YearToAvoid

2016 Kia Soul Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 69 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Kia Soul, 8% of its 812 total complaints, with 7 fires and 5 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure is 57,500. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Electrical System complaints
69
8% of 812
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
57,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report engine compartment fires, with smoke and flames appearing suddenly while driving or after parking, sometimes totaling the vehicle.
  • Some describe underhood fires occurring shortly after strange noises or loss of acceleration on the highway.
  • Several report battery, steering, and ABS warning lights illuminating together, followed by the steering wheel seizing while driving.
  • Headlights are reported to flicker or shut off completely for several seconds, sometimes tied to using turn signals.
  • One owner reported a heated seat overheating enough to cause a burning sensation.

When 2016 Kia Soul electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 18, 2016, latest Mar 9, 2026.

2016 Kia Soul electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2016Jul 2019Dec 2020Sep 2021Apr 2023Dec 2023Aug 2024Dec 2025
69 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2016 to Mar 2026; peak Sep 2021 (5).

Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Kia Soul

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Soul model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201028 (21%)
  2. 201142 (22%)
  3. 201247 (9%)
  4. 201378 (12%)
  5. 2014187 (21%)
  6. 201599 (11%)
  7. 201669 (8%)
  8. 201719 (7%)
  9. 201822 (10%)
  10. 201917 (13%)
  11. 202033 (9%)
  12. 202118 (8%)
  13. 202210 (11%)
  14. 202316 (31%)
  15. 202411 (38%)
  16. 20254 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does the 2016 Kia Soul have?
NHTSA lists 69 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Kia Soul, which is 8% of the 812 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Kia Soul electrical system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this Electrical System problem area on the 2016 Kia Soul.
Do electrical problems cause fires in the 2016 Kia Soul?
NHTSA complaint data tied to this component area show 7 fires and 5 injuries reported, with several owners describing smoke or flames coming from the engine compartment.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 57,500 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.