RoadVitals

2016 Kia Soul Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Jun 20, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 797 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Kia Soul submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Jun 20, 2026

AIR BAG

NHTSA ID
11745406
Incident
Apr 1, 2026
Airbags
Filed Nov 14, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID
11699401
Incident
Nov 13, 2025
AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Aug 15, 2025

4 29 23 at 101091 miles the catalytic converter was replaced. The car sucks up oil before even the 3000 .mark..kia performed. Then on7/8/25 wg baker replaced catalytic converter again. Also coding of abs brakes now and why would catalytic converter need replacing? Because car is eating off oil. Yes my car stopped on the interstate and I had to pull over. I've already done two tune ups.

NHTSA ID
11680993
Incident
Jul 8, 2025
Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 2024
Crash reported2 injuries reported

STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE SIDE AIBAGS DID DEPLOYED. CAR WAS GOING 55MPH AND COLIDED INTO ANOTHER CAR WITH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TOOK MAJORITY OF THE FORCE.

NHTSA ID
11620013
Incident
Oct 15, 2024
Airbags
Filed May 7, 2024

On Saturday morning may 4th, I found the driver side window smashed in and lots of broken glass on street and in my car. I wasn't driving .. it was parked on atreet

NHTSA ID
11587503
Incident
May 4, 2024
Airbags
Filed Jul 14, 2022

Airbag Control Model malfunction discovered during diagnostic test at inspection and confirmed at service center. Must be replaced. Safety compromised as airbag may not deploy in an accident.

NHTSA ID
11474005
Incident
Jul 14, 2022
AirbagsBody & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 16, 2020
Crash reported

THE CRASH AT ABOUT 2:30AM EARLY TUESDAY MORNING ON NOV. 24, 2020, ON HER WAY HOME FROM HER NEARBY 2ND SHIFT JOB, MY WIFE'S 2016 KIA SOL WAS HIT HARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A CAR BEING PURSUED BY POLICE. LUCKILY, AND POSSIBLY BECAUSE MY WIFE IS SHORT AND SITS HIGH, SHE APPEARS UNINJURED ALTHOUGH VISIBLY SHAKEN AND VERY NERVOUS ABOUT NIGHT DRIVING. MY WIFE HAD PULLED HER CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 4+ LANE ROAD WHEN SHE HEARD SIRENS. WHILE PULLED OVER WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE PERPETRATOR'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PUSHED HER CAR SEVERAL FEET FURTHER TO THE RIGHT, CRUMPLING THE DOORS AND BREAKING OFF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AND SUSPENSION FROM THE IMPACT. THE POLICE REPORT SHOWED THAT THE PERPETRATOR'S VEHICLE APPROACHED HER CAR FROM THE FRONT LEFT, BUT THE VEHICLE HIT THE VERY SHORT KIA SQUARELY AND ONLY IN THE TWO DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OR REAR FENDERS. CLEARLY NOT SIDESWIPED WHERE THE ENTIRE SIDE WOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. ALLSTATE INSURANCE TOTALED THE CAR AND PHOTOS FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND TOWING YARD ARE ATTACHED, AS IS THE POLICE REPORT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED! NONE OF THE KIA'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN LATE 2015 AND IT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SERVICED SINCE THEN AT THE ORIGINAL KIA DEALER. THEY RECENTLY UPDATED THE CAR'S COMPUTER UNDER A KIA RECALL. ON DEC. 4, 2020, I CONTACTED THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (KAYLEE C AT 949-468-4689) AND ASKED WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED. AFTER LOOKING AT PHOTOS I SENT HER AND FROM THE COPART LOT, SHE QUICKLY SAID THE CAR WAS "SIDESWIPED AND NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS". HER RESPONSE WAS PROTECTING KIA LINE AS ANY REVIEW OF THE PHOTOS SHOWS THAT HE CAR WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE VERY HARD AND NOT SIDESWIPED. I ASK THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT AS IT'S UNLIKELY THAT ONLY MY VEHICLE HAS THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW.

NHTSA ID
11383822
Incident
Nov 24, 2020
Mileage
35,911 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 24, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON OCTOBER 28, 2020 I HAD A BOX TRUCK SLAM THE BRAKES IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO REAR END THEM GOING APPROXIMATELY 25/30 MPH. THE FRONT OF MY KIA WAS SMASHED INTO THE ENGINE AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE SUSTAINED MAJOR LONG TERM INJURIES DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING.

NHTSA ID
11376080
Incident
Oct 28, 2020
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2020
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE 91FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA.I WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC.I WAS HIT SO HARD FROM THE BACK THAT I WAS THROWN INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE IN THE CAR.MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.NOT ONE SINGLE AIR BAG DEPLOYED.BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES.BY THAT I MEAN WERE ALIVE.

NHTSA ID
11344214
Incident
Jul 21, 2020
Mileage
112,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2020
Crash reported

FRONT IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 35-40 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAPPENED 3/7/2020 AT 3:45 IN PORT CHAROLETTE FL. THIS OCCURRED ON ROUTE 776 AND TOLEDO BLADE

NHTSA ID
11316827
Incident
Mar 7, 2020
Mileage
751,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 23, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVING TO WORK ON FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 15-20MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS BLIND-SIDED BY A CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK GOING 50-60MPH. THE INITIAL IMPACT WAS MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ABSOLUTELY NO AIRBAG WENT OFF ON THAT SIDE. THE IMPACT KNOCKED ME ACROSS TWO LANES OF THE FREEWAYS ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE I WAS HIT AGAIN ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL BAG WENT OFF AFTER THE 2ND IMPACT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. IS THIS THE CAR YOU HAVE A 5-STAR CRASH RATINGS? MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I INCURRED A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES THAT REQUIRES SURGERY.

NHTSA ID
11290796
Incident
Dec 6, 2019
Mileage
32,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 18, 2019
Crash reported

DAUGHTER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN HER 2016 KIA SOUL WHEN SHE REAR ENDED A SUBURBAN AFTER IT WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE AND HER CAR WAS TOTALED AND SHOCKINGLY, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11221007
Incident
Nov 19, 2018
Mileage
27,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 8, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SKID AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11206184
Incident
Jan 30, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY WIFE HIT A CAR (T BONED) THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DIPLOID. SHE WENT IN THE HOSPITAL. THE S BELT WENT IN HER CHEST AND SHE HAS NECK AND BACK PAIN. I REPORTED IT TO THE KIA DEALER AND NEVER GOT AN ANSWER.

NHTSA ID
11187165
Incident
Feb 22, 2019
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jan 8, 2019
Crash reported

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT INVOLVED ME LEAVING THE ROAD AND THAT I WAS COMPLETELY AIRBORNE LANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EMBANKMENT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER THE FORCE OF MY CAR GOING AIRBORNE AND LANDING SO HARD THAT MY UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR WAS TORN UP NEEDING ALMOST 6,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. INCLUDING BREAKING MY OIL FILTER OFF OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE COMPLETELY DEPLOYED. BUT THEY DID NOT. I REALLY AM SCARED THAT IF I WAS IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED TO SAVE MY OR MY FAMILIES LIFE.

NHTSA ID
11165917
Incident
Mar 27, 2018
Mileage
30,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 2, 2018
Crash reported

ON HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS HYDROPLANED IN TO CONCRETE BARRIER WALL AT ABOUT 70 MPH FIRST IMPACT ON DRIVERS FRONT CORNER NEAR HEADLIGHT. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID
11155517
Incident
Dec 1, 2018
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Feb 27, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON 2/18/17 MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION IN OUR 2016 KIA SOUL. SHE STRUCK A STOPPED TOYOTA CAROLLA AT OVER 45MPH ON SOUTHBOUND I-5 IN SEATTLE WA. THIS WAS A DIRECT FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS IN THE KIA SOUL DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE METAL BUMPER BAR WAS COMPLETELY BENT IN A "V" SHAPE BACK BEYOND THE RADIATOR. KIA USA FIRST CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO UNDER RIDING. SENT THEM DAYTIME PHOTOS FROM THE NEXT DAY WHEN WE VISITED THE CAR TO REMOVE PERSONAL ITEMS AND THEY CHANGED THE STORY TO "THE AIR BAG SENSORS ARE IN THE CONNECTING PILLARS SO THIS STILL WOULD NOT HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIR BAGS. KIA USA IS ACCEPTING NO FAULT AND IT TAKING NO ACTION. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS COLLISION SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS AS BOTH FRONT SEATS WERE OCCUPIED BY ADULTS AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. MY HOPE IS YOU CAN USE THIS INFORMATION AND MY PHOTOS TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION AND RESOLVE IT WITH KIA. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF ONE OF THE CARS MAIN SAFETY FEATURES, FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS. I HAVE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND A VIDEO THAT I AM WILLING TO SHARE IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

NHTSA ID
10957400
Incident
Feb 18, 2017
Mileage
2,200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .