NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Soul. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
Kia Soul Base 2016 owner took to repair under warranty on 12/02/22 for the second time the catalytic converter and oil change because the check engine light was on and a Kia technician update the codes. Today 12/22/22 the check engine light is on, driving in the highway it starts shaking and does not take acceleration it stalled without passing from 15mph putting my safety and the others at risk to cause an accident The power windows doesn't go up and when turn the steering wheel left or right the car is about to die and the breaks lights turn on and off working sometimes but flickering. The oil smells like gasoline and burns fast.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine made a knocking sound and then lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle coasted to the side of the road and was towed to the dealer. The dealer performed the recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure recurred. The dealer determined that there was sludge in the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but denied the engine replacement due to a lack of oil change records. The failure mileage was 82,858.
I purchased my 2016 Kia Soul 11/25/22 and on 12/15/22 my check engine light came on getting off freeway. While driving the accelerator wasn’t catching speed could’ve go pass 20mph making loud noises like transmission was slipping. The dealer towed my car from my Job. Dealership gave me an tuneup oil change and replaced engine coils. 2/7/23 check engine light came again and my car couldn’t do 15mph again and service department stated a need a new engine and it’s covered under warranty but every Kia dealership states they can’t Maintence my car until months advance and they can’t give me a loaner if they can replace the engine so I been missing work due to my Kia running bad and I only had it since 11/22.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 5 MPH. Additionally, there was smoke coming from underneath both sides of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then trailered to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter was clogged and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000. The contact stated that the failure mileage was 103,426. The vehicle has also been repaired.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 155,000.
Paint adhesion. Pearl white color coats flaking off in several parts of body.
Our car was sold to us not knowing about a recall. It was taken to a local Kia. The car dealership says they didn’t know. It’s already had a replaced catalytic converter and didn’t fix the problem. Our engine light, ABS light and a skidding light come on and off. No one will listen to us. We don’t know what to do next.
This issue happened with regular 3500 - 4000 mile oil changes. Oil burnt 100% away and the oil light indicator came on then and only when turning left. Filled oil back up. Oil Changed. Then oil burned away again. Same issue with oil light. This time the engine failed. The bearings are knocking and the engine needs replaced. Spoke with dealership, was told I should have got a software update and that would have placed a warranty on the motor. Never was I told, received mail or during an inspection was informed of needing a software update.
Catalytic converter failing on 2016 Kia soul. Was not part of the vin numbers for for original recalls. Has original catalytic converter
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the catalytic convertor. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the catalytic convertor had failed. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
The paint of the vehicle has just started to come off the car in chunks.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact then noticed a white cloud of smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the residence where an independent mechanic was notified. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the mechanic determined that there was a hole in the engine block. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she received the Manufacturer’s Recall: FC176; however, the manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was no longer applicable due to the contact’s failure to comply with the notice, and no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
On Sept 19th I took my 2016 Kia Soul in for a Full Synthetic oil change, cabin filter and engine filter changed, brakes replaced, new tires, all fluids topped off, and allignment. My car was running perfect no issues. Approximately 11/15/2022 I thought I smelled oil burning but didn't think much about it because I've never had problems with my car. Oct 20th my oil light came on and I quickly stopped and found their was very little oil in my car. I called Tire Kingdom and they said put oil in it and bring it in, and I did as told. My car didn't seem to have power and I looked down and then all the various lights came on the dash and then a huge amount of smoke came from the engine fortunately I was able to get off this busy Hwy. I had my car towed home and put water in the radiator in which went straight to the engine. The water did not puddle under the car it went straight into the motor. This safety recall describes in detail what could happen and that's exactly what happened to me. The dealership has had my car for 8 days and will not tell me anything. I called Kia motors and made a complaint and they said they would call me but never did. It appears the dealership does not want to repair my non running car in which I'm still paying for. Its a mess!! I am so disappointed in KIA East dealership and Kia motors. Please help me with this matter. I do have the itemized reciept from Tire Kingdom.
This vehicle, Kia Soul 2016, uses excessive oil, no matter what the manufacturer or dealers say. There is no reason to put 1 to 1/2 quarts of synthetic oil in this vehicle every week to make sure the engine doesn't seize. Severe manufacturer flaw and/or design with this engine.
My car has a recall and a class action suit. I had my Kia serviced on Sept 19th, 2022 at Tire Kingdom, to include a full synthetic oil change, cabin filter replaced, engine filter replaced, new brakes, and tires. On Oct 18th as I drove into my home the oil light came on. I checked the oil and it was very low. I contacted Tire Kingdom and they said add oil and bring it in on Oct 21st 2022 at 10:00 AM. After buying oil, I was driving to Tire Kingdom. I entered Hwy 582 and in approx 2 to 3 miles all the gauges came on and the temperature gauge was on High. I immediately lost power and thankfully I was able to get off the highway as smoke completely blocked my visibility. It was cold and rainy and very dangerous as cars flew by me and my dog. Finally, the tow truck came. My vehicle is currently at Kia East in Orlando and they are charging me 250.00 to diagnose my car. My 2016 Kia Soul Vin number [XXX] has several recalls and a civil lawsuit. I have taken very good care of my car and this is very serious. I do not feel that I should be responsible for rebuilding or replacing my engine. The recall describes exactly what happened to my car. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the previous owner repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) and 17V608000 (Steering); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, his wife heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000.
My car started making a ticking noise around 92k. I was afraid to drive it because of all the information id read on the KIA engines catching on fire. I had it towed to a local mechanic who wouldn't touch it and said I needed to bring it to the dealership because I'm still under warranty. I had my vehicle towed again which cost me over 400$ to a KIA dealership. They told me that the engine would need to be replaced but wouldnt tell me why. In fact they REFUSED to tell me why. After I demanded a diagnosis, they stopped responding to my calls.SIX WEEKS they held my vehicle hostage. I called Kia manufacturer customer service who made a call to them. The dealership tried every possible way they could to get out of fixing my engine. I went to the dealership to get something out of my vehicle but they denied me access. After I caught them doing something completely wrong (leaving my vehicle unlocked, keys in the ignition, and trashed on the inside) they decided they would fix my engine. I waited another 4 weeks for my engine to be replaced with a refurbished engine. They did not tell me it wasn't a BRAND NEW engine before they installed. Never even called me to tell me they were starting the work. The day they finished, I got a call demanding for me to pick it up or they would have it towed. Also, all 4 of my tires were "unrepairable and HAD to be replaced or I was in danger for my life if I drove it." I called kia customer service again. The dealership lied to me. They told kia customer service that they just needed to be aired up and the valve stems replaced..... on all 4 tires... very sketchy. After a very straightforward conversation with the manager, I had my car towed him. I'm terrified to drive it anywhere. I don't trust them with anything. They had my car a total of 3 months. I lost a ton of money on rentals and pain, disruption, and anguish in my personal and work life because of it.
I purchased my vehicle back in 2021 and I notice that the recall for the catalytic converter so I check my car reports and don’t see where it was replaced or service I recently went to get a check engine diagnostic and the code read p0420 which is problems with catalytic converter no one has been the owner of the vehicle since 2018 and I’m not sure if it was replace or replace incorrectly I shouldn’t be experiencing difficulties and I haven’t reached over 100,000 miles since the previous mileage @ the timing of the recall “fixture”
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 NHTSA 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.
I began having oil consumption issues with my car in December 2020. I took my car in for inspection and the product improvement campaign that I was notified about. Since that time, I have had my car in the Kia shop numerous times for increasingly worse oil consumption issues. They always claim the oil consumption is fine, even though when I check it there is a problem. Now I am being told my catalytic converter is clogged, but my engine is fine and my oil consumption is acceptable. The catalytic converter is clogged because there is oil leaking through my exhaust system. No oil is ever leaking from my car because there is no leak; however, it is burning through my engine and exhaust. This is causing my car to lose power when driving, which is a safety concern for not only myself and my children, but other drivers as well. Kia is aware of the issue and refuses to acknowledge a problem at the local shop or at corporate offices. I am filing this complaint so that in the event of any serious bodily injury or death to myself, my family, or other passengers on the road there is documentation regarding their negligence in repairing their faulty vehicles. Also, their solution was for me to trade my car in for a new vehicle.
During normal driving operation, the car makes a loud bang and the drive system shuts down. The dash lights remain on indicating that the main drive battery needs to be checked. I've had to coast to the side of the road each time as there is no power at all. When I shut the car down and restart it, it drives normally. This happens at least once a week. I try to drive the car only in low traffic conditions. This has happened in places where I couldn't pull out of the traffic lanes and caused traffic to pile up behind me. I called the dealer the first time it happened and was told they didn't understand what it could be.
We purchased a 2016 Kia Soul in June 2022, in November 2022 while driving across a highway the engine started knocking, went into limp mood and suddenly stopped almost causing my daughter and her younger sibling to get in severe accident. We had it immediately towed to Edwards Kia in Council Bluffs to have a diagnostic test run, they came back and said it would cost us $8,834.02 for an engine rebuild/replacement and that our car was no longer under the extended warranty because PI2002B had not been done. They informed us that not having the update voids the extended warranty on the car, however we have not been notified as the new owners that this needed to be done. PI2002B is dated Aug 2020 and was revised in Jan 2021. H&H Kia of Omaha took possession of the car 28 Nov 2020 and had it in their possession until 17 Feb 2021. In that timeframe the notice was sent to the General Manager, Service Manager, Parts Manager, Service Advisors, Technicians and the Body Shop manager and it still was not performed by the Kia dealership. Because of this, the extended warranty that we should have been entitled to was invalidated. When we purchased the vehicle, the dealership did a 70 point inspection and ensured that there were no outstanding public recalls on the car before the sold it to us. I have attached all of the documentation from the dealership to include the Carfax report that stated H&H Kia had the vehicle from Nov 20-Feb 21. Kia dealerships have access to the Kia database and should have known if the update was required while they had it in their possession. The engine failed due to a known defect, and they are not willingly updating vehicles on the lots at their dealerships and voiding extended warranty that should apply.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 35 MPH and ascending a slight grade in the road, the vehicle stalled. The check engine and oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that her daughter was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light had been illuminated intermittently even after routine oil changes. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the gas cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
My engine is burning oil on the pistons and does not retain oil. I am having to top the engine oil off every 10-14 days. I went in to repair the catalytic converter, but I was told by the dealership that if I repair the converter, because I have a bad engine, it would be useless. The first warning sign was an H2O engine error that remains. My safety with a bad engine is put at risk with every drive. the problem has been occurring for over a year, and in addition, the brake lights in the front of the vehicle does not work, although it has been diagnosed.
Catalytic Converter kept getting hot, was at dealership for a recall on engine in May 2022, light kept coming on and off. October 3, 2022 broke down on freeway for the Catalytic took to mechanic spent $1200 for repair on Catalytic converter, oil and spark plugs, within a day kept burning oil, by Sunday, October 23, 2022 broke down on freeway again and engine fried and burned piston #2 - I have many receipts for oil changes every 3k miles, always keep car maintained and have a notebook for everything I have repaired. The headlights and brake lights went out a month ago and never did get the brake bar light replaced. The passenger window motor is shot and the airbag light is on. Currently, it's at the dealership parked and I am waiting for Corporate to give a go ahead to say it's a go to fix it, and I'm missing work and will loose my job without having a car. So I am asking why is my car not on the recall list if I am having the same issues as the recalled 2016 Kia Souls are having. I haven't had the car very long and I had a 2009 Kia Sportage LX that is still going over 330k miles it's way better than these Souls. They all need to be sent back to the dealership and destroyed. Shame on Kia Corporation for allowing these 2016 cars on the market and shame on the Dealership to sell me this car back in August 2019. People are out here struggling and only shows the Corporations stay strong and the little guys loose. What kind of crap is that? Why isn't my car on the VIN RECALL LIST? PLEASE TELL ME? I'M JUST LUCKY THE CAR DIDN'T START FIRE, BECAUSE IT BURNED PISTON #2
The catalytic convertor overheated and the car stalled. The part is still on the car and is currently available for inspection. The overheating of the catalytic convertor was an extreme safety risk because the car stalled on the expressway during rush hour traffic. The posted speed limit was 55 mph. There was an extremely high potential for a crash to have happened. The check engine light came on right before the car stalled. Five minutes before it stalled, I heard a knocking noise from the engine. A similar event occurred on 1/20/2021. The car stalled as I was pulling out of my parking spot. The car was towed and the catalytic convertor was replaced on 1/21/2021. Both times the catalytic convertor was inspected by a certified mechanic.
Excessive oil burning engine stalled on the highway wont accelerate
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was shaking. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal cranking noise coming from the steering wheel. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the failure was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V608000 (Steering). Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 112,694.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine stall duo to faulty Piston rods. Probable cause of faulty Piston Rods is insufficient oil level. May also damage the crankshaft and cause the engine to seize. I have proof of oil changes on time and the car has only 92000 mile on it. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle may stall and shut off in the middle of the road unexpectedly which may cause an accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No
Engine stalled on numerous occasions causing no acceleration. Last incident occurred on highway at night resulting in a dangerous situation. Several months ago took car to service center that informed us of the oil consumption problem that Kia and Hyundai have been experiencing and to check the oil often. We have been doing this, but the oil light did not come on and no warning before having the most recent incident. We are very disappointed to know that this has been an issue with these makes for some time, yet there has been no recall to address this matter. We currently have one Kia and two Hyundais in our family.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH on the Interstate, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to veer to the side of the roadway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the engine was making an abnormal knocking sound. The contact was able to drive to a nearby gas station where she parked the vehicle. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle and verified that there was engine oil in the vehicle. The contact added oil to the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
Motor stalled while I was driving, steering wheel locked taking me to a ditch. No warning on the dashboard, no lights on. It only has 100k on it. My only car to get me where I need to be and I still owe money on it. I called Kia, they said they can’t do anything unless I take it there and paid their fees. That would mean pay a second toe truck, plus their diagnosis and then labor. The guy I talked to said I’m looking on about 12k to fix my car! I’m a single mom. It’s hard as it is now I have no car. Struggling to find my way to work so I don’t loose my job!
Had the car no more than 2 months. I’ve been forced to get multiple oil changes since. Today, while Driving on the interstate, the oil light comes on and then the engine light comes on. Car drops speed and locks. Cars and trucks barreling behind me. Definitely said my prayers. A Good Samaritan who also was a former Kia owner said this happens to kia owners all the time and it has a lawsuit against the company. Shaken, I Called the lot that sold. They said there’s been recalls and I’ll have to take it to the dealership to see if they’ll fix the recall. Called kia after getting home safe. Kia says I’ll have to bring it in to “see if it’s under the recall”. Now I’m with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and without the new car I just purchased.
Engine light flashed and then died. Engine failure. Left me, wife, child and uncle stranded on side of road
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that after turning on the vehicle and shifting into reverse, the vehicle turned off independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the Knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine service and the contact was informed to take the vehicle to a local dealer due to the vehicle having an engine knock. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated again, and the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Catalytic converter is bad
Our car has been plagued with engine and exhaust problems for the past two years. We were told there were no recalls on our model. According to this website that is not true. Today, while driving after over $7500 in out of pocket repairs the car gave an error warning for an engine issue. The engine is less than 3 years old.
My vehicle has around 138K miles, mostly highway miles commuting back & forth from work. The vehicle consumes engine oil very rapidly, after 1500 miles of a recent oil change. Had to top off the oil after checking that there was barely any oil left. There was no oil pressure light or any indication of low engine oil. Every week I have to check the oil levels to make sure there is oil still in the engine. This is a safety risk. Excess burning of engine oil can cause engine failure or worse.
VEHICLE STARTED FIRE. while driving we smelt a weird burning smell but went away we got off the highway and smelled it again but couldn't figure it out opened the hood and flame came up from back side of engine I was able to dump water on it and extinguish the fire then I noticed the cause of the fire the rubber strip under the hood towards back side of the motor somehow came off and fell into engine compartment laying across front pipe and exhaust manifold. Luckily no damage to vehicle
Check engine light stays on parts house said catalliconverter bad dealer said it's not covered car only has 112000 also said that the steering not covered now what
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.
My car started losing power without warning and I had to quickly move out of traffic before it shut down completely, at which point the oil and check engine lights came on. This put me in danger having my car stop suddenly on a highway. Kia states that the motor failed because of a recall and denied my claim because the recall was never repaired. However, I never received notice of recall nor is there record of such in NHTSA. This is a huge negligence in Kia’s part regardless of it was incorrectly fixed prior to my purchasing the vehicle as certified used from a Kia dealership or if it was incorrectly marked as done so I was never notified. Kia should be responsible for their faulty engine because I was never notified and no recalls came up when I searched my VIN number.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was difficult to start and remained running at restarting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the repair was not covered under recall and referred her to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
My car went out on me and was towed to the shop on Thursday 9/1/2022. I was told by the shop that I have been taking my car to for 15 years the catalytic converters were stopped up. I got online and looked up my car and found there was a recall issued on it. I never received anything telling me there had been or I would have taken it in for repair. This is what I found online.... MARCH 4, 2019 Kia is recalling 2012-2016 Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion, damage to the engine's pistons, and possible piston connecting rod failure. Engine damage can also stall the engine or result in an oil leak, which increases the risk of vehicle fires. I called Kia Covington Pike and talked with the service department and was told there was nothing they could do. I also talked to a supervisor there and was told the same thing and that the warranty had expired. I looked up do car recalls ever expired and this is what I found. When a manufacturer issues a recall for a car because of factory errors or faults, it fixes all affected vehicles for free. But what happens if you only learn that they recalled your vehicle several years after the recall announcement? You may be worried that the dealer would charge you for the repair since the recall was announced a while ago. Car recalls don’t expire. So according to this my car is still covered under the recall. Since Kia did not offer for me to bring it in and have them take care of the repair at no charge, I am asking when I get the bill for having my car repaired that Kia reimburse me for their error. I am writing to the Consumer Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation to file a complaint. This repair is costing me $1500.00 which I had to borrow from the company I work because I didn't have the money.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) regarding the heat shield for the catalytic converter, which, was replaced under the recall. The contact stated that the vehicle began to malfunction after the repair. The vehicle would jump and shift into gear roughly while driving at various speeds. The RPM was revving abnormally. The contact stated that it seemed as if the vacuum seal had detached underneath the vehicle, and the vehicle was making a whistling sound while accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the catalytic converter replaced since the recall was closed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.
I have been having issues with oil consumption since early fall 2022. I am the sole owner of my Kia Soul Plus and have had multiple oil consumption tests performed. I found out I had an oil consumption problem when my car shut off WITHOUT WARNING on the highway. Luckily this happened around midnight when there wasn't a lot of traffic. I contacted the dealer and they did an oil consumption test, which it "passed" because the dipstick indicated there was still oil in the engine. After the first one, I started to monitor my car and it seems like a little past the 1k mark does the dipstick indicate there's no oil. I've done like 3 tests with the dealer, and I think the last one that was performed I think they put too much oil in it. I say this because when I checked the oil -- when the car sat for awhile to cool off-- there was oil past the fill line on the dipstick. When I asked about it, they made it seem like I invalidated the test because I simply checked the oil. I was also told to not check the oil when the car has been sitting. So now, I check it at different times; when it has and has not been sitting (when I get gas). What ended up happening was the guy just read the dipstick right there in front of me, said it was fine, topped of the oil and said I was good to go. I think they did this the second time as well but didn't think to check the oil level then. I also noticed oil stains/residue on my engine cover and asked the dealer about it, but received no answer. It seems like the oil stains are getting worse -- more prominent. My car currently has 92k miles on it and have been trying to figure out the issue as this is a HUGE safety issue to me and my family. On multiple occasions I have found that my car has had low oil in it and carry oil in the back of my car just in case. After doing research, I'm glad to see I'm not alone but also that this is a known issue but I feel like the dealer is waiting for my warranty to expire before anything gets taken seriously.
The vehicle just shuts off while driving. I managed to get the car back home and no warning lights were on but the oil was bear with no signs of leaking and just completed an oil change less than 6 months prior. Once we filled up the oil, it had a clicking noise that sounds like a lifter problem. After diagnosis, it was found that cylinders #3 and 4 were rotting due to poor lubrication and required a full engine replacement. We opted to decline the repairs as it costs more than the value of the vehicle.
While driving, my car's engine simply died while driving and refused to start back, giving a battery light and the oil light on the dash. A local mechanic is assuming the issues seen here are related to a recall for this model's GDI. Thankfully I was able to safely push it into a nearby parking lot to be towed. That said, my only car is now out of service until the Kia dealer can look at it to confirm if it was related to the recall, about 2-3 weeks for this one