RoadVitals

2016 Kia Soul Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
18
Latest Feb 13, 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 18 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, while making a right turn, the right turn signal blinked extremely fast. The contact stated that while making a left turn, the left turn signal blinked normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

NHTSA ID
11717902
Incident
Dec 17, 2025
Mileage
73,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 11, 2025

I leave for work early in the morning and several times the lights would start blinking and go out. The lights would come back on after blinking again. There were no warning signs and it makes me scared to drive the car. I took the car to a mechanic who told me he checked the recall list. My state does not require an inspection and I have not talked to my insurance company cause I need to and want to hear from KIA. A coworker told me he think it could be in the turn signal. I just need KIA to check my car for a recall or maybe try to check it for a defect.

NHTSA ID
11642047
Incident
Jan 22, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 10, 2024

For the 4th time in a year, my headlights automatically turned on while vehicle was parked. I have the headlights set to turn on/off when vehicle is started or shut off. I do not have a DLR options to set the lights to. All four times the vehicle started and I have no idea how long lights were off. Two of the 4 times, I noticed they were on in the middle of the night. The other two times, the neighbor texted me during the day, while vehicle had been parked, for hours and or a few days, and said I should check my lights and when I did, they were on. I rarely drive at night and have read some owners of a Kia Soul have experienced their headlights automatically turning off without notice while driving at night. I am sure most people would not notice or have a clue that there headlights turned off during the daytime by their selves, I know I wouldn't especially since the lights seem to turn on/off by themselves without any notice.

NHTSA ID
11607666
Incident
Aug 9, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 29, 2023

I am experiencing the same headlight problem as has been reported for 2014-15 Kia Souls. Mine is a 2016 Kia Soul. The headlights go out intermittently when turning a corner or when signalling for a turn. I had it diagnosed at my dealership and they stated it was the Multi-function Switch that was mentioned as a recall for 2014-2015 Souls on your webpage. The dealership said there is no recall and Kia Corporate says the same thing, but the NHTSA states there is a recall and describes the exact problem right down to the Multi-function switch the dealership told me was bad.

NHTSA ID
11562546
Incident
Oct 2, 2023
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Dec 21, 2023

My engine is burning oil on the pistons and does not retain oil. I am having to top the engine oil off every 10-14 days. I went in to repair the catalytic converter, but I was told by the dealership that if I repair the converter, because I have a bad engine, it would be useless. The first warning sign was an H2O engine error that remains. My safety with a bad engine is put at risk with every drive. the problem has been occurring for over a year, and in addition, the brake lights in the front of the vehicle does not work, although it has been diagnosed.

NHTSA ID
11561327
Incident
Nov 1, 2022
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 7, 2023

The headlights will turn off and on randomly without warning. My driving panel shows no indicator or warning lights. This is an ongoing and extremely dangerous issue. I’m told it will be very expensive to diagnose and repair due to the need to remove the entire steering section to access the headlight control wand.

NHTSA ID
11543111
Incident
Mar 1, 2023
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed May 31, 2023

January 2021 starting burning engine oil. Have been to the kia dealership numerous times complaining. Negative results regarding the situation. Engine spits - hisses - hiccups and dies. Car hopped forward and rolled backwards into traffic on the highway. Car burned through three quarts of oil within a three week time period. Check engine light is on again. Do not feel safe Respectfully request to have the item researched Thank you

NHTSA ID
11524745
Incident
Jan 2, 2021
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 5, 2021

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ALWAYS FLICKERS DURING USE. I CHANGE THE TURN SIGNAL BULB MONTHLY BUT IT NEVER LAST MORE THAN A FEW DAYS WORKING IF NOT AT ALL. I HAVE CONFIRMED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BULBS AS I HAVE CHECKED THE BULB WITH THE LEFT SIDE.

NHTSA ID
11442750
Incident
Sep 1, 2018
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 3, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the headlights would intermittently fail to illuminate without warning. The contact made repeated attempts to adjust her headlights to no avail. Due to the failure, the contact stated that another vehicle in the opposite lane had attempted to pass the vehicle ahead. The other driver assumed that there was no vehicle in her lane of traffic and the contact was forced off the road to avoid a head-on collision with the other vehicle. The contact did not lose control of the vehicle and was able to resume normal driving. The contact also stated that the interior and dashboard lights would intermittently flicker on and off without warning. The dealer was notified, and the contact was informed that she had to pay a diagnostic fee to determine the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed. The failure mileage was 52,080.

NHTSA ID
11431628
Incident
Aug 31, 2021
Mileage
52,080 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 2, 2021

Low-beams will not turn on in any position, while the high-beams continue to function. I was able to use the high-beams to get me home but not having access to low-beams is dangerous.

NHTSA ID
11431480
Incident
Sep 1, 2021
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 18, 2021

The lights flickered and I lost both head lights. Head light bulbs keep going out randomly. Sometimes both at the same time. I have replaced them 4 times this year.

NHTSA ID
11429527
Incident
Jul 16, 2021
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 28, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front headlights failed to remain illuminated. The headlights independently regained normal function after a while. Also, on several occasions, while the vehicle was turned off, the headlights were erroneously turned on without driver input. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. An unknown dealer was contacted, and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.

NHTSA ID
11426765
Incident
Jul 1, 2021
Mileage
67,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 28, 2020

I KEEP HAVING A REASSURING ISSUE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER PAYING TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED. SPENDING COUNTLESS DOLLARS ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE PROBLEM TO CONTINUE. THE KIA DEALERS KEEP CHANGING PARTS OUT AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. IS IT A WAY THAT THIS ISSUE CAN GET CHECK BY SOMEONE PLEASE.

NHTSA ID
11351890
Incident
Aug 26, 2020
Mileage
50 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITH HEADLIGHTS FLASHING INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS FLASHING. KIA OF BOWIE LOCATED AT 16620 GOVERNOR BRIDGE RD, BOWIE, MD 20716, (301)-820-7500 WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, A LOANER VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,770.

NHTSA ID
11341822
Incident
Jul 15, 2020
Mileage
37,700 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2020

WHEN USING BLINKER WHILE IN MOTION WITH THE LIGHTS ON, THE LIGHTS MESS UP. SOMETIMES THE BRIGHTS WILL FLASH, SOMETIMES ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS WILL CUT OFF, SOMETIMES ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS WILL FLASH ALONG WITH BLINKER. THIS STARTED AFTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11328063
Incident
Dec 1, 2016
Mileage
5,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 26, 2019

MY BLINKER LIGHTS AND BRAKE AND HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS NEED TO BE REPLACED .AND MY RIGHT SIDE BLINKER WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I CHANGE IT. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11271214
Incident
May 20, 2018
Mileage
48,750 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 5, 2019

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER DURING USE, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS.

NHTSA ID
11229669
Incident
Jul 2, 2019
Mileage
78,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 20, 2018

MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I'M DRIVING. SOMETIMES THEY SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND DON'T COME BACK ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. I NOTICE THE PROBLEM NOT WHEN I USE MY INDICATORS. WHEN I FLICK THE INDICATOR ON MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON.

NHTSA ID
11130522
Incident
Sep 20, 2018

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

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