Used car guide

2016 Kia Soul: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Kia Souls, from 2,117 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,117MOT tests in 2025
78%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
6,200typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for braking performance

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Kia Souls than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Braking performance2.4× usual
    Kia Soul
    6% All 2016 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.8% of all 2016 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.3% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Kia Soul MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Brakes
    28% 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.

  • Suspension
    10% 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 electrics
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Steering
    2% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Looking at a Kia Soul?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022879Tyres 25%
20211,123Tyres 33%
2020872Tyres 32%
20181,966Tyres 28%
20171,694Tyres 27%
20152,555Brakes 31%
20142,593Brakes 33%
20131,284Suspension 41%
20121,565Suspension 45%
20113,189Suspension 45%
20102,719Suspension 46%
20091,917Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2016 Kia Souls registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score