2016 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Vehicle fire
- 35owner reports
- 79,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 13, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
35 of the 814 complaints on this car describe fire.
Tick what matches of 35 reports
Fire 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. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.
What this problem usually is
Fire reports are the most serious complaints on the site. Owners describe fires while driving, while parked and switched off, and for plug-in cars, while charging. Many say it started under the hood. Some already had a recall notice for the cause, and some got one afterward.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the fuel line or pump (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on this problem covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 66,122 and 100,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Was driving car lost power of steering and brakes black smoke filled vehicle I jumped out of the car and it went up in flames . The vehicle behind me said the flames were coming out of my front engine”
Filed Sep 13, 2026
“Was idling at a red light, the engine warning light came on, and my engine set on fire. No reason. I jumped out of the car. Thankfully someone came over and threw water on it. Engine to be completely rebuilt (under warranty). Took 3 weeks.”
Filed Apr 15, 2023
“My car suddenly caught fire. I am assuming it was the engine because the fire started under the hood of the car. I never received any information regarding a recall or a safety issue but when the Vin was checked by my insurance inspector the recall came up.”
Filed May 4, 2022
“DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY OTHER MOTORIST FLAGGED ME DOWN TO TELL ME i HAD A FIRE UNDER NEATH, FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT. TOWED TO AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHERE THEY SAID THEY PUT ON SCAN TOOL TO PULL CODE CODE SHOWS SIGNS OF JUMPED TIMING, PUT UP ON HOIST AND FOUND ROD HAD BENT AND PUT HOLE IN ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON”
Filed Jan 13, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 35 reports involved a crash and 3 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 227 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 215 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
- Loses power when accelerating 31 reports