10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 26
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 38,162 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a defective catalytic converter. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) which he linked to the failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
- Chillicothe, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was overheating. Additionally, the contact stated he smelled a burning odor and gasoline odor while driving and upon starting the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer was notified of the failure. The dealer upgraded the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. However, the catalytic converter was not inspected nor replaced per the recall remedy notes that stated that the catalytic converter would also be replaced if the catalytic converter was damaged. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred increasingly on highland roads. The check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that they could not assist as the recall repair had already been completed. The contact stated that he later diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed using an OBD reader. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact they could not assist because the recall repair had been completed. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
- Westby, WI, USA
I received a notice from Kia that my car was part of a recall affecting the engine. I brought my car into the nearest Kia dealership to me and they confirmed that my car had a recall in which they were to run a program and check the catalytic converter and engine. I confirmed before and after this visit that they checked everything and was told that yes they checked the catalytic converter and everything was fine and they updated the engine program that was called for by the recall. I have brought my car in atleast 3 times and never having any issue previously was insured that my car would be covered under the recall but that we had to essentially wait for the engine to fail before that could be done. My car has lost power suddenly on the highway twice since this program has been run. Every visit i was told that my car was safe to drive. The most recent visit - which happened less than 30 days from the previous one where I was told my vehicle was safe to drive - has resulted in me being told that my catalytic converter has suddenly become clogged and that -??my vehicle is not effected by this recall-??. The visit before no such issue was mentioned in fact I was only informed my engine had -??some codes and a few misfires-?? - again this was less than 30 days before my catalytic converter suddenly clogged. It is important to mention that this all happened with 6 months from the time the program was ran until today. I have the receipts of all of my visits to Kia. This most recent visit on May 19, 2022 in which I was told about the catalytic converter was the result of the second loss of power on the highway dropping from 70mph to 40mph suddenly and then continuing to decrease as I tried to navigate to the side of the road while traffic continued at normal speed around me; putting me, my child and others on the road at great risk of accident and injury. This is unacceptable.
- Kenosha, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 113,613.
- Ayden, NC, USA
Car stopped working bc of engine
- Bensalem , PA, USA
I have reported this to the Kia Dealer and it has done this several times now. They have not helped me at all. The problem is that when I go faster to pass a car or switch lanes on a 2 lane highway my car almost stops and then blue smoke comes out of my excaust alot of blue smoke. This happened again yesterday and it is very scary and very dangerous to me and my grandchildren. I noticed there was a recall f0r engine emissions and excaust system for catalytic converter in 2019. I did not receive any information on this recall. I looked the capaign number up for this recall it is 19V120000. Please check to see if I should have received a notice. My car is doing all of those things in the recall. I am 2nd owner of this car, Is it possible they sent it to the first owner. Please help me I do not feel safe in this car. The incident happened on May 21 2022, April 10,2022 Oct 11,2021 Aug 7,2021. Please help me and tell me how I can get this fixed to be safe.
- Bridgeton, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while his daughter was driving 45 MPH, she heard abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine and the vehicle started shuddering. The vehicle then stalled. The contact-??s daughter was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact met his daughter at the scene and drove the vehicle back to his residence. However, the vehicle would not exceed 22 MPH. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would not assist as the contact failed to complete the repair for Technical Service Bulletin: PI2002B. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
- Zion, IL, USA
My car suddenly caught fire. I am assuming it was the engine because the fire started under the hood of the car. I never received any information regarding a recall or a safety issue but when the Vin was checked by my insurance inspector the recall came up.
- Columbia, SC, USA
I keep my car very well maintained I get oil changes n filters every 3 to 5000- miles and supposedly this recall was done I have this problem now out of no where.. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR Recall Created: Feb 26, 2019 Owners Notified: Apr 17, 2019 Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR Recall Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia 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 and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure. Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire. Corrective Action: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176. Other Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov
- Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Catalytic converter stopped up. Unknown for the other. Took it to Kia place to get the recalls fixed and they denied fixing either problems and charged me 245$ to put my car back together.
- Geneva , AL, USA
Vehicle looses power. Sounds muffled and noisy. Engine knocking. Does not shift as it should. Engine gets hot, dash board got hot yesterday. Where is the oil going? No check engine lights. Started approx a month after I had the kia dealer do the computer update. Seems to occur with hills, Excelleration, when it has to work. I had a tune up, fluids changed, mechanic gave up. Kia said I had to take it to a kia dealer.
- Altoona, IA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 19V120000 (Engine, Engine, and Engine Cooling) for which the VIN was included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Nampa, ID, USA
Without any warning, while driving at night on interstate, MIL started blinking and engine lost power and was experiencing vibration. This is exactly as described would happen in KIA PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN letter I received regarding engine malfunction. KIA knew about this and abnormal engine oil consumption. We did regular maintenance and oil changes, even adding oil between oil changes.
- Dallas, TX, USA
as i was heading home from work, about 12 miles into road, vehicle started loosing power, and at it would turn engine off at stop lights, and it would turn back on, and started shaking and running under 40 miles an hour, the next day, warranty was able to tow it to the manufacture dealership service, the service adviser called and said it was the engine, its been three weeks and the issues has not been resolved due to warranty not wanting to pay for repairs.
- Jarrell, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil while driving. The contact also stated that the vehicle would stall upon depression of the accelerator pedal with an abnormal, banging sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective catalytic converter. The contact was then informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
- Hillman, MN, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The check engine and battery warning lights were illuminated and flashing. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was contacted and informed him he had failed to complete a software update. The contact stated he was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
- Murfreesboro, TN, USA
While trying to pass or accelerate at 55+ MPH, car would start to loose acceleration/engine power. Loud hissing noise from engine area. After taking car to dealership was informed that the Catalytic converter was damaged and now out of warranty by 8000 miles. Other 2016 Kia Soul models were recalled because of the same issue. But my model was not. This seems like an issue that should be covered/recalled. The car seems to be "burning" oil at a high rate. Full synthetic oil changes are showing a burning of oil at only 1000 miles, and oil is low at the 3000 mile oil change.
- Calera, AL, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the clutch pedal was vibrating. The contact was able to turn on the vehicle and drive a short distance before the failure recurred. The contact drove with the intermittent failure to the local dealer. The local dealer diagnosed the vehicle with needing the catalytic converter to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,836.
- Humble, TX, USA
Car continues to consume oil at alarming rates leaving the engine very low on oil and certainly causing damage to the engine itself. This has been an issue since I purchased the vehicle and I have had to be very vigilant on checking oil to prevent extensive damage/fire. however, there have been a number of times that the oil has been very low without any indication from the car that there were issues. just me being able to hear it. kia and car dealer matt blatt kia are extremely difficult. this is extremely unfair
- Galloway, NJ, USA
- Tulsa, OK, USA