2016 Kia Soul: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 7, 2026 · Transmission · GA

I paid almost 3,500 dollars and Kia kept my car two months and I’m still having transmission issues and now they are asking for service receipts. After I picked up my vehicle from the original transmission repair I was back in less than 7 days because transmission was roughly jumping in gear and shifting horribly with burning smell. The technician noticed the problem and immediately took my car to the back but they kept my car another 30 days saying that they did an update and now I’m stuck suffering with a struggling transmission. My mpg has drastically dropped on this vehicle to a 9.6 and that is not normal. I paid cash and Kia need to help me in any way. They are trying to wait until the 12,000 mile warranty runs out and leave me stuck and that’s not fair when I’ve been complaining since I picked up the car the second time but they won’t assist me now. My Vehicle experiences delayed transmission engagement, RPM increases without acceleration, hesitation, and loss of fuel economy. Dealer refuses diagnosis unless complete failure occurs. This creates unpredictable vehicle response and loss of power concerns. Transmission hard shifts and jerks violently during gear changes and acceleration, causing loss of smooth power delivery and unsafe vehicle behavior.

Filed Sep 15, 2025 · Engine · NC

Check engine light came on. 4 new engine coils and spark plugs. Carb cleaner in gas. Check engine light on again then while driving car jerked and check engine light blinking. Code 420 catalytic converter. This vehicle was under recall for same issue but was ok at time of recall. Was checked at Kia dealership u see recall time.

Filed Nov 4, 2024 · Engine · KY

Catalytic converter is clogged due to fast oil burning like other 2016 Kia soils involved in the recall. However my VIN isn’t accepted in the recall due to it being the + model but has the exact same issue. Make it unsafe to drive due to sudden power loss when going uphill. Yes an independent mechanic has recreated the issue and said it’s due to the fast oil burning. Problems began 6 months ago and have worsened. At first it was a very slight lack of power when accelerating. Now it completely jerks back when it’s trying to accelerate. Mechanic pulled a handful of dust out of the exhaust pipe. Over time this can cause total engine failure or fire according to mechanic due to excessive heat.

Filed Jan 19, 2023 · Engine · 140,000 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle was jerking. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the service engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the failure was due to the engine. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) and 17V608000 (Steering) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Oct 1, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · MO

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Cadalic converter we clogged due to carbon emissions. Oil is low and light flashes when below 15 mph even though the oil was changed at a Kia dealership less than 3 weeks ago. Oil leak is visible on engine. The car will also shake and jerk when driving. It would be available depending on the day. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My wife and kids have been stuck on the road twice now due to this issue during heave traffic. The car started shaking and my wife had trouble controlling the car. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The dealership said the issue was with the gdi (gasoline direct engine), that it was clogged due to heavy carbon emissions and needed to be cleaned. We paid for the cleaning and sill have the problem. They also stated they have seen this issue before. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes the dealership has looked at the car. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The oil light will flash on and off. So the engine like will come on at times.

Filed Jul 8, 2022 · Engine · 104,500 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH going up a hill and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started to jerk and lurch forward. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer and diagnosed; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure was recurring. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer for a second appointment. The dealer diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the contact stated that failure reoccurred and the vehicle had to be towed a second time to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that debris from the engine had entered the catalytic converter and determined that the converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,500.

Filed Aug 3, 2021 · 61,056 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the vehicle began to jerk upon depression on the accelerator pedal as the check engine warning light. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive the vehicle home. Upon startup of the vehicle the next day, the contact stated that an abnormal knocking sound was emitted from the engine. The contact called her independent mechanic who informed her that her vehicle may have been placed under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) and referred her to a local dealer. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer but was informed that her vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure but offered no further assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was 61,056.

Filed Apr 16, 2020 · Brakes · 41,277 miles · WA

This is an electric kia soul. I drove the car into the garage. Put it in park and turned the car off. I normally put the parking brake on. I opened the charging door but did not plug it in immediately. I took groceries into the house and returned for more. As I walked back into the garage it looked like the car lurched backward. It moved 2 feet back and would have hit the garage door if it was closed. Maybe it rolled and then caught itself and looked like it lurched backward. The garage is a nearly level concrete surface. I got back in the car. It was in park. I turned on the car to move it forward but before I did, I checked to see if the parking brake was on. It was not. I may have forgotten to place it on when I pulled into the garage. I could not recall exactly but I always put the parking brake on every time I park the car. This was scary because it rolled/lurched at least 2 feet backward. I did not see any error/alert lights that there was a problem. I have owned the car almost 2 years and purchased a certified pre-owned car from an authorized kia dealer with an extended warranty.

Filed Jan 6, 2020 · Engine · 73,567 miles · TX

While driving my 2016 kia soul going approx 60mph my car sort jerked like it was gonna stall but didn't stall instead flashed the oil light symbol several times and then the check engine light came on. I pulled over just in time for the car to stall on the side of the hwy and the car was making a rattle sound under the engine when cranked so I left it off. The next day I towed it to a kia dealership and was advised that the engine needed to be replaced due to a rod coming loose in the engine which would cost upwards of $6500-$7000. Which is half of what I owe the bank on the car upon doing some online research I see that well over 616,000 other cars like mines have reported the same issue and kia has recalled the 1.6 liter engine but not the 2.0 liter engine in my car. With all their cars having the same exact issue kia needs to recall all of these faulty engines and fix them free of charge. Further research stated that the manufacturer of these engines has had recalls of their engines in kia's and hyundai's since 2012 and there are several class action lawsuits from angry customers. Please issue a recall.

Filed Aug 12, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 79,500 miles · SC

On 8/4/19 I was heading to work when my car decided not to go anymore. I was at an intersection making a left turn when all of a sudden my car did not want to accelerate. I could not get passed 3000 rpms. Felt the engine rev up but would only go 30 MPH. At first I thought it was me, because the whole ride everything was smooth sailing and then this happend out of nowhere. So I gave it a little more gas and could feel the engine struggling. I came to the next red light and when I started to give gas it just jerked and I rolled into the nearest gas station. Immediately shut the car off and checked the oil. Because as I accelerated at the next light once green the oil light came on and kept blinking. I just changed it two months ago! There was no smoke or burning smell. No oil under car or any other fluid. I had to have car towed home, late to work because I got a ride in. Called the dealership and they wanted to charge me 6 to 8 thousand for a new engine once diagnosed. My car is out of warranty. There are 79,000 miles on it. I have been reading articles about the same thing happening to me. There is a recall for the exact same issues but for a 1.6l. Mine is a 2.0. Why isn't the manufacturer taking any initiative to look into my size engine when I'm having the same problems. I dont have 6 to 8 thousand for this. Please investigate. Please tell me I have some sort of chance of getting anything fixed at the dealership.

Filed Mar 1, 2019 · Engine · 45,000 miles · NV

I purchased my kia soul in february 2016. I've driven around 45,000 miles and really enjoyed it until the other night. Driving about 45mph on a major street when a loud screech came from the engine. The car jerked and I thought it was going to stall but it didn't. A loud knocking sound started from under the hood and the oil light flickered a couple of times. Drove about 1/4 mile to the nearest gas station. Added around 1 quart of oil since I saw the oil light flicker. I then drove home (about 5 miles) and the oil light flickered a couple of times on the way. The next day I started the car, the oil light was off but the check engine light was on. So, I drove it to the dealership (1.5 miles at the most) and was told I needed a whole new engine. I was quoted $4,000 to $6,000 for a used one and for a new one it would be substantially more. I've taken good care of this vehicle and have maintained and regular oil changes. Several of the oil changes were performed at an auto repair shop that went bankrupt. I have no way to obtain copies of those receipts. All I could supply the dealership was one receipt and they had one receipt in their service records. Therefore, no copies... No warranty. I can't afford the cost to repair it and I have no idea what to do at this point. The dealer will buy the car back for around $4,000 at best. Why is it that one minute a 3 year old car is running great without a problem and the next minute it's parked and in need of a new engine? Something isn't right about that and I am at a loss of what to do next.