EngineCritical
GDI engine rod knock / seizure (2.0 Nu / Theta).
- Typically appears
- 70,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Listen for knock and confirm any engine recall/warranty work.
2016 Kia Soul problems
A 2016 Kia Soul is now 10 years old, so an average example has covered around 135,000 miles. A mid-run car · most launch faults had been addressed by this point, and wear items are the main risk at this age. Check the state safety inspection and service history alongside the documented faults below, which are sorted by whether a 2016 car has usually reached the mileage where they appear.
Compiled & reviewed by the VehicleFaults Research Team
Quick answer
The 2016 Kia Soul is 10 years old, so an average example has covered roughly 135,000 miles. At that mileage 4 of the documented faults are already due, so check those first.
Faults a 2016 example has usually reached
Documented onset mileage is at or below the ~135k miles an average 2016 car has covered.
EmissionsHigh
Catalytic converter failure damaging the engine on some cars.
- Typically appears
- 80,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Scan for catalyst codes and ask about any related engine work.
SteeringMedium
Steering coupler noise / clunk.
- Typically appears
- 60,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Listen for a knock when turning at low speed.
HVACLow
AC performance drop.
- Typically appears
- 80,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Confirm cold AC output.
Inspecting a 2016 Kia Soul?
Generate a tickable pre-purchase checklist for this exact year, mileage and variant · add photos and notes as you inspect.
Check this exact carKia Soul · frequently asked questions
Is the Kia Soul reliable?
Practical and cheap, but check the GDI engine history carefully.
What engine problems does the Soul have?
GDI rod-knock and catalytic-converter failures; confirm any recall work.
Is there an engine warranty?
Extended powertrain coverage applied to many affected engines; verify it.