2016 KIA SOUL Complaints

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.

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.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 70mph the engine failed without warning. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the highway. When attempting to restart the vehicle the check engine light, oil change indicator light, and battery lights were illuminated on the dash. At this time thick, gray smoke quickly engulfed the vehicle and immediate surrounding area. The contact was able to safely escape the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealership and diagnosed with severe rod knock damage and missing piston. The dealership initially denied the claim due to “negligence” to respond to a recall notice which the contact attributes to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact did not receive a recall notice or contact from the dealer or manufacturer regarding this recall. The contact also stated that the vehicle was serviced at the same Kia dealership a few months prior and upon investigation found that the manufacturer and dealership were aware of the recall at that time and were required to perform repairs on all vehicles brought in for service but failed to perform the required software update. The manufacturer granted a one time goodwill engine replacement using PI2002 parts but denied all other costs and repairs attributed with the engine failure and the above mentioned recall. The failure mileage was 74,113. Photos and videos of the vehicle dash and engine smoke are available upon request.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 100,000.

I purchased my 2016 Kia Soul + on 1/2019 with 32973 miles on it. On 2/25/22 while driving on the highway my car suddenly and unexpectedly jolted and lost power. I didn’t understand what happened and when I looked down I saw the engine light flashing.I immediately pulled off the highway stopped and called the dealer.It had 53068 miles on it. They updated knock sensor but didn’t actually repair or replace engine. On 6/16/22 at 55,060 miles my car suddenly lost power as I was driving. I looked down and the engine light started flashing. I immediately pulled over and called a tow truck to tow to the dealer. It was a 100 degree day and I had to wait over 2hours for a tow truck. Suntrup Kia replaced the knock sensor again. No repair or replacement of the engine. On 9/3/2022 I had just got off the highway and was heading to meet friends when my car suddenly lost power and again the engine light started flashing and I immediately pulled over and called a tow truck to take to the dealers. It had 57,??? Miles on it. It has been at the dealers for almost 7 weeks now in dispute with the warranty company (I have 2 warranties) about replacing the engine. I’m told the piston rings are defective and caused scoring on the cylinders which caused oil leakage and excessive consumption. A known Kia defect that they have not issued a recall for. The Kia loyalty warranty is disputing with the dealer that they should have to fix it. The dealer disassembled the engine at the warranty company’s request. The warranty co. inspected it 2-3 times and seen that it was the piston rings. The dealer Suntrup Kia of St. Louis has the report. It is very unsafe to drive as I never know when it will occur again. Or if this time it will catch on fire. It occurred 3 times in approximately 6.5 months in all different conditions. I avoid driving on the highway and I get very nervous if a car is following too closely. I avoid having anyone else with me because this is an extreme life threatening problem.

The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact was unaware if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the contact stated that soon after the vehicle was repaired, while his girlfriend was driving at an unknown speed, the engine started knocking and shaking. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

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.