2016 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 215owner reports
- 85,607median miles
- $3,500median quote
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Sep 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
680 of the 814 complaints on this car are about the engine. 215 of those describe stalling. Only engine failure is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 215 reports
Stalling on other Soul years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (15 reports), the battery (9 reports) and the ignition coil or plugs (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
All 2 recalls on the 2016 Kia Soul, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Soul
Kia 25v099 piston oil ring recall effectiveness. Closed dec 18, 2025.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 20V-088.
Non-crash vehicle fires. Closed may 10, 2019, led to recall 18V-907.
What owners paid
27 of the 215 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,500 to $6,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 67,000 and 113,613 miles, from the 128 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Catalytic converter is not working properly. Car lost power. Coral Springs Kia diagnosed but they say it is not warranted by factory. I have the contract where it says engine warranty until 100k miles or 10yr. This car has less than 90k miles in this moment. They are billing me 5,880 if I want they repair”
Filed Sep 21, 2024 · 100,000 miles
“Engine and brake lights have come on. Engine knocks bad. Vehicles stall when pressing gas. Dangerous driving soecialy going through stop sign. Low power while pressing gas.”
Filed May 6, 2023
“The vehicle contains a defect related to motor vehicle safety or does not comply with an applicable federal motor vehicle safety standard ENGINE REPLACED THRESHOLD REPLACED CATALITIC CONVERTER BLEW ECU COMPLETED AIRBAG WARNING DOES NOT CLEAR INACCURATELY REPORTED/ COMPLETED VEHICAL MALFUNCTIONING LOSS OF POWER”
Filed Mar 7, 2023
“While I was driving the vehicle shut off and stopped, leaving me in the middle of the road in heavy traffic. I then received a recall from kia that the engine would do just that. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership and both them and the manufacturer have told me they refuse to fix the recall. The check engine light came on and was blinking the day the car broke down.”
Filed Jul 5, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 215 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 227 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 207 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 95 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 41 reports
- Engine leaks oil 39 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 38 reports
- Vehicle fire 35 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 31 reports