There are 14 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2016 Kia Soulin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
PAINT PEELING EXTENSIVELY TOP, HOOD, SIDES. PRIMER SHOWING IN THOSE SPOTS AND RUST BEGINNING TO SHOW
Kia Soul 2016 white color. The factory paint is peeling off completely.
On Saturday, [XXX], I was driving from Daytona Beach to our home in Melbourne, Florida. The time was about [XXX]. The weather was characterized by strong and constant rain for the first 25 minutes of our trip home. The next day I noticed many areas on the roof and the rear driver's side quarter-panel where the paint had de-laminated. Our insurer denied a claim of weather related paint failure. Since then, I have examined scores of claims regarding premature paint failure on Kia vehicles. The descriptions of the paint de-lamination, as well as the proffered photos are/were identical to the paint failure on my Kia Soul. The passenger's side of the vehicle was repaired .and repainted following a 2022 deer strike in South Carolina. That whole repainted area was totally unaffected by the strong rain storm experienced on [XXX]. Only the original Kia factory applied paint exhibited multiple de-lamination failures. The paint designation is '1D'. Kia needs to steps up and take appropriate responsibility for the failures of their paint finishes. This vehicle is mostly garage kept. My wife and I are retired and this vehicle is always at home unless we are on an errand or Doctor's appointment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The paint of my white Kia Soul 2016 has been peeling on the cars hood, roof, doors. It gets worst every day. I checked for paint recalls but there is no recall at this time.
Paint started peeling on the side mirrors, door handles within the last year and seems to have progressed really quickly. They are bubbling, cracking and then just chipping off to reveal the unfinished layer underneath. This seems like it will expose the car body to more elements and encourage rusting. I'd like to avoid that.
All the paint and clear coats pealing no other car we own do not have this problem and are much older... this car is not even paid for and the paint is destroyed... the car only has 55000 miles
Paint adhesion. Pearl white color coats flaking off in several parts of body.
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HAD JUST PULLED ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND HE HEARD A "POP" SOUND, SO HE PULLED OVER TO CHECK IT OUT. WHEN HE GOT OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND ENGULFED THE WHOLE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING ANYTHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO HIM HEARING THE SOUND. IT NEVER LOST POWER, NEVER HAD ANY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, NEVER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OVER HEATING LIGHT, LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT, NOTHING. IT WAS RUNNING 100% FINE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND I AM JUST THANKFUL HE STOPPED AND GOT OUT AND IS SAFE AND DID NOT HAVE OUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH HIM AT THE TIME THIS OCCURED.
MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE WHOLE CAR IS DAMAGED. THERE IS NO FRONT THE INTERIOR IS GONE. I HAVE STARTED A CASE WITH KIA. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING UP A HILL ABOUT 30 MINKES AN HOUR WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING. IT WAS PULLED OVER AND THE HOOD WAS POPPED. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. SOON THE WHOLE FRONT AND MIDDLE OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS WAS AT 14000 JERICHO STREET AT THE ENTRANCE OF BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY IN BOWIE MD. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED.*DT*JB*DT*DT
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. IT STARTED SMOKING AND SECONDS LATER CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY SON WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING, HE TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE.
Two years ago the paint started to fall off the hood , sides and the top. The dealer inspected and refused any correction in the problem
PURCHASED CAR WITH DEALER PROMISE TO FIX BOTH DOORS. FIXED ONE AND IGNORED MY MANY REQUESTS TO FIX IT. DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE, MANAGER SAID IT WAS FROM SEATBELT. IT ACTUALLY HAD BEEN BROKEN INTO BEFORE PURCHASE WHICH HE DENIED. KEPT CHANGING STORY. LED ME TO A MENTAL BREAKDOWN. STILL LIES AND REFUSES TO HELP. BELITTLES, DEHUMANIZES AN INSULTS ME. THREATENS ME WITH EVEN WORSE TREATMENT. ACCUSED ME OF HAVING PERSONAL VENDETTA AND SUDDENLY MY HOUSE IS IN FORECLOSURE HE HAS INFLUENCED TOWN HALL. CHAD BOUCHARD TOLD ME HE KNOWS A GIRL WHO WORKS THERE AFTER I FILED POLICE REPORT. HE WANTED MORE INFO, ILLEGALLY. FOR OVER A YEAR I'VE BEGGED FOR HELP. I HAVE PHOTOS FROM SITE WITH 1 PHOTO FROM AN ALMOST IDENTICAL CAR WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BASHED IN BUT THE DAMAGE SHOWING THAT THE OTHER DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE. THEY REFUSE TO LET ME SPEAK TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE OWNERS SON WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE PICTURES OF CAR BEFORE DAMAGE. HE HAS NOT DONE SO BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXIST. ODDLY, AFTER THIS TRANSACTION THE SALESMAN NO LONGER WORKS THERE. DON'T KNOW WHERE IT HAPPENED THEY PASSED THE INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP. SHADY! I TURNED DOWN THE INSURANCE MONEY ONCE CHAD ACCIDENTALLY ADMITTED TO DAMAGE. RAIN AND ICE GET IN. I CAN HEAR WIND, WHISTLING AND IT RATTLES. I BELIEVE THEY BANDAIDED IT BECAUSE DOOR DID CLOSE DURING TEST DRIVE, I BELIEVE. SALESMAN ONLY LET ME DRIVE IT LESS THAN A MILE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR THAT I PAID OVER $11,500 FOR. I CAN'T SELL IT, TRADED IN, ETC. NOT SURE IF IT WILL PASS INSPECTION.
SOLD DAMAGED CAR BY RON BOUCHARD KIA. DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE AND IT RAINS AND SNOWS INSIDE. SAID I LOCKED MY KEYS IN CAR, I DIDN'T. THEY FIXED THE BASHED IN DRIVER'S DOOR BUT WON'T FIX OTHER DOOR. CONVINCED ME IT WAS SEATBELT DAMAGE. AT DEALERSHIP THE NICK'S AND DENTS WERE VISIBLE BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE THE GAP, SALESMAN STOOD IN FRONT OF IT. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. LESS THAN 5K IN OVER A YEAR. I CAN'T FIND ANY RECORDS OF DAMAGE. I SAW THAT IT WAS PURCHASED AT AN INSURANCE AND SALVAGE AUCTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BECAME FLOODED WITH WATER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MOISTURE WAS EVIDENT ON THE INSIDE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOLLYWOOD KIA LOCATED AT 6011 PEMBROKE RD, HOLLYWOOD, FL 33023, (954) 967-5665, TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CARPET, UNDERLAYMENT, AND UPHOLSTERY SHOWED SIGNS OF MOLD. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT WATER ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DOOR SEAL GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED UNDER CLAIM NUMBER: 334243420. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, CASE NUMBER: 13504218. NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026