2016 KIA SOUL Complaints

About a year ago I got my car serviced for the recall that was due to a potential issue with the catalytic converter overheating. High exhaust gas temperatures could damage the catalytic converter, potentially leading to abnormal engine combustion, piston damage, and even a fire. As of today 4/22/2025 I was told my catalytic converter needs to be replaced. I first noticed a check engine light 12/20/2024 and I got the code read from my local AutoZone. The code came back my catalytic converter. After doing some research I seen an active recall which I described as above. I scheduled an appointment at my local Kia Dealership which is also where I go the car. They got me in 01/2025 to service the recall. Here i am just a year past the recall and I've been told I need a whole new catalytic converter which is going to run me just over $1300.

In order to complete the Recall SC176 on my vehicle, I am required to submit comprehensive maintenance records. Since purchasing the car used in 2019, all routine maintenance—excluding tires and brakes—has been performed by the original selling dealership. However, that dealership is unable to provide the necessary documentation. As a result, the Kia dealership handling the recall is refusing to perform the required repairs, citing court-ordered terms that mandate maintenance record verification. Despite extensive discussions with Kia, there appears to be no alternative path forward without these records. This situation leaves me with two unacceptable options: continue driving a vehicle with a potentially hazardous, unrepaired engine, or reduce my household to a single vehicle—an outcome that would create significant hardship for my family. Additionally, because we are currently enrolled in a debt consolidation program, taking out any form of loan to replace this vehicle is not permitted. The lack of access to critical maintenance records, through no fault of my own, is now preventing the fulfillment of a safety recall and placing my family at risk. I am requesting immediate assistance in resolving this issue so that the recall repairs can proceed without further delay.

engine rod bearing issues, check engine light is on due to engine knocking from rod bearing and i can't pass state inspection due to check engine light. when the check enging light is on the vehicle can only be driven at speed of 30m/h. took the vehicle to kia dealer at roosvelt ave, york pa 17404 and repaires denied under warranty

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal ticking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to a failure of the catalytic converter. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed of an undisclosed recall repair; however, the recall repair had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her husband was driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate until the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with internal failure in an exhaust manifold. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired, approximately every 2,000 miles the oil warning light would illuminate. The contact stated that recently the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

I have been having to put catalytic converter cleaner in my car to keep it running. The catalytic converter is bad more than one of them actually. I have also been having to add oil every week almost because it burns through oil so fast. I was on the highway today and my car went down to 30 miles an hour because of the catalytic converter problem.

I haven't had an incident happen yet but my 2016 KIA Soul with the GDI engine is excessively using oil to the point this time I had to put seven and a half quarts in between oil changes. I only have 79,412 miles on it, I mainly just drive it to work and back. The oil is not visible in the driveway, I don't see smoke coming out, I had some emergency oil light that I have never seen light up before come on two different times. I ended up taking it to KIA for an oil change and diagnostic test and they told me it had an oil leak at the oil pan, I had that fixed by someone else but that hasn't helped on the oil consumption. I took it for an oil change 2 days ago and had them make sure I didn't have a leak before they changed my oil and they said it was good. I have a friend whose 2015 KIA Soul caught on fire and blew up right on the interstate, she barely made it out of her car in time. I'm very uncomfortable driving my car now, it seems like I put oil in it just about every time I put gas in it now. I was wondering if my car would be added to the recall soon? Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

This was recalled on many kia souls except my VIN is not showing this recall yet I received a letter stating that the Catalytic converter were being recalled. I now have to replace my converter and reached out to kia as to why my veichle which is a 2016 kia soul is not included

The vehicle stalled on the Interstate. The engine seized and the oil came came out a hole in the crankcase. Fortunately the driver was able to coast the vehicle into the emergency lane. A Kia dealer diagnosed the failure as throwing a rod due to rod bearing failure. Per a class action settlement [XXX] ), the vehicle's warranty was extended to 15 years/150,000 miles to cover failure due to the connecting rod bearing. The warranty claim was denied because the vehicle had not received the KSDS update. However: 1) The vehicle was bought and sold by a Kia dealer at the end of 2023. As the KSDS update was available in 2020 [XXX] ), the update should have been installed by the Kia dealer before offering the vehicle for sale. The current owner purchased the vehicle in January 2024. 2) The current owner registered with Kia and pursued the anti-theft fix (Kia sent her a club). Kia did NOT notify her there were other updates that needed to be performed on the vehicle. Kia did not do due diligence to have the KSDS update installed, either when Kia was in possession of the car at a dealer or by notifying the new owner when she registered the car and sought updates. It appears Kia is intentionally not performing the update or notifying owners so they do not have to cover the repair under warranty. Functionality of the KSDS update would have lit the check engine light and entered the vehicle into limp mode before catastrophic engine failure occurred, thus avoiding the dangerous situation of a vehicle stalling on the Interstate. By withholding this update, Kia is endangering lives. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On 2/16/2025 I was on the Freeway when my check engine light came on and my car slowed down to 40 mph. I tired to get it to go faster and it did start to go faster but went right back to 40 mph. I got off the freeway as soon as possible. The car was towed to Kia dealer and was looked at the 2nd day after. I was told that it would probably need a new engine. They checked to see if the warranty was still good and I was told it was. When I came to pick up the car I was told it was fixed but that it would most likely brake down again and that Kia warranty would not fix it. I said to the service manager (so I am supposed to drive this car that is a safety issue because they won’t fix it and he said yes.). I still can’t believe that I was told to go ahead and drive my car!