This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
NHTSA - I own a 2016 Kia Soul that has a damaged failing engine; the problem is excessive oil consumption. This defect is causing motor oil to migrate into areas of the engine that it shouldn't be, thus inevitably causing a catastrophic failure; rendering the engine inoperable and irreparable. The oil pressure warning light came on only after the damage was done. Horne Kia in Gilbert Arizona, where I purchased the vehicle, inspected it and found this to be true. However Horne Kia and Kia corporate will not repair or authorize repair, respectively. I was told to continue driving it until the engine is completely destroyed in order to have it repaired...WHAT. So I'm being told that the engine will definitely seize-up and fail leaving me stranded; this is a safety nightmare. What if I'm driving on a highway when this happens. What if the engine failure causes me to lose control of my vehicle and cause who knows what. This not only puts me at risk, it puts others driving around me at risk as well; not to mention passengers that may be in my vehicle. Now there's gasoline mixing with the oil. Beside all of the aforementioned, now there's also a risk of engine compartment fire and loss of life.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact was informed by the dealer that the vehicle had consumed a rapid amount of oil soon after an oil change. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where he was informed that an oil consumption test and a top engine cleaning would need to be performed to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 91,326.
Check engine light came. Took it to my mechanic and diagnostics was done, and it showed code PO40 "?". That's when found out about a recall that was issued back in 2019, to prevent what happened to the catalytic converter in my car.
Traveling on the interstate five days ago, the vehicle (2016 Kia Soul) started knocking and I could not accelerate. Was able to safely get off the road and had the vehicle taken to the closest dealership. Vehicle has had significant oil consumption. Diagnostic test concluded ignition coil replacement was needed due to code P0302. Other recommended action was fuel induction service. I've read online these are short term measures that generally do not work and that the knocking, inability to accelerate, and the check engine light coming on will recur. Last November, I had the software patch PI20002B ECU update. Since February of 2023, I have had three incidents due to the known problems with the engine for this model year. Why won't Kia and the dealers simply replace the darn engine?
- Reston, VA, USA
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Kia sold me a 2016 Kia Soul that does not have "immobilizer" software. Kia's cheezey solution is a steering wheel lock. Of note, Hyundai is now offering software updates that install immobilizer function. Thought Kia and Hyundai are one company. So, I have a vehicle that can easily be stolen if I park it anywhere except in my locked garage. Thus far, no good solution from Kia nor from the dealership where I purchased my 2016 Soul. I bought this vehicle in good faith which now is crumbling.
Motor burns excessive oil; took vehicle to Kia dealership in October 2023. I told to get a full.synthetic oil change, and to return in 1000 miles to check the oil consumption. After an oil consumption test, if the vehicle is burning excessive oil, I told that my vehicle to my dealership to file a claim under the manufacturer's warranty to replace my motor/ engine needs to have a top engine cleanout at $500. If my vehicle fails this test, I am to return the vehicle to receive a new motor/ engine under the manufacturer's warranty. This is preposterous!
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to properly respond. The contact pulled to the side of the road. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty catalytic converter. The vehicle had not been repaired by a dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and filed a case for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
--Check engine light has come on and suggests the catalytic converter is an issue but there is also emission of excessive smoke from exhaust that appears consistent with faulty engine components --exhaust may no longer meet EPA standards of approval --problem has been diagnosed by an independent service center --dealer has referred me to THIS website but says to call back only if recall is confirmed by NTHSA --Check engine light appeared recently and I immediately brought it to independent service agent who stated my vehicle might be included in the broad recall and recommended contacting the Dealer which I have done and has referred me here.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
I have had a catalytic convert failure 3 times in 4 years. The first was repaired with the recall on may of 2019. It was replaced at a Kia dealership, with Kia parts. I had my vehicle at the dealership a month prior due to it not running correctly. The second replacement of the catalytic converter was on November of 2020. I was driving on the interstate very early in the morning when my vehicle slowed to 15 mph, no warning lights came on. I had several other vehicles come very close to hitting me. I was able to exit the interstate which took a lengthy amount of time due to my vehicle slowly losing speed. When I was able to pull over to a safe spot my vehicle quit all together. I had it towed to the same Kia dealership. They looked it over and found the converter failed again. It was replaced with Kia parts. I have taken my vehicle in once again due to it stopped running while I was at work. The same dealership has found that for the 3rd time my catalytic converter has failed. I have also replaced all spark plugs and coil packs on this vehicle twice in less than a year due to it misfiring. My engine is also somehow burning oil exponentially. This leads me to believe there is something wrong with my vehicles engine. I also believe something is wrong with Kia parts that they only last a little over a year.
I took my 2016 Kia Soul to Fredy Kia back in June because it had been misfiring and dying while driving. They said the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. I had taken my car in for the ECU update because of the possible rod bearing piston engine failure due to catalytic converter failure. They would not do a good faith coverage for the repair even though it was just over warranty and they have a massive settlement going for the rod bearing damage on engines and I am seeing massive talk online with other Kia Soul owners having the same issues with the catalytic converter. These cars are catching fire eventually and dying on the freeway. This is a massive safety issue and I cannot believe they aren't including the catalytic converter under it. Furthermore, the service manager at Fredy Kia liedto me and said I had to contact Kia Warranty about a good faith coverage for the repair. Today, I finally learned from Kia Warranty that it is actually the Dealers who makes that decision. I would have taken it to a different dealer with more ethics.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was making a rattling noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 99,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the catalytic converter and the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the remedy for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) had failed to prevent the failure. The engine was replaced but the catalytic converter was not replaced due to the vehicle being out of warranty. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 90,800.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a ratting sound coming from under the hood. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Pep Boys where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
My 2016 Kia Soul was part of the Kia Engine Recall. In reading about the recall it says that if the catalytic converter was also damaged as a result of the engine failure that it would also be replaced free of charge. Kia is denying my catalytic converter replacement siting it is out of warranty. But the Warranty and the Recall are two separate things. The Recall actually supersedes the warranty because it does not expire. Perhaps there needs to be a separate recall on the catalytic converter since Kia seems to want to weasel their way out of taking responsibility for their faulty engine components.
NHTSA - I own a 2016 Kia Soul that has a damaged failing engine; the problem is excessive oil consumption. This defect is causing motor oil to migrate into areas of the engine that it shouldn't be, thus inevitably causing a catastrophic failure; rendering the engine inoperable and irreparable. The oil pressure warning light came on only after the damage was done. Horne Kia in Gilbert Arizona, where I purchased the vehicle, inspected it and found this to be true. However Horne Kia and Kia corporate will not repair or authorize repair, respectively. I was told to continue driving it until the engine is completely destroyed in order to have it repaired...WHAT. So I'm being told that the engine will definitely seize-up and fail leaving me stranded; this is a safety nightmare. What if I'm driving on a highway when this happens. What if the engine failure causes me to lose control of my vehicle and cause who knows what. This not only puts me at risk, it puts others driving around me at risk as well; not to mention passengers that may be in my vehicle. Now there's gasoline mixing with the oil. Beside all of the aforementioned, now there's also a risk of engine compartment fire and loss of life.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud popping or banging sound coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering was inoperable however, the braking system was functional. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle off the roadway; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Gilbert, AZ, USA