2016 Kia Soul vs 2018 Kia Soul
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Kia Soul | 2018 Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 796 | 212 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 131 | 94 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 28 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 34 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–27 | 27–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 57,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Kia Soul |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 548 | 134 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 104 | 9 |
| Power Train | 61 | 31 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 79 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 56 | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 | 8 |
| Steering | 30 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 17 | 11 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 182 | 28 |
| Stalling | 137 | 25 |
| Loss of power | 85 | 19 |
| Oil consumption | 76 | 31 |
| Clunking / rattling | 51 | 19 |
| Overheating | 37 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 31 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 28 | 8 |
2016 Kia Soul
2018 Kia Soul
Compare all Kia Soul vs Kia Soul 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.