I bought a used Kia Soul plus sometime around 9/2018. I often heard people calling the "Hamster" cars so I wasn't too sure. This was the first time I was making a purchase on my own after being widowed after 30 years as well so I was nervous. I came to love my BLUE SOUL! It was just so fun to drive, roomy enough for my dogs, I have a son who is a big guy and he fit comfortably. I used it for city and only made one trip out of state in the 2 years I have owned it. Now it had one problem in 2019 which was a controller arm replacement that was done under warranty at the dealership. All good. So they have my information and I have in my innocence heard no problems or informed of any updates or recalls.

10/2021 I am going to pick up a friend who is visiting. As I am driving my car makes a small lag like when you tire goes over a speed bump and then BAM! It starts making a noise so I pull over. It can drive but my son says leave it and he can look at it later. My brother owns a KIA and states he had the same issues of the lag. Next day his car stops running! He takes it in and finds out they are replacing the engine. His car is part of a lawsuit for kia engines.

So as I am contemplating using the dealership or finding a mechanic who could do the diagnostic, I am cleaning my drawers out in the kitchen and in an older dresser used by a son who had just moved. In the drawer I find a letter sent that looks like an ad but I read it before trashing. It's an update that I have until November 15, 2021 to complete regarding a KSDS issue. I call them and ask that if my engine has this problem would they cover the cost. She says there is a possibility to cover the cost if it correlates but I would have to take it to the dealer. I call back and ask if they would tow it and Kia says no. The dealer will not tow either. I call again and check to see if they will do repairs, Again rep says it is up to the dealer to do the diagnostic and see if it is this issue, then they can do the request. So I get it to the dealer on November 11, 2021 by getting a tow truck to take it. On November 12 I get the call. They made the request and were denied because I didn't do the update. The service manager also tries a few times to get the approval and is denied. I am sent a quote of $7032.57 without a core or $5032.57 with a core from the dealer.

I called the customer service back asking how to appeal the denial. No appeal process. I escalate. Brittney repeats the same script. You had opportunity as we informed. You stated you have the letter. I explain I found it after the issue had already happened and by chance. Ask to escalate. Get a message machine. Leave message. I call the NHTSA number. Ask why they post recalls too as I check their site for recalls but no update items are posted. They say they have nothing to do with KIA and that I have to deal with them directly. Great. They give me a reference number for my contacting them and reporting my issue. I then call FTC. They tell me to file a claim on the website. Ok. So I then look at Better Business Bureau. The come across BBB Auto online. They handle Lemon Law she says. File a claim. Then I call the lawsuit line and ask if they have any direction for me. She says no as my car was not part of the lawsuit but will take my name and number. Run in circles.

So I begin researching and find that Kia was having to replace so many engines they begin putting in place restrictions that make sure they do not have to replace your engine even if it is due to this issue and that there is a current shortage of engines which makes it expensive. Vehicles have caught on FIRE (WTF?) and the owners were still DENIED any resolution. How is that even okay? The repairs aren't even worth it due to the vehicle being hugely depreciative and that repair is more than the vehicle worth. So your stuck with a shell basically and a part-out vehicle. GDI 1.6L engines are pretty much in the recall but GDI 2.0 L were in the updates.

I had no idea about this and was shocked after researching and getting a denial from Kia. As much as I LOVE my Kia Soul would I want to buy Kia again? I would say no. Only because as a consumer the inability to get a repair due to not having an update that I have until November to do but the engine has already fallen under this to replace or because I didn't know about the March to November window for updating, which included a $60 visa gift card too, until the issue had already happened with my engine. Or the fact that they give no recourse to appeal a denial decision. Or the blanket script they give without a care for the owners of the car.

I remember I had a Veteran Marine friend who said he would never buy a Kia. I asked him why not as they seemed to be nice cars. He said it was an awful name and to him meant KILLED IN ACTION. I wish he was here because he had no idea how right he was. When you have a 5 year old car become completely useless and the corporate giant hides behind a few words in a snail mail print to keep them from being liable for their defect. I am so sad about my Kia Soul. I really do love this car and I so want to get her fixed.

The KIA engine settlement should have included any car that had the engine or the issue. It left many of us open to the mercy of failed engines, some of us lucky to not have had our car catch on fire and others of us left with cars that depreciate to the point a repair is worth more than the car itself. KIA needs to do the right thing and allow for repairs. Horrible company to do this to people. My poor little Blue Soul... :(

Update from Jun 15, 2022: Update: KIA is using what they call "product improvement campaign" to avoid responsibility for faulty engine and oil consumption issues which include the metal shavings in the oil of my 2016 Soul. KSDS update is not a preventative measure but only a warning system. If you haven't done this update to which they only informed owners by letter they will deny you for issues with your oil having metal in the system and the engine failure which they do not warn you about in the letter. NHSTA does not post these type of campaigns only recalls so they are also part of the problem.

Even though I had metal shavings in my oil and the dealer tried to get the engine replaced they denied me. They offered to look closer if I could prove we had a KIA family. However, after showing the 6 vehicles my family have owned the response was I tried and it is still a no from the supervisor. One of these vehicles were under a lawsuit. My brother was able to get his repair without having to do the update. Same issue, same problems, same engine failure almost at the same time. His Kia Optima has been repaired. My engine is my issue since I didn't do the KSDS update. I tried many avenues but its a dead end for the 350,000 cars that seem to be affected by this. My 2016 Kia Soul is now part of an oil consumption class action. So hopefully Kia will be responsible for their horrible engine issues.

Update from Jul 7, 2022: Had diagnostic - Failure of vehicle is the engine, it has come apart internally (bearings) causing engine to fail and metal flow thru it, it needs to be replaced. This is the same diagnosis that was done back on 11/11/2021 for the vehicle.

Estimate:

Installation of engine cost is $2800.00

Engine and related parts cost is $3264.56 + tax (see attachment for break down of part prices) (engine core should be good) when you look at the quote that does not apply.

There could be miscellaneous gaskets and fluids that may be needed. We never know about those until we are doing the job. Normally they are not needed. This is an estimate only.

No explanation as to why engine failed.

The car had 40k miles on it. One night driving home it started to make some knocking noises. Within 2 miles, the sounds were like none I'd ever heard before. It was coming from within the engine. I limped home and had it towed to dealer the next day. They immediately diagnosed that the engine was bad. I had regular oil changes every 5,000 miles. They will replace the engine free under warranty.

Originally told me that there are no engines in the US. Next told me the engine is no longer in production. Told me they will need to send a top and bottom portion of engine and assemble at dealer shop. It may take 2-3 weeks to get the parts.

Not sure how they can get individual parts for an engine no longer in production. The replaced engine will supposedly have a brand new warranty with it.

They are providing a rental car in the meantime.