will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC267.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Unintended Movement Due to Damaged Park Mechanism

NHTSA #20V389000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Gear Position Indication (PRNDL) · NHTSA notice

Reported July 2, 2020 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 3,714 vehicles

Repair completion: 71.94% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC191 · Owners notified August 7, 2020

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 recall is SC191.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Steering Gear May Separate

NHTSA #17V608000 · Steering · NHTSA notice

Reported September 29, 2017 · Kia Motors America

Potentially affected: 342,381 vehicles

Repair completion: 66.16% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Kia campaign SC155 · Owners notified November 16, 2017 · Vehicles built July 21, 2013 – September 30, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2016 Kia Soul Ev SUV FWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

3 investigations

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Soul EV.

Electrical System

ODI #11545156

Incident: September 18, 2023 · Filed: September 18, 2023

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. Additionally, the contact stated that when the vehicle was fully charged, the energy percentage display rejected and while driving after a full charge, the percentage displayed at 70 percent after driving approximately 25 MPH. An unknown warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact then stated that while driving at undisclosed speed, there was a burning odor throughout the vehicle. The contact was concerned for his safety while operating the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the appointment was rescheduled for diagnostic test on October 18, 2023. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

Power Train; Service Brakes

ODI #11228534

Incident: June 11, 2019 · Filed: June 30, 2019

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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11150663

Incident: November 8, 2018 · Filed: November 10, 2018

THE HORN AND ALARM DONT WORK EVEN WHEN I SET THE ALARM THERES NO BEEP JUST FLASHES AND IVE PRESS THE HORN MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A SOUND THIS OCCUR DURING DRIVING AND AFTER WHILE I WAS STATIONARY JUST TO CHECK

Power Train

ODI #11129274

Crash

Incident: September 10, 2018 · Filed: September 13, 2018

BACKED UP DRIVEWAY TO PARK CAR IN GARAGE. PUT CAR IN "PARK". GOT OUT TO CLEAR PARKING SPACE IN GARAGE. TURNED AROUND TO SEE CAR ROLLING DOWN DRIVEWAY INTO WALL- WHILE IN "PARK".

Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11033137

Incident: October 12, 2017 · Filed: October 12, 2017

SUNROOF COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE.

Power Train

ODI #11005488

Incident: July 15, 2017 · Filed: July 15, 2017

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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10966252

Incident: March 16, 2017 · Filed: March 16, 2017

CHARGING PORT CAN AUTOMATICALLY LOCK THE CHARGING CONNECTOR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE WITHOUT DAMAGE OCCURRING, IF NOT DONE CORRECTLY. OF COURSE, THIS ONLY OCCURS WITH THE VEHICLE STATIONARY AT A CHARGING STATION. (I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL ON ELECTRIC CARS BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM REMOVING IT WHILE THE CAR IS CHARGING SO THEY CAN CHARGE THEIR CAR.) I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ONE MONTH AND IT HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES. BOTH TIMES, "ONE" OF THE MANY THINGS I TRIED UNLOCKED IT BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT RESOLVED IT. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE ANYTHING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TELLING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOCKING THE CHARGING PORT AND ONLINE SEARCH HAS ONLY RESULTED IN OTHERS SAYING THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOTHING FROM KIA MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT WHAT RESOLVES THE ISSUE...NISSAN LEAF OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY TELLS HOW TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CHARGING PORT BUT I FIND NOTHING MENTIONED ABOUT IT IN MY KIA MANUAL...ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ONLY SENDS A TOW TRUCK DRIVER APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AFTER THE CALL IS MADE AND THE DRIVER KNOWS LESS ABOUT THE CAR THAN THE OWNER. I BELIEVE THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM, IN AN EMERGENCY OR NOT, WHETHER IT RESULTS IN INJURY TO THE PERSON OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

Other Kia Soul EV model years

Check your 2016 Kia Soul EV VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Soul EV at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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