2016 Kia Soul Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 793 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Kia Soul overview page.
What owners report
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY ON I-20 GOING SEE MOTHER IN LAW @ AROUND 10:30 PM AND THE CAR JUST STARTED LICKING UP SPEED…”NHTSA complaint 11279471 — filed 11/12/2019
“ON SUNDAY, MAY 26TH, 2019, OUR KIA SOUL CAUGHT FIRE AS WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR WHEN…”NHTSA complaint 11217487 — filed 06/03/2019
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS NOT PROPERLY STAYING IN GEAR AND INADVERTENTLY VEERED TO THE…”NHTSA complaint 11206221 — filed 05/08/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Kia Soul have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2016 Kia Soul: 60 of 793 complaints on file (7.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2016 Kia Soul have in total?
793 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 28 involved a crash, 34 involved a fire, 24 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
