2016 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 95owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- $1,700median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
643 of the 814 complaints on this car are about the engine. 95 of those describe oil consumption.
Tick what matches of 95 reports
Oil consumption 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
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (34 reports) and the engine (5 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.
What owners paid
10 of the 95 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $2,600.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 60,160 and 110,000 miles, from the 54 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Kia Soul that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
PITSTOP: LOW OIL PRESSURE AT IDLE AFTER GAMMA 1.6L GDI SHORT BLOCK ENGINE REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information equipped with a Gamma 1.6L GDI regarding a 'low oil pressure' concern during engine idle on vehicles engine due to a missing dowel pin, after a short block engine replacement.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
2 more on the 2016 Kia Soul page.
What owners wrote
“Engine block had been replaced due to recall and excessive oil consumption, but vehicle is doing this again. Local dealership refuses to give appt for oil check and is sending us 55 miles away. Weâre told it will be about 1k to test it for fuel combustion and oil change before they can even test it. Replacement engine block failed to fix the issue and local Kia is not helpful.”
Filed Aug 12, 2026
“Had 3 oil consumption test 2 oil leak repairs, low to no oil each time, now car is stalling , Catalytitic Converter problem, yellow engine light is blinking, Kia of Newton New Jersey need to fix my car.”
Filed Oct 21, 2025
“Catalytic converter issues. I've had to get it replaced several times already and still issues. car burns oil like crazy as well and I have had to add oil throughout the week. it's been this way since I bought it in 2018. 2016 Kia Soul +”
Filed Mar 31, 2023
“Vehicle is constantly burning oil. I have zero engine leaks, no oil spots on engine. Where is the oil going. I took it to Kia. They said it was a catalytic converter. Oil loss and p040 code are incorrect. Misdiagnosed. Possible pcv problem. Bought from widrick in Watertown NY.”
Filed Jul 13, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 95 reports involved a crash and 1 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 215 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 207 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