2016 Kia Soul vs 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Kia Soul | 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 811 | 51 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 132 | 671 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 28 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 35 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–27 | 28–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 44,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 556 | 9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 106 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 83 | 6 |
| Power Train | 61 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 56 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 17 | 17 |
| Steering | 30 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 184 | 0 |
| Stalling | 142 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 88 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 80 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 52 | 0 |
| Overheating | 39 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 31 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 28 | 0 |
2016 Kia Soul
2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen
Compare all Kia Soul vs Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.