2016 Kia Soul body problems

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Body · CA

My 2016 Kia Soul has under 47,000 miles, and is experiencing severe clear-coat failure across multiple panels, including the roof, hood, rear quarter panel, lip of hatch, tops of door handles, and both mirrors. The roof began peeling about 4 years ago, but over the past two years, before the weather was even warm, the clear coat suddenly began bubbling and lifting across the vehicle. There has been no collision or other damage in those areas to explain the deterioration and delamination. After seeing two other 2016 Kia Souls of the same color with the same apparent problem, I researched the issue and found approximately a dozen the federal safety agency complaints describing similar bubbling and peeling. This appears to be far beyond normal age-related paint deterioration. I also have a 1990 Subaru that has been sitting in my driveway, and its original paint remains fully intact. I think this may be a manufacturing or material defect affecting the factory clear-coat system and believe it warrants investigation.

Filed Jun 13, 2026 · Body · FL

UNKNOWN. See my statement below. I also have pictures I will upload. My vehicle is suffering from Severe factory paint and clear coat delamination on the vehicle's flat surfaces (hood and roof and now starting on the door handles and mirrors), resulting in total material deterioration down to the bare primer and exposed underlying metal sheet. This vehicle has been driven only 63,000 miles, has been impeccably serviced entirely at authorized Kia dealerships on schedule, and has suffered no accidents or body modifications. The factory finish has completely dissolved, exposing the bare structural metal of the roof and hood to rain and heavy humidity. This structural exposure presents an imminent safety risk of premature body panel corrosion, structural rust degradation, and potential panel perforation, which will compromise the structural integrity of the cabin and roof in a collision. Furthermore, this clear coat failure has been visually documented on multiple identical 2016 Caribbean Blue models in my immediate geographic area, confirming a widespread chemical bonding defect at the manufacturing plant. I have color photos I will uplaod of my vehicle sitting next to an identical 2016 Kia Soul, the same paint color, that has the same paint issues. That's when I first realized this must be a factory issue when the vehicle was manufactured. I have since discoverd many customers complaining on the Internet about the same issues with their 2016 Kias, proving once again this was an issue that happened at the factory but was never recalled by Kia North Amercia. I am in the process of writing Kia North America requesting a Goodwill paint job for my vehicle. I will be including all service records, vehicle registation, numerous color photos of the vehicle as well as a copy of the original sticker on the vehicle when I purchased it new. I am requesting that the federal safety agency you open a case concerting my issue.

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Body · PR

Kia Soul 2016 white color. The factory paint is peeling off completely.

Filed Aug 19, 2025 · Body · PR

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.

Filed Jan 31, 2025 · Body · FL

Paint peeling extensively top, hood, sides. Primer showing in those spots and rust beginning to show

Filed Nov 15, 2024 · Body · FL

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)

Filed Sep 27, 2024 · Body · CA

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.

Filed Aug 1, 2024 · Body · FL

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

Filed Dec 13, 2023 · Body · HI

Paint adhesion. Pearl white color coats flaking off in several parts of body.

Filed Jul 15, 2023 · Body · NV

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