2016 KIA SOUL Complaints

My white paint is bubbling off and peeling down to the metal and it is all over and continues to do so more and more everyday. I am afraid to wash it for fear of having it all come off. It looks terrible and will really look ugly and value comes down quick enough on these cars as it is. It needs to be fixed or something. Can a lemon law be done on the manufacture or something? I still owe on this car and it will be really ugly in a month or so. Something needs to be done about these cars.

My vehicle won't pass emissions test the SC176 CATYLIC CONVERTER I've exceeded the 3 per year Temporary tags and my vehicle is a recall due to no pass emissions test . My temporary tags are expired and I got a ticket

Incident Overview & Vehicle Record Vehicle: 2016 Kia Soul Purchase Date: June 30, 2024 (Purchased from AutoNation Plano as 2nd owner) Incident Date: June 19, 2025 (Stalled on road at 113,000 miles) Current Location: Group1 Kia South Austin (Towed on July 8, 2025) Diagnosis: Severe internal engine failure (rod bearing defect) Current Status: Warranty extension claim denied by dealership due to missing Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update. We are 2nd user and this defects is due to manufectuer problem not user. Kia never issued recall regarding this matter.

I am filing a formal safety compliance complaint regarding my 2016 Kia Soul (1.6L GDI engine) and a structural failure of the exhaust/catalytic converter system related to NHTSA Campaign 19V120000 / Recall SC176. The vehicle has thrown a persistent P0420 Check Engine Code (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold) and is experiencing unsafe driving conditions, including severe power loss and sudden engine stalling in active traffic. Authorized franchise Valley Kia of Modesto has refused to honor the safety recall framework. They have denied federal compliance by refusing to perform the mandated exhaust inspections, engine combustion tests, or hardware replacement under the open recall guidelines, falsely claiming prior software updates absolve them of replacing the failed physical hardware. Corporate Case #26299283 was opened on August 19, 2026, but the franchise continues to operate in complete non-compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards, leaving an active fire and stalling hazard unresolved.

My 2016 Kia Soul with the 1.6L GDI engine lost power. On 08/21/2026 at 107,547 miles I took it to Grand Kia, 1950 West 104th Avenue, Thornton, Colorado, repair order 137483, service advisor Patricia Palmas. The dealer performed a cylinder compression test and a leak-down test and documented on the repair order that the engine has scored cylinder walls, with cylinder number 3 identified as the affected cylinder. They also performed a rod bearing clearance test, which passed. They pulled down the exhaust to inspect the downstream catalytic converter and recorded that inspection as okay. They noted new spark plugs with no signs of fouling. Despite recording scored cylinder walls on their own repair order, the dealer told me the vehicle was fine and took no further action. No diagnostic trouble code was present. I was not given a written reason for the refusal, no technical assistance or Techline case was opened that I am aware of, and no engine inspection under any campaign was offered. I was charged nothing and sent away with a vehicle that has documented internal engine damage. This vehicle is within the population covered by Kia safety recall SC176 (NHTSA campaign 19V120), which covers all 2012-2016 model year Souls with the 1.6L GDI engine. That recall describes a failure mode in which the catalytic converter is damaged by overheating, substrate particles enter the engine combustion chamber, and continuous abnormal combustion results in damage to one or more of the engine's pistons, which can cause connecting rod breakage and puncture the engine block, allowing oil to contact hot exhaust surfaces. The stated remedy includes upgrading the ECU logic, replacing the catalytic converter if damaged, and replacing the engine depending on the extent of damage. Scored cylinder walls on a single cylinder is consistent with the damage mechanism that recall describes. The recall states there are no restrictions on owner eligibility. Nevertheless, no evaluation under SC176

The contact's grandmother owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his grandmother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that due to the failure and the outside temperatures, his grandmother was stuck inside the inoperable vehicle. The contact's grandmother sustained a heat stroke while waiting for assistance. The contact's grandmother was transported to the hospital. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where DTC: P0420 and P0302 were retrieved. The contact was informed that the codes indicated an engine misfire. While driving to Firestone, the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. In addition, the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); in 2021. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 59,242.

Engine block had been replaced due to recall and excessive oil consumption, but vehicle is doing this again. Local dealership refuses to give appt for oil check and is sending us 55 miles away. We’re told it will be about 1k to test it for fuel combustion and oil change before they can even test it. Replacement engine block failed to fix the issue and local Kia is not helpful.

My 2016 Kia Soul is a 2.0L Gasoline Direct Injection engine. 1 prior recall for Kia Souls have occurred, which is seemingly identical to my issue. Recall SC176 addresses Kia Souls with the 1.6L engine, and it just so happens my issue is the same. Kia also issued a response to knock issues with the Soul 2.0L MPI engine, the KSDS Campaign, where Kia rolled out the Knock Sensor Detection System software update (Campaign SC200) to monitor for connecting rod bearing. I have the GDI so this was not available to me. The catalytic converter is damaged from piston corrosion. The engine hasn't been properly powering the car to allow it to accelerate, nearing stall from stop, and when trying to upshifting. Power loss combines with a regular whistling noise, and occasional knock noise. Kia has been having similar issues with their varying Soul models. They have attempted to limit the scope of what fixes they'll provide, but clearly the scope was not broad enough. The first symptom of this issue occurred several months ago, at which point I made an appointment asap with Kia, the soonest of which was almost 2 months later.

Check engine light came on and car was out of oil even though an oil change was done about a month ago. Catalytic converter was replaced once already. Per mechanic excess heat caused out to leak catalytic converter needs replacing again and now engine is damaged as all engine oil leaks out where it cannot be detected on ground. Danger of fire according to recall sc176 and mechanic. Car was smoking so it has been parked for safety to avoid fire

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was started, and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was turned off to stop the smoking. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.