2016 Kia Soul diesel: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the diesel Kia Soul first registered in 2016 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 4,221 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What goes wrong more than usual on a 2016 Kia Soul diesel?
Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2016 Kia Soul diesel than on all cars registered in 2016.
- Braking performance2.2× usualKia Soul5.1% All 2016 cars2.3%
Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.8% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £100–£350 our estimateAt the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.
Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.1% here, against 4.9% of all 2016 cars.
Common 2016 Kia Soul diesel MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2016 Kia Soul diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres30% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Brakes26% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors7% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Suspension7% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Lights and electrics6% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Seats and seatbelts2% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
Known faults on the 2016 Kia Soul diesel
Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.
- All engines
Steering recall
Souls built between January 2014 and September 2015 were recalled for a steering fault that could cause loss of control. Odd noises from behind the dashboard can mean it hasn't been done.
At the viewing: Run the free DVSA recall check on the reg and listen for noises from behind the dash when steering.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2016 Kia Soul diesel
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Has the steering recall been done?
- Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2016 Kia Soul diesel as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Kia Soul?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
Every year of the Kia Soul compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2023 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2022 | 914 | Tyres 25% |
| 2021 | 2,237 | Tyres 29% |
| 2020 | 2,568 | Tyres 29% |
| 2019 | 1,002 | Tyres 21% |
| 2018 | 5,811 | Tyres 25% |
| 2017 | 5,017 | Tyres 28% |
| 2015 | 7,710 | Tyres 30% |
| 2014 | 7,807 | Brakes 31% |
| 2013 | 3,862 | Suspension 38% |
| 2012 | 4,785 | Suspension 43% |
| 2011 | 9,907 | Suspension 43% |
| 2010 | 8,597 | Suspension 45% |
| 2009 | 6,264 | Suspension 48% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Kia Soul cars first registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score