There are 19 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2016 Kia Soulin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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 convertor, was told covered one day, then called next and told it was not. Evidently, looking at reviews and complaints, there are many people driving 2016 kia souls that were not covered under this catalytic recall. Seems that Kia never fixed the original issue. Warning DON'T BUY A KIA- I have contacted Kia customer care, case [XXX] and they have said car did not have recall and are not giving any assistance. To edit, this is [XXX] vehicle INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Cruise control doesn't maintain speed, speed decreases. Car shakes under 10 mph and after 40 mph. Engine light starts blinking.
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
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 in the vehicle failed to deploy. There were no injuries and no property damage. A police report was filed. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.
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 the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle had a salvage title and declined to perform the service. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Engine and brake lights have come on. Engine knocks bad. Vehicles stall when pressing gas. Dangerous driving soecialy going through stop sign. Low power while pressing gas.
Car would not accelerate over 35 mph and started knocking had to pull over to let other vehicles pass. Turned around went back home a 1/2 mile checked alternator current, added 1/2 quart of oil. Started engine knocking continued oil was low again after running engine a few minutes. No smoking from exhaust, no oil in radiator, no dripping or leaking oil.
The car lost power suddenly while I was on highway I had a semi truck almost hit me it's the second time it's happened and I had to replace catalytic converter twice and I just got it back from Kia dealership in hurst tx it's still making the ticking noise I heard after they replaced the catylic converter the first time they also didn't look into finding out why my Kia soul is using so much oil it burns up fast like in three days from an oil change I'm almost out completely I feel like I would like it if you guys could give me a more reliable car I have a child and I can't keep losing all power while on the highway
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle went into limp mode with reduced speed. The contact stated that while driving approximately 73 MPH the vehicle decelerated to 43 MPH. The vehicle lost power and shut off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where an oil change was performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer; Kia Country of Charleston (2361 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29414, (843)573-2300) where the code was reset. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
My newly permitted driver was driving when after crossing highway my car all of sudden was halted to an almost complete stop. the motor stalled in the middle of the highway, thankfully no oncoming traffic was coming. I took the vehicle to mechanic and they said i could have a recall on catalytic converter, called dealership and they state that my car was not in the recall. However my car did exactly what the recall states. now i'm looking at anywhere from 2000-3000 to fix my car is only 5 years old with 75,000 miles. I'm a very dissapointed customer as i was looking to purchase the new telluride however I think I will stay clear from all Kia Products. Concerned Customer LA
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THEN STALLED AND TURNED OFF. IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND THEN LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IT BEGAN TO STOP ACCELERATING WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER FROM THE LEFT LANE AS CAR SLOWED TO A STOP AND THE BREAK PEDAL LOCKED UP. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON ANY MORE. AFTER MECHANIC INSPECTION, THEY REPORTED THAT A PISTON HAD MELTED IN THE ENGINE AND BECAUSE THE OIL HAD DRIED UP, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAD ITS LAST OIL CHANGE TWO MONTHS AGO.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT AT ABOUT 75 MILES AN HOUR ON CRUISE CONTROL. I WAS PASSING A SEMI WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR DOWN SHIFTED AND STARTED LOSING POWER. I QUICKLY HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS AND GET OFF THE FREEWAY. I CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER, BUT IF MY KID WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THAT HAPPENED...
IN AUGUST OF 2020 CAR WAS NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE, WHEN MAKING A TURN VEHICLE WOULD START GOING AND THEN LOSE MOMENTUM FOLLOWED BY A RAPID TAKE OFF IN DECEMBER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE TO TRIGGER A LIMP MODE PER KIA, AT THIS TIME ADVISED THEM OF THE CAR BURNING 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL IN BETWEEN 3000 MILE OIL CHANGES. JANUARY 28TH 2021 WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. VEHICLE CAME ON AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND ADVISED THERE WAS A POSSIBLE ENGINE CONDITION AND TO CONTACT KIA. VEHICLE CAME BACK ON AND WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WERE NO CODES AND AFTER REACHING OUT TO KIA THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED WITH NO CHANGES.
CAR BURNS OIL AND TODAY LOST ALL POWER TO ENGINEAND MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND WHILE IN MOTION ON TOWN STREET.
3/19/2019 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR LOSS OF POWER, WAS TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTOR NEEDED REPLACING, IT WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE WAS FIXED 8/5/2019 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR LOSS OF POWER AND SHIFTING, WAS TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTOR NEEDED REPLACING. THERE ARE RECALLS ON 1.6 ENGINE BUT NOT 2.0 ENGINE, AS I WAS TOLD, SO 4.5 MONTHS LATER I AN HAVING TO REPLACE THE CONVERTOR AGAIN. SPOKE W/KIA SEEMS TO BE A RUN AROUND, KEEP TELLING ME IT TAKE 2 - 3 BUS DAYS, AS OF THIS ITS BEEN 6 DAYS
AT FIRST THERE WAS A GURGLE THAT STARTED WHEN ACCELERATING. THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WHEN PUT IN DRIVE. FOLLOWING THAT, WHEN PARKED IF I TURN ON AND OFF THE A/C THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE ITSELF, I'VE ONLY LET IT REACH 4RPM BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO DOWN ON IT'S OWN. I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF OIL INSIDE MY ENGINE AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME TILL IT DIES. THIS PROBLEM WAS RECENTLY RECALLED FOR ENGINES A YEAR MAKE BEFORE MINE. BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE IN HALF AND SOMEHOW STUCK ON. [XXX] WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT JUMPED OFF A THREE FOOT WALL, RAN THROUGH A WOODEN FENCE AND HIT THE BRICK WALL OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING. DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE 2014 AND 2015 MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BREAKING ACCELERATOR PEDALS, HOWEVER THE 2016 HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (SPITZER KIA CLEVELAND 3414 BROOKPARK ROAD, CLEVELAND, OH 44134), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAVENAUGH KIA (LOCATED AT 3315 STADIUM BLVD, JONESBORO, AR 72404, (870) 802-4451) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026