2016 Kia Soul acceleration & cruise control problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 12, 2026PAFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Whistling noise and problem with acceleration over 35mph and drifting uphill. Although VIN number did not appear on the listed recall, the repair work recommended and partially completed by Kia repair dealer points directly to the description of an oil consumption problem that includes the 2016 Kia Soul. Some repairs done at Kia XXX and some done at Scott Kia in [XXX] (where I reside). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint #11763808 · source
2. Filed Aug 24, 2026TXEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Incident Overview & Vehicle Record Vehicle: 2016 Kia Soul Purchase Date: June 30, 2024 (Purchased from AutoNation Plano as 2nd owner) Incident Date: June 19, 2025 (Stalled on road at 113,000 miles) Current Location: Group1 Kia South Austin (Towed on July 8, 2025) Diagnosis: Severe internal engine failure (rod bearing defect) Current Status: Warranty extension claim denied by dealership due to missing Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update. We are 2nd user and…

   NHTSA complaint #11759179 · source
3. Filed Mar 9, 2026TXElectrical SystemOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I can not gain speed. The dealership says it’s the catalytic converter and there is an active recall for this on Kia souls. They previously did recall work to my car but now the catalytic converters not showing as a recall

   NHTSA complaint #11723044 · source
4. Filed Jan 9, 2026COElectrical SystemOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The Instrument Cluster, the Speedometer and "NOW" the Odometer are not working--absolutely dead. "NOW" is in caps because to my surprise I noticed just recently that the Odometer is not working. In April 2021, after several weeks of waiting for the repairs to be finished, a Kia dealer, PEAK KIA in Colorado replaced the Instrument Cluster because of the faulty Speedometer. (This repair was done after several months of back and forth to more than one Kia Dealer about this…

   NHTSA complaint #11709908 · source
5. Filed Sep 19, 2025SCEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   2016 KIA SOUL- While driving, vehicle lost power, check eng light came on and vehicle would not accelerate, engine started making noise- pulled over and shut car off. Had vehicle towed to independent shop and was diagnosed with bad catalytic (manifold) convertor- they changed oil and filter and also found metal in oil, which I never experienced till this incident- upon research i found that there was a recall on that convertor, i called dealer, had towed there- diagnosed as…

   NHTSA complaint #11688407 · source
6. Filed Aug 19, 2025TXEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   Kia 2016 died in mid traffic, would not switch out of 1st gear as an automatic, on a major road in Texas, no warning lights etc. Could be Transmission or Catalytic convertor.

   NHTSA complaint #11681539 · source
7. Filed Feb 13, 2025NCDriver Assistance & Safety TechEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Cruise control doesn't maintain speed, speed decreases. Car shakes under 10 mph and after 40 mph. Engine light starts blinking.

   NHTSA complaint #11642399 · source
8. Filed Oct 24, 202477,000 miOHEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to accelerate to highway speeds. The vehicle continuously went into LIMP Mode. The message for rod bearing failure was displayed on the display screen. The contact used a code reader and reset the system. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The knock sensor message was displayed. The contact called…

   NHTSA complaint #11621695 · source
9. Filed Aug 16, 2024IAElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I have a 2016 Kia soul. Second owner. 144,000+ miles. For nearly a year my car has been consuming oil at an alarming rate. But I have no oil leaks anywhere. My dealership did an oil consumption test about 5-6 months ago and within 1000 miles, I was already below the half way line on my dipstick but the dealership told me I was still in range and sent me on my way. Fast forward a few months and I brought up my concerns again with my dealership and the oil consumption. I was…

   NHTSA complaint #11608995 · source
10. Filed Aug 3, 2024PAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise Control

    Turning off a highway onto a rural road & without warning my car would not accelerate. Turn off , let it cool, start up and only get about quarter mile until i lost power again. Had it towed to local garage & told its a blocked catalytic converter & very expensive. Kia says its not covered under warranty or recall so now its just been sitting at the garage for over a month while I pay storage fee until i save enough to repair it

    NHTSA complaint #11606227 · source
11. Filed Apr 27, 2024WAFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    The propulsion battery has so much degradation that when I drive on the freeway the "turtle" mode activated not allowing me to do freeway speeds with cars around me. It forced me to slow unsafely while cars were behind me, I had to react quickly to turn on my hazards and try to get the vehicle to speed up. If I was too slow or another driver was inattentive we would have been hit from behind by a vehicle going much faster.

    NHTSA complaint #11585566 · source
12. Filed Feb 21, 2024195,000 miAZCrashAcceleration & Cruise Control

    The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact was parking the vehicle when it inadvertently accelerated resulting in crashing into a store. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed and that the accelerator pedal was not accidentally depressed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where the insurance company adjusted the vehicle's exterior damage. The vehicle was later towed to Caliber to assess internal damages. The air bags…

    NHTSA complaint #11573135 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology