2016 Kia Soul · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 41owner reports
- 88,244median miles
- $2,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
615 of the 814 complaints on this car are about the engine. 41 of those describe overheating.
Tick what matches of 41 reports
Overheating 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
Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radiator (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
5 of the 41 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,300 to $2,800.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 70,000 and 110,000 miles, from the 22 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Catalytic converter may become damaged due to overheating caused by and excessive increase of exhaust gas temperatures.”
Filed Oct 21, 2025
“Catalytic converter is overheating resulting in a check engine light. The code is P0420.”
Filed Oct 16, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 41 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 Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
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 leaks oil 39 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 38 reports
- Vehicle fire 35 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 31 reports