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Recall Campaigns
2
Federal recall campaigns
Urgent Safety Directives
0
Zero urgent stop-drive alerts
Affected Subsystems
2
Engine & Cooling, Steering System
Authorized Remedy
100% Free
Mandated dealer repair by law
Federal Safety Campaign Analysis

Executive Recall Findings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists 2 official safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Kia Soul in AutoUtility's current federal dataset. The primary affected vehicle systems include Engine & Cooling, Steering System.

VIN Specificity Notice: Safety recall campaigns apply to specific production date ranges and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Check your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov or with an authorized dealer to verify whether a safety repair is open.
Campaign Status & Legal Rights
  • • Federal Authority: Recalls administered under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301.
  • • Free Dealer Remedy: Under federal law, safety defect repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers.
  • • Latest Campaign Filing: Recorded on February 22, 2019.
Federal Directives

Official NHTSA Recall Campaigns (2)

Complete safety campaign filings including defect descriptions, safety hazards, and free dealer remedies

NHTSA Campaign #19V120000 ENGINE
Filed: February 22, 2019

What is defective?

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.

Safety Risk / Consequence

Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #17V608000 STEERING
Filed: September 29, 2017

What is defective?

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 Risk / Consequence

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

Authorized Free Dealer 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.

Manufacturer 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.
Subsystem Scope

Vehicle Systems Involved in Recalls for 2016 Kia Soul

Distribution of official safety recall campaigns across automotive subsystem domains

01 1 CAMPAIGN

Engine & Cooling

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Engine & Cooling subsystem.

554 Consumer Complaints →
02 1 CAMPAIGN

Steering System

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Steering System subsystem.

30 Consumer Complaints →
Fleet History

Recall History for Kia Soul

Official safety recall campaign volume across sibling model years (2015–2025)

Model Year NHTSA Recalls NHTSA Complaints Detailed Report
2015 Kia Soul 4 902 View 2015 Recalls →
2016 Kia Soul Current Page 2 809 Current
2017 Kia Soul 1 270 View 2017 Recalls →
2018 Kia Soul 1 213 View 2018 Recalls →
2019 Kia Soul 1 135 View 2019 Recalls →
2020 Kia Soul 1 371 View 2020 Recalls →
2021 Kia Soul 2 228 View 2021 Recalls →
2022 Kia Soul 1 88 View 2022 Recalls →
2023 Kia Soul 4 49 View 2023 Recalls →
2024 Kia Soul 0 29 View 2024 Recalls →
2025 Kia Soul 0 12 View 2025 Recalls →
Consumer Checklist

VIN-Specific Recall Verification

How to confirm whether an individual vehicle requires an authorized safety repair

Safety recall campaigns apply to specific vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and manufacturing date ranges. To verify if your individual vehicle has an uncompleted safety recall:

  • Locate your 17-character VIN on the driver's side door jamb or dashboard.
  • Enter the VIN into the official NHTSA recall lookup at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
  • Contact any franchised Kia dealership to schedule a free remedy appointment.
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 711)
Related Workstations

Related Official Reports for 2016 Kia Soul

Explore owner problem reports and crash safety ratings for this model year

← 2016 Kia Soul Overview

Key performance indicators, EPA fuel economy specs, powertrain variants, and summary ratings.

2016 Kia Soul Owner Complaints (809) →

NHTSA defect complaints breakdown across all vehicle subsystems and recurring symptoms.

2016 Kia Soul Safety & Crash Ratings →

NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test results, driver assistance systems, and rollover ratings.

2016 Kia Soul MPG & Range →

EPA fuel economy ratings, electric range, and annual energy cost benchmarks.
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Safety Recalls & Federal Directives for the 2016 Kia Soul

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Kia Soul

How many safety recalls are on file for the 2016 Kia Soul?

The 2016 Kia Soul is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns, affecting systems including Engine & Cooling, Steering System.

A recall campaign listing indicates that a safety defect or noncompliance standard was determined for specific production runs of this vehicle model year.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

Are there urgent 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' directives for the 2016 Kia Soul?

No official 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' safety advisories are associated with recall records for the 2016 Kia Soul in AutoUtility's current dataset.

Urgent directives apply to critical safety risks; standard recall campaigns require timely inspection and remedy at an authorized dealer.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database

Are recall repairs free for the 2016 Kia Soul?

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge.

Federal law (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301) requires manufacturers and franchised dealers to provide authorized safety recall repairs at no cost to the vehicle owner. Because campaigns apply to specific production runs and option packages, vehicle owners must verify their 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm individual applicability.

Source: National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301)

Does a recall campaign apply to every 2016 Kia Soul?

Not necessarily. Model-year recall campaigns typically apply to specific vehicle production date ranges, assembly plants, or optional equipment packages.

AutoUtility's model-year records describe campaign scope; owners must check their individual 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm if an open recall applies to their specific vehicle.

Source: NHTSA VIN Lookup Service
Official US Government Data Provenance

Recall records published on this page are retrieved directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Recalls Database under 49 U.S.C. 30118.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.