KIA Complaints

Engine blew at 175000. It is not one of the vehicles that is covered under the class action lawsuit but the vehicle itself just blew an engine after an oil change. One of the Pistons let go.

While I was driving, the check engine light, oil pressure light and battery light came on and my engine shut down in the middle of the road multiple times. Right before the lights came on my engine started making a weird noise that sounded like puttering. I used a car scan tool that showed the camshaft senser B needed to be replaced. We replaced it and the issue wasn't resolved. I then checked online for any recalls and there is a recall SC210 that describes the exact issue I'm having. This recall should be reinvestigated. I will be calling the KIA Roadside Assistance number to have this fixed.

Vehicle Information: 2014 Kia Soul (Base Model) VIN: [XXX] Approx. Mileage at Failure:91,000 Incident Date: [XXX] Complaint: On [XXX], the catalytic converter in my 2014 Kia Soul failed. This follows the completion of recall SC176 on July 14, 2022, which addressed excessive exhaust gas temperatures caused by abnormal combustion conditions. While Kia representatives have claimed that SC176 is unrelated to the catalytic converter, it’s well understood that excessive exhaust heat can lead to long-term thermal damage to emissions components—particularly the catalytic converter. One representative even appeared concerned about the implications of SC176 during a phone call, before quickly changing direction. I believe this catalytic converter failure is a delayed consequence of the issue SC176 was meant to address, especially since the converter is part of the affected exhaust system. This failure not only poses a financial burden—since it falls outside the federal emissions warranty—but may also reflect a broader issue that other 2014 Soul owners could face. The component failed resulting in immediate loss of power on a US interstate highway. I’m requesting NHTSA investigate whether catalytic converter failures like mine are in fact related to the defect addressed in SC176 and whether Kia should be required to offer further coverage or corrective action. Additional Information: I can provide documentation upon request, including: •Receipts showing consistent oil changes and routine maintenance •Service records for all recall work performed on the vehicle, including SC176 (completed on 7/14/22) •A repair invoice for the catalytic converter failure (currently pending — my vehicle is still at the service department as of today, 4/16/25) •A timeline of communications with Kia Customer Care Please let me know if any of these are needed to support further investigation. I’ll gladly provide them once available INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was involved in a fatal head-on collision with a pedestrian while driving my Kia EV6. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist : The FCA system appears to have completely failed. It did not detect the pedestrian, did not provide any audible or visual warnings, and did not initiate automatic emergency braking prior to the collision. Airbag System: The system failed to deploy despite a severe head-on collision. Regarding availability for inspection: The car was impounded by the SDPD and was inspected by both the police and State Farm before being sold to SF after being rendered a total loss. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My Safety: The failure of the airbags to deploy put me at significant risk of serious injury or death in the severe head-on collision. The Safety of Others: While the primary consequence of the FCA failure was the tragic impact with the pedestrian, the malfunction of a safety system designed to prevent or mitigate collisions inherently puts all potential road users at risk. Had the FCA functioned correctly, the collision might have been avoided entirely or the impact speed significantly reduced, potentially altering the outcome for the pedestrian. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No not to my knowledge. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? As mentioned above, the car was impounded by the SDPD and was fully inspected by both the police and State Farm. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? None.

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. The contact stated that there were no visible leaks. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to accelerate above 2,500 RPM. There was smoke coming from the vehicle. There was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update was needed. The contact was provided the cost for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

The contact owns a 2024 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a routine oil change prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Van Nuys Kia (6115 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91401); where it was diagnosed that the evaporator cooler and charcoal canister were leaking emissions. There was a small leak in the evaporator system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there were no recalls or warranty coverage on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the vehicle occasionally stalled while driving at various speeds. The failure had occurred four times. The contact stated that during the last failure while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact coasted over to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The contact was asked to provide proof of maintenance while the vehicle was being inspected, to determine if the engine would be replaced under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 44,896. Parts distribution disconnect.

The paint on the front of vehicle is peeling on both sides under the hood. The color is Glacial white

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal clicking sound while the steering wheel was vibrating. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the abnormal clicking sound was heard while making right turns. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

The engine started smoking and knocking really bad. Took it to the kia dealership and was told a piston o ring and gasket went bad because of heavy oil consumption that caused antifreeze to leak inside the motor while sitting still and this was causing the burning smell because the cylinder had gone bad because of this. The dealership states this was a known issue with all kias from this year and should be under recall. So I called kia because the car only has 80k miles and they informed me it's not apart of the open recall because it's a cadenza. What if I hadn't went back outside and seen the smoke and the car caught fire and burned my home down. It seems like kia knows all of these motors are bad and trying to keep it secret