On two separate occasions while in reverse after letting off (removing foot from) the accelerator and moving to the brake pedal the vehicle has significantly sped up as if the accelerator is still being depressed. The first occasion was the middle of the afternoon on an uneventful fair weather day while backing out of a driveway and entering a residential street. The second time was in a…
2014 Kia Soul cruise control problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 21 cruise control complaints filed for the 2014 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 11 model years of Kia Soul we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 21.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Kia Soul's engine and powertrain have serious reliability issues — owners report stalling at highway speeds, loss of acceleration, and fire events. These aren't minor fixes; expect expensive repairs and possible dealer denial of warranty claims.
Owners of the 2014 Kia Soul report widespread engine and acceleration problems that create genuine safety hazards. The most severe: complete stalling at highway speeds (75 MPH reported) and loss of electrical power, forcing owners to pull off live traffic. One owner and grandchildren experienced this after a Kia dealership performed recall work.
Acceleration failures are frequent and unpredictable — vehicles hesitate or fail to respond when the pedal is pressed, particularly at traffic stops and highway on-ramps. Multiple owners report dealers cannot reproduce the fault on subsequent visits, yet the problem persists. Uncontrolled acceleration in cruise control has occurred alongside engine overheating and knocking. One catastrophic case describes engine fire while the vehicle was engaged in cruise control on an incline.
Several owners report brake pedal becoming hard to depress while the vehicle accelerates unintentionally, including one incident where reverse acceleration slammed the car into a parked truck. Power loss limiting top speed to 35–50 MPH is persistent in some vehicles even after repeated repairs.
Check engine lights stay on constantly, tied to catalytic converter faults and engine codes. Owners cite rapid fuel consumption, metal shavings in engine oil, and intense engine heat. Dealership repairs — ECU upgrades, heat sensor replacement, catalytic converter work — often fail to resolve recurring problems. Kia corporate has denied warranty claims, citing expired coverage and lack of proper diagnostic codes, even when recalls apply.
Same Kia Soul cruise control reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling and loss of power
Vehicle stalls at highway speeds or traffic stops without warning, loses all electrical power temporarily, then restarts. Engine light illuminates. Owners report this occurs after catalytic converter repair or when converter heats up. One owner reports metal shavings found in oil indicating internal engine damage.
When: At 75 MPH on highway, at traffic stops; occurs intermittently throughout driving; reported as early as first use after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power while driving; Engine stalling at highway speeds and stop signs; Engine light on; Metal shavings in engine oil; Issue worsens when catalytic converter heats up
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (specific code not documented)
Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replacement; new engine required per dealership invoice but denied by Kia corporate
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall SC176 exists but corporate refused to honor it; denied engine replacement claim citing warranty expiration and lack of proper diagnostic code
Engine overheating and knockback damage
Engine overheats severely, produces knocking noise, and emits black smoke. Oil and engine warning lights illuminate. Owner reports recall SC200 applies; dealership failed to perform required ECU software update (KSDS) and denied warranty coverage despite prior approval for engine replacement.
When: After exiting interstate; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking noise in engine; Oil light and engine light on; Intense heat smell; Engine deceleration to 30-40 MPH max; Black smoke from engine; Engine would not reach normal operating speed
Codes mentioned: Oil pressure warning light, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Required towing; dealership cited missing ECU KSDS update as barrier to repair; owner required to pay out-of-pocket despite prior warranty approval
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall SC200 covers engine inspection and KSDS ECU software update; dealership misrepresented coverage and customer was denied warranty repair they believed was approved
Acceleration hesitation and delayed response
Accelerator pedal depressed but vehicle fails to respond immediately or at all. Hesitation occurs at stop lights, during highway merges, and while reversing. Check engine light typically illuminates. Multiple dealership visits unable to reproduce issue or identify root cause.
When: At zero or near zero MPH (stops and starts); low-speed reversing; occurring since purchase (Feb 2014) or early ownership; intermittent throughout driving
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed acceleration when pedal depressed; Vehicle fails to respond to accelerator input; Hesitation at traffic lights and highway on-ramps; Unsafe gap closure when merging into traffic; Check engine light illuminates; Occurs regardless of driving mode (Eco or Regular)
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (specific code not documented in most cases)
Repairs/costs cited: ECU module upgrade performed at one dealership without resolving acceleration failure; heat sensor and protector shield replaced at another dealership without resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No additional assistance provided by manufacturer after dealership diagnostics; one case escalated to Kia with case number 13175036 but no fix issued
Uncontrolled engine acceleration and RPM surge
Engine RPMs accelerate to high levels without driver input, particularly while using cruise control. Vehicle lurches forward and backward repeatedly, then slows. Engine revs to high RPM without shifting gears. One owner reports this event preceded by fuel odor from ventilation.
When: While cruise control engaged at highway speeds; at 48,897 miles; intermittent reoccurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control vehicle suddenly accelerates; Engine revs to 4,000+ RPM without explanation; Uncontrolled engine surge then deceleration cycle; Engine light and oil light illuminate; Abnormal fuel odor from ventilation; Extreme engine noise
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Oil pressure light
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership (Bill Doraty Kia) unable to diagnose or repair; failure recurred multiple times
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner referenced NHTSA campaign 15V123000 (vehicle speed control) but no manufacturer response documented
Brake failure with unintended acceleration
While reversing or at low speeds, brake pedal becomes difficult to depress or fails to stop vehicle. Simultaneously vehicle accelerates as if gas pedal is being pressed. In one case, vehicle accelerated in reverse hard enough to collide with parked vehicle; owner unable to stop it.
When: While reversing at low speeds; incidents in residential driveway and parking lot; at 4,000 miles; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal extremely difficult to depress; Brake pedal requires extreme pressure to engage; Vehicle accelerates while foot on brake; Unintended acceleration in reverse; Vehicle collision with parked vehicle due to uncontrolled acceleration; Failure to stop when braking
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (noted in one case, no specific code)
Repairs/costs cited: One case: mechanic unable to duplicate failure; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no resolution offered for intermittent brake/acceleration failures
Engine power loss and limp-mode operation
Vehicle severely limits acceleration and will not exceed 35-50 MPH. Engine light flashes or remains on. Power loss occurs across multiple gears in manual transmission. Owner reports difficulty pulling away from stops due to lack of power.
When: Intermittent throughout operation; some cases persistent; early mileage (2,200 miles reported); repeated occurrences even after repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Severe power loss across gears; Vehicle will not exceed 35-50 MPH; Flashing check engine light; Inability to accelerate from stop sign safely; Lurching acceleration followed by slow response; Slow acceleration relative to pedal input
Codes mentioned: Flashing check engine light, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Four dealership visits without resolution in manual transmission case; catalytic converter failure linked to power loss in one case; ECU upgrade performed without fixing issue in another
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia offered free oil changes and other items instead of vehicle replacement in manual transmission case; no solution provided in other cases
Engine fire and catastrophic failure
Engine seized and caught fire while driving. Vehicle emitted loud bang followed by flames engulfing entire vehicle. Gas tank exploded. Owner was in cruise control at the time on an incline.
When: While cruise control engaged going uphill
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knocking and revving hard; Loud engine bang; Entire vehicle engulfed in flames within 12 minutes; Gas tank explosion
Codes mentioned: No codes; catastrophic mechanical failure
Repairs/costs cited: Total vehicle loss
Check engine light persistent for catalytic converter issue
Check engine light remains on continuously and flashing, reading as catalytic converter fault code. Vehicle will not accelerate normally, limited to 35 MPH. Fuel consumption elevated. Issues persist after fuel treatment, octane upgrade, tune-up, and oil change.
When: Persistent; fuel runs dry within a week of refill
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on and flashing; Catalytic converter fault code; Limited acceleration to 35 MPH; Rapid fuel consumption; Engine feels forced under load
Codes mentioned: Catalytic converter fault code (specific code not detailed)
Repairs/costs cited: Tune-up and oil change performed without resolving issue
Intermittent starting failure and traction control light activation
Vehicle struggles to start, acting as if battery is weak or underpowered. Takes extended time to fully start. When running, traction control and engine lights illuminate unexpectedly. Vehicle may shut off while idling or driving. Lights require multiple off-and-on cycles to clear. ECM (engine control module) was replaced and problem persisted immediately after repair.
When: Upon cold start and intermittently while driving; at idle; early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Difficult cold start; Takes extended time to turn on; Feels like insufficient power from battery; Traction control light illuminates; Engine light illuminates; Vehicle shuts off while driving; Engine cuts off at idle; Lights remain on even after engine off
Codes mentioned: Traction control warning light, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced; ECM replaced (took one month for part availability); same symptoms recurred same day after ECM repair
Faulty accelerator pedal with risk of fracture
Recall issued for accelerator pedal that may fracture under excessive pressure. Owner concerned that she drove her young daughter in the vehicle for one year before recall notice, unaware of safety hazard.
When: Recall for 2014 Kia Soul model; owner leased vehicle for 39 months starting July 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Faulty accelerator pedal subject to fracture; Potential for loss of acceleration control
Repairs/costs cited: Free pedal replacement offered
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued offering free gas pedal replacement; owner disputes adequacy of remedy given safety exposure period
Cruise control disabling ESC and ABS systems
Cruise control randomly disengages. When it does, ESC (electronic stability control) and ABS (anti-lock brake) warning lights illuminate and systems disable. Owner suspects faulty brake switch as root cause.
When: During cruise control operation
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control randomly cuts off; ESC light illuminates; ABS light illuminates; Anti-lock brake system disables; Stability control disables
Codes mentioned: ESC warning light, ABS warning light
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2014 Kia Soul?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2014 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 4,000 and 113,000 miles, with the median around 78,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,000; a quarter make it past 113,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Kia/Soul.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.