2016 KIA SOUL Complaints

Car only goes 20 mph Engine knock Unsafe to drive I have multiple service repair documentation regarding engine knocking, oil consumption, unable to go above 20 mph. Car frequently goes into limp mode

Safety defect P1326 code is a known indicator of rod bearing wear. When it triggered, the vehicle immediately went into Limp Mode, creating a significant safety hazard. The behavior aligns with the documented defect affecting NU GDI Engines and is not consistent with normal Engine wear. I have confirmed the KSDS software update was performed. I have taken the vehicle to Clay Cooley Kia of Plano and my service advisor has confirmed that the engine is defected per the NU GDI Engine Settlement and related federal safety actions.

I can not gain speed. The dealership says it’s the catalytic converter and there is an active recall for this on Kia souls. They previously did recall work to my car but now the catalytic converters not showing as a recall

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shut off while driving on a ramp, and the vehicle coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle lost automotive power and stalled in a high-traffic area, creating a safety risk. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the vehicle was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

When car is turning a right, the car turns off. When car is parked & stearing isnt straight car wont turn on.

SUBJECT: Engine ? Stall ? Loss of power while driving: While driving normally, the vehicle began losing power and could not accelerate properly. The engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle repeatedly entered a reduced-power condition where it could barely maintain speed. The vehicle would stall while driving and then restart after sitting. This occurred multiple times over a period of time and progressively worsened. The engine also began consuming large amounts of oil between oil changes. Eventually the engine suffered catastrophic failure and would no longer run. A dealership later stated internal engine damage was present, including a failed valve and spark plug damage. The vehicle is currently at a dealership and available for inspection. The loss of power and stalling created a safety hazard because the vehicle could not maintain normal traffic speed and could have been struck by other vehicles. The problem was confirmed by a dealership service department. Warning lights were present prior to final failure and appeared during the loss of power events.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, while making a right turn, the right turn signal blinked extremely fast. The contact stated that while making a left turn, the left turn signal blinked normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

I have put my 3rd Catalytic Convertor on this car. It looses power going uphill. Which is not safe. Just had 3rd on replaced yesterday Feb. 9, 2026. The mechanic said there is too much oil going to the engine. Mechanic said next thing would be replacing the engine. Why does my 2016 not have a recall on the engine.

I paid almost 3,500 dollars and Kia kept my car two months and I’m still having transmission issues and now they are asking for service receipts. After I picked up my vehicle from the original transmission repair I was back in less than 7 days because transmission was roughly jumping in gear and shifting horribly with burning smell. The technician noticed the problem and immediately took my car to the back but they kept my car another 30 days saying that they did an update and now I’m stuck suffering with a struggling transmission. My mpg has drastically dropped on this vehicle to a 9.6 and that is not normal. I paid cash and Kia need to help me in any way. They are trying to wait until the 12,000 mile warranty runs out and leave me stuck and that’s not fair when I’ve been complaining since I picked up the car the second time but they won’t assist me now. My Vehicle experiences delayed transmission engagement, RPM increases without acceleration, hesitation, and loss of fuel economy. Dealer refuses diagnosis unless complete failure occurs. This creates unpredictable vehicle response and loss of power concerns. Transmission hard shifts and jerks violently during gear changes and acceleration, causing loss of smooth power delivery and unsafe vehicle behavior.

The vehicle is suffering from excessive oil consumption (over 1 quart per 1,000 miles) and a recurring P0420 (Catalyst Efficiency) code. This is a documented precursor to catastrophic engine failure and engine compartment fire in the 2.oL Nu GDI engine. The engine's oil consumption is poisoning the catalytic converter, causing it to clog. This creates extreme exhaust backpressure, leading to sudden loss of motive power (stalling) while driving. This defect poses an unreasonable risk of a high-speed collision and fire if oil comes into contact with the hot exhaust manifold. Due to current extreme winter conditions (-20F with wind chill), a sudden engine stall or seizure creates a life-threatening emergency. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle, as an engine failure in these temperatures could leave me stranded without heat in sub-zero weather.