PITSTOP - INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION - RESTRICTED FUEL LINE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. Customers may experience an intermittent lack of power or hesitation upon acceleration. The malfunction indicator lamp may not illuminate or DTC P0087 may be stored (history). This is possibly due to a restricted low pressure fuel line.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Kia Soul cruise control problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 19 cruise control complaints filed for the 2016 Kia Soul, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Among the 11 model years of Kia Soul in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Nineteen 2016 Kia Soul owners report cascading drivetrain and engine problems. The most common complaint is catalytic converter failure causing sudden loss of power, limp mode activation, and stalling—sometimes repeatedly within months at 60,000–75,000 miles. Owners say Kia's recall for catalytic converter issues excluded their 2016 model despite identical symptoms to covered years, and dealers initially quoted coverage then retracted it.
Engine knock and rod bearing failures appear alongside abnormal oil consumption: owners report burning 2–3 quarts between 3,000-mile oil changes, finding metal in oil, and mechanics noting extreme oil buildup inside the engine. One owner's piston melted despite an oil change two months prior. Several report knock sensor codes and limp-mode activation but could not obtain repairs.
Acceleration problems span unintended acceleration (one vehicle crashed into a building after the accelerator pedal broke and stuck), loss of throttle response (pedal depressed with no response), and erratic cruise control. Brake pedals traveled to the floorboard in at least one case. Most owners report contacting Kia with no resolution; dealers frequently could not retrieve diagnostic codes or duplicate failures, leaving vehicles unfixed. One owner noted identical engine issues were recalled for 2014–2015 models but not the 2016.
Same Kia Soul cruise control reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Catalytic Converter Failure / Loss of Power
Vehicle loses power, enters limp mode, or stalls during operation. Check engine light illuminates. Multiple owners report catalytic converter failure, with some reporting repeated failures within months. Owners claim Kia recalls covered certain model years but not 2016 in all cases.
When: 60,000–75,000 miles; some reports under 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while driving; Vehicle downshifts unexpectedly; Limp mode activation with reduced speed; Vehicle stalls or shuts off; Check engine light illumination; Metal debris found in oil; Repeated failures (catalytic converter replaced twice within 4.5 months in one case)
Codes mentioned: Check engine code (specifics not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replacement; one owner reported $2,000–3,000 repair cost; one owner replaced converter twice within 4.5 months; repairs not covered under warranty or recall for some owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia catalytic converter recall exists for some model years; 2016 reportedly excluded from recall coverage in multiple complaints; manufacturer denied assistance in several cases; some dealers initially quoted coverage then denied it
Engine Knock / Rod Bearing Failure
Engine produces knock or ticking noises. Owners report rod bearing failure messages displayed, piston melting, and extreme oil buildup inside engine. Issues occur despite regular oil changes.
When: 30,000–77,000 miles; some early (at 30 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knock or ticking noise; Rod bearing failure message displayed; Loss of acceleration under load; Limp mode activation; Piston melting (confirmed by mechanic in one case); Excessive oil consumption (2–3 quarts between 3,000-mile oil changes); Oil dried up despite recent oil change (within 2 months)
Codes mentioned: Rod bearing failure message, Knock sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: One mechanic reported piston melted in engine; excessive oil buildup noted in another case; no repairs documented in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia contacted in multiple cases; no assistance provided; one owner notes similar issue was recalled for 2014–2015 models but not their 2016
Unintended Acceleration / Accelerator Pedal Failure
Vehicle accelerates without driver input or pedal depression. In one case, accelerator pedal broke in half and stuck. In another, vehicle accelerated while parked when AC toggled on/off.
When: Early ownership (30 miles); also at higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without pedal depression; Accelerator pedal breaks in half and sticks; Vehicle accelerates when AC toggled while parked (up to 4 RPM); Inability to stop vehicle (one crash into building reported); Vehicle acceleration during parking maneuvers
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle crashed into apartment building; another owner had pedal replaced or repaired (details not specified)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2014–2015 models recalled for breaking accelerator pedals; 2016 model not included in recall per owner report; manufacturer contacted in unintended acceleration case; no assistance documented
Loss of Acceleration / Throttle Response Failure
Vehicle fails to accelerate when pedal is depressed or accelerates intermittently. Separate from limp mode; some intermittent, others consistent.
When: Early ownership (500 miles); also at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal depressed with no response; Intermittent acceleration failure; Vehicle loses momentum when turning; Sudden loss of acceleration on freeway
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealers unable to retrieve fault codes or duplicate failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia contacted; no assistance provided
Brake Failure / Brake Pedal Issues
Brake pedal travels to floorboard and operates intermittently. One case reports brake pedal locked up during power loss event.
When: 500 miles (one case); also during engine stall events
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to floorboard when depressed; Brakes operate intermittently; Brake pedal locks up during loss of power event
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealer unable to retrieve fault code
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia contacted; no assistance provided
Cruise Control Speed Loss / Maintenance Failure
Cruise control does not maintain set speed; vehicle shakes at low and high speeds; engine light blinks.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control speed decreases below set speed; Vehicle shakes under 10 mph; Vehicle shakes after 40 mph; Engine light blinking
Excessive Oil Consumption
Engine burns or consumes oil at abnormal rates, even between scheduled oil changes. Owners report 2–3 quarts consumed between 3,000-mile oil changes.
When: Ongoing; 60,000–77,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops 2–3 quarts between 3,000-mile oil changes; Oil burns quickly (in 3 days after oil change, per one owner); Extreme oil buildup inside engine (noted by mechanic); Oil dried up despite oil change 2 months prior
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers did not investigate root cause in complaints; one mechanic noted extreme oil inside engine
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia did not address oil consumption issue in documented responses
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Kia Soul?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 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 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 76,000 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 94,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 76,000; a quarter make it past 140,000. 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/2016/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.