general problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Soul - part 1

Dear kia customer care, I am writing to formally express my disappointment and serious concern regarding my 2016 kia Soul, VIN [xxx], its engine failure, the applicable engine recall/warranty coverage, and my experience obtaining assistance and repairs through kia. Most importantly, this situation involved more than an inconvenience or ordinary mechanical problem. My son's safety was placed at serious risk when my kia abruptly lost power and became disabled in high-speed freeway traffic. Xxx – dangerous freeway breakdown on Saturday, xxxx, at approximately 9:30 p. M. , my son, [xxx], was driving my kia Soul on the [xxx] from [xxx] toward [xxx], for his 11:00 p. M. Work shift. According to [xxx], the vehicle abruptly began losing speed and eventually came to a complete stop near the freeway median. The vehicle was left in an extremely dangerous position with high-speed traffic approaching nearby. [xxx] noticed that the check-engine light had illuminated. He repeatedly attempted to restart the vehicle, but it would not start. When [xxx] called me for assistance, I panicked because of the dangerous circumstances. My immediate concern was that my son or another motorist could be seriously injured. I contacted aaa for emergency roadside assistance. Because of the hazardous location, aaa contacted the California highway patrol (chp) to assist until the tow truck arrived. [xxx] was instructed not to leave the vehicle because of the high-speed traffic surrounding him. Aaa ultimately towed my kia Soul to kia cerritos because it was the closest kia dealership I could locate that offered an overnight vehicle drop-off. Xxxx – vehicle received by kia cerritos on Sunday, xxx, a service representative contacted me to confirm that kia cerritos had received my vehicle. I was asked what had occurred the previous evening, and I explained the incident in detail. Xxx information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Was driving car lost power of steering and brakes black smoke filled vehicle I jumped out of the car and it went up in flames . The vehicle behind me said the flames were coming out of my front engine.

My car is under 130000 miles and about two years ago I already had to replace one catalytic converter. The past six months the oil usage of my car, which has always been high and requires frequent topping off and more frequent oil changes at my mechanic, has gotten even worse. A check engine light came on a few weeks ago due to a catalytic converter fault. While car is still functional my mechanic expects the second converter will have to be replaced soon. These are all signs of an engine and system that is not functioning properly and could cause an issue at any time.

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.

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 1. 6l gdi has an unresolved engine-related safety and recall concern. The vehicle is associated with safety recall sc176 / NHTSA 19v120, which remains identified as incomplete in the vehicle’s recall records. Kia also sent a recall renotification stating that the recall had not been completed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized kia dealership after experiencing engine knocking, difficulty accelerating, and a no-start condition. Repair order #544458 documents the reported engine knocking, trouble accelerating, and inability to start. The repair order also states that the vehicle was towed out because kia techline declined the engine request due to related recall work not having been performed. The vehicle was released without the requested engine replacement or a completed resolution. The concern is that the vehicle experienced serious engine-related symptoms while an applicable safety recall was listed as incomplete, and the manufacturer’s authorization process did not result in a completed recall-related remedy. The vehicle was subsequently removed from the dealership. I request that NHTSA document and review this complaint, including whether the recall remedy and engine-related concerns are being appropriately addressed. The vehicle and supporting records may be available for inspection upon request. Supporting documentation includes the kia recall letter, recall verification, dealership repair order, and communications concerning the manufacturer’s review.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start immediately and lost motive power while driving. The contact was able to continue driving at reduced power. Additionally, there were abnormal sounds coming from under the hood, excessive engine oil consumption, and a plastic burning odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where the crankshaft position sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, kia store clarksville (826 e lewis and clark pkwy, clarksville, in 47129), where voluntary service campaign: sc334 (service brakes), technical service bulletin: sa485 (ecm logic improvement), and customer satisfaction program: cs2311 (theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector & decal installation) were performed. The failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the first dealer, who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had melted. The vehicle was then taken back to kia store clarksville, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter had melted, the engine cylinders were scored, and the pistons had failed; however, no diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) were retrieved as required for engine and catalytic converter replacement. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 19v120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 139,500.

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 engine long-block assembly suffered a catastrophic, terminal internal collapse and sudden stall due to abrasive substrate particle ingestion from a previously failed, melted manifold catalytic converter under safety recall sc176 (NHTSA campaign 19v120000). The vehicle has been extracted to preserve evidence and is available for immediate physical inspection. The vehicle suffered a complete, sudden loss of motive power and stalled while traveling at high speeds on a busy public highway. It went into an un-accelerated limp mode, creating an immediate hazard of a high-speed rear-end collision on the highway shoulder. Authorized franchise facility garden grove kia officially confirmed the terminal block failure under repair order #6238999. A diagnostic scan confirmed multi-cylinder misfires (p0300–p0304). A physical compression test confirmed a terminal drop to 59. 6 psi in cylinder 2, and an internal camera borescope confirmed a catastrophic internal cylinder 2 wall crash damage not sealing alongside a fractured spark plug tip inside cylinder 4. The dealership officially recommended a total engine replacement. The vehicle was inspected by a certified franchise dealer technician representing the manufacturer. A formal enforcement case has been opened regarding this vehicle asset and documentation file with the California bureau of automotive repair (bar) under reference case #669b-c5pdrp.

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.

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.

Hello NHTSA I have a problem with my car. Which kia Soul plus with 83000 miles on it. It have check engine light blinks with code p1326 which is knock sensor recall. I went to kia dealer at federico kia at wood river illinois they replaced the knock sensor. It show up back in 6 miles. I took it back to the dealer. They hold the car for one week. They said you got denied of engine replacement due to lack of maintenence. It have sevice records on carfax.

My 2016 kia Soul (1. 6l gdi engine) experienced a catastrophic, sudden engine failure while driving, preceded by check engine light code p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold). This exact failure sequence is the precise subject of active NHTSA safety recall campaign 19v120 (kia campaign sc176). Although the vehicle received the mandated sc176 preventative software update in 2019, the underlying mechanical defect was not cured. High exhaust gas temperatures caused the catalytic converter to degrade and fracture internally. The fractured abrasive substrate particles were then siphoned backward into the engine combustion chamber during normal valve operation. This caused immediate, severe scoring of the cylinder walls and piston damage, leading to total engine seizure and failure. This defect presents an extreme safety risk. Sudden engine failure at highway speeds causes an immediate loss of motive power, braking assistance, and power steering, significantly increasing the risk of a high-speed collision. Furthermore, fractured connecting rods or oil leakage stemming from this specific engine failure pose a severe vehicle fire hazard. The vehicle is currently held for diagnostic verification at kia riverside in California. I am filing this complaint because the manufacturer's 2019 software remedy was entirely ineffective at preventing the mechanical destruction of the engine and catalytic converter. I am requesting that the NHTSA hold kia accountable to fulfill the physical repair and replacement mandates of recall sc176 at zero cost to the consumer, regardless of the prior software logging.

The vehicle is burning oil. It creates residue in my engine which may make it dangerous to drive and ruin the catalytic converter, among other issues. I was first notified of this problem during my second oil change in 01/2026 at a kwik kar lube & tune, about 6 months after purchasing the vehicle in 06/2025. As of 05/2026, an oil warning lamp began to appear on the vehicle dashboard to notify me that the oil was low. I checked the oil stick, and there was burnt oil, albeit very little of it. I had gotten a full synthetic oil change, so it was not yet time to change my oil, but clearly this issue is causing premature oil loss.

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.

Sudden reduced acceleration / limp mode while driving p1326 knock code potential engine failure / loss of power.

I just bought the car one month ago, and while driving my 2016 kia Soul on a high-speed highway at approximately 98,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost power without warning. The engine stopped responding and the car could not accelerate. This created a very dangerous situation because traffic was moving at high speed and I was at risk of being hit from behind. I was driving with my son, who has a disability, and I was taking him to his therapy appointment. The sudden loss of power made the situation even more stressful and unsafe because I was responsible for his safety while the vehicle was failing in traffic. Fortunately, I was able to carefully move out of the main highway and exit the road to avoid a crash. I managed to reach a nearby auto mechanic shop, where the vehicle had to remain because the engine had failed and the car could no longer be driven safely. This incident represents a serious safety concern because the vehicle lost power suddenly while driving on a fast highway, which could easily have resulted in a serious accident.

I am reporting a safety concern related to NHTSA recall 19v120 involving my kia Soul. The recall identifies a defect related to catalytic converter overheating, which can lead to engine damage, stalling, and increased risk of fire. My vehicle is currently experiencing an illuminated check engine light and unsafe driving conditions. During service evaluation at kia of columbus, I was informed that my vehicle has a catalytic converter blockage contributing to these issues. However, I was also told that my vehicle does not qualify for recall repair because no engine code was detected during diagnostics. This is concerning, as the vehicle is actively exhibiting symptoms consistent with the recall condition, including a confirmed catalytic converter issue and an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp. Despite this, I was denied full recall coverage and instead offered a goodwill repair requiring me to pay 50% of the cost. I believe this situation represents a failure to properly apply recall criteria and raises concerns regarding customer safety, as the vehicle may be at risk for engine failure or fire. I am requesting further review of this matter and investigation into the handling of this recall by the servicing dealership.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the vehicle is a 2016 kia Soul 1. 6l gdi with approximately 83,000 miles. The vehicle experienced engine performance issues, loss of power, and stalling. A kia dealership diagnosed a failed/melted catalytic converter and reported metal shavings in the engine oil. The vehicle has not been repaired and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the vehicle stalls and loses power, creating a safety hazard while driving in traffic. A sudden loss of power increases the risk of being struck by another vehicle and makes it difficult to safely maintain speed, merge, or cross intersections. Because the vehicle is unreliable and may stall unexpectedly, I do not consider it safe to operate. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes. The condition was confirmed by an authorized kia dealership. The dealership diagnosed a clogged/melted catalytic converter and reported metal shavings in the engine oil. The dealership advised that the catalytic converter must be replaced before they would perform further engine diagnosis. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? the vehicle was inspected by an authorized kia dealership. Kia customer care was notified of the issue and reviewed the claim but declined assistance. To my knowledge, the vehicle has not been inspected by a kia field engineer, police agency, or insurance investigator. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? yes. The vehicle experienced drivability issues, loss of power, and check engine light illumination. Diagnostic trouble codes reported included p0420, p2191, and p2196. The symptoms progressively worsened and eventually resulted in severe performance issues and stalling.

The contact owned a 2016 kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and the engine made an abnormal sound. The contact turned off the vehicle to let it cool down. The vehicle was restarted and taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the catalytic converter and exhaust pipe had caught fire and melted. The mechanic performed an oil change and drilled a hole in the catalytic converter, and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the spark plugs were saturated in engine oil. The dealer flushed the radiator and performed a second oil change; however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who replaced the spark plugs but refused to repair the engine until the recall was repaired. The contact stated that later while coasting downhill in neutral (n) after adding a quart of engine oil due to no oil in the engine, he heard an implosion coming from behind the driver's side front seat. No warning light was illuminated. The contact unbuckled his seat belt and jumped out of the vehicle, fracturing his ribs. The contact suffered burns to his right hand, legs, left side of face, nose, and eyebrows. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled downhill, and there were flames underneath the vehicle on the passenger's side. The contact ran after the vehicle. The vehicle drove into the bushes and came to a stop. Two bystanders alerted the contact that there were flames inside the vehicle. The police were called and arrived, attempting to extinguish the fire with an extinguisher until it was empty, and the fire had restarted. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed and included with the fire department. The contact was transported to the hospital via ambulance an.

I had the oil changed on my car at a local tire and lube shop. Two weeks later I drove to vegas (7 hrs one way). While in vegas I started to hear a super faint clicking noise coming from under my hood, but no lights came on inside, so I assumed maybe it was nothing serious and would have it checked when I returned home 3 days later. On the way home (2 hrs from home) the clicking got louder. I attempted to pass some cars and, as I accelerated, the clicking got much louder and then I heard a loud clank and the car shuttered. I proceeded to pull over and got out of the car and saw small flames and smoke coming from under my car. A couple had pulled over with me and had a fire extinguisher which they used to put the fire out. Upon towing the car home I found a piece of metal hanging from a melted piece of plastic. I inspected it and discovered that it was a piece of a piston from my engine. There was also a puddle of oil and a streak of gasoline on the trailer that had come from my car. I experienced catastrophic engine failure. When the engine broke it punched a hole in my oil pan which caused a fire and burned a hole in my fuel line. I am unsure of what caused the engine to fail, but in seeing the recalls for the exact same thing happening to previously recalled kia Souls I figured I'd check it out to see if I may be included in that. No lights came on alerting me to any problems. There were no signs of leaking oil. Just clicking that got louder and then a loud noise and shudder and fire.

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 an abnormal, knocking sound would emit upon depression of the accelerator pedal as a check engine light appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where the diagnosed the vehicle with a defective rod knock sensor; he was then advised to no longer operate the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to a dealer where they discovered that engine rod#4 had become defective which led to engine failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 19v120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling) which he linked to his failure. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was already serviced for the recall prior to him owning the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in his possession. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

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.

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.

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.

Engine knock engine failure.

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.

Greetings, I have a base 2016 kia Soul manual transmission that I thought was under safety recall for its engine, but when I search it says 0 unrepaired recalls, when I look this up it does claim my vehicle had this problem, but I never had a dealer fix it, I did contact the one I got it from a couple of years ago and asked if my vehicle qualified for the recall since it already has 200,000 miles on it but they never got back to me, did they just claim to fix it, because it has not been worked on. Still runs great at 300,000 miles but if the engine has a safety issue that might catch on fire then I want to get it addressed regardless of its high mileage.

On December 4, 2025, I presented my vehicle to kia carriage of woodstock with the following symptoms: • continuous check?engine warning • rattling engine noise • oil leakage • strong burning?oil smell while driving these symptoms are consistent with rod bearing failure, a known kia safety defect covered under the extended warranty and ksds settlement. Kia’s own records confirm: • ksds update completed on 4/10/2021 • vehicle qualifies for the 15?year / 150,000?mile extended warranty • rod bearing failure requires full engine replacement under warranty despite this, the dealership refused warranty coverage and attempted to charge me $6,000 for an engine replacement, while also charging $300 for a diagnostic that did not resolve or address the safety issue. --- dealer misconduct and warranty avoidance kia carriage of woodstock engaged in the following misconduct: • refused to honor the extended warranty • returned the vehicle in unsafe condition • attempted to upsell me into purchasing another vehicle • sales manager admitted the car “was not pumping oil” and that this was “a kia problem” • still refused warranty repair this behavior is predatory, unsafe, and violates kia’s warranty obligations. --- consumer affairs contradictions and failure to escalate on August 11, 2026, I opened case no. 263276699. On the phone, a consumer affairs representative initially confirmed my vehicle is under warranty. After I referenced the denial letter I received, the representative changed her position and stated the rod bearing failure “is not covered,” citing a “multi?point inspection” from December 2025. A multi?point inspection does not diagnose rod bearing failure and cannot be used to deny warranty coverage. Consumer affairs has: • provided contradictory information • refused to escalate the case • relied solely on the dealership’s statements • failed to address a clear safety hazard this is unacceptable and requires executive intervention. --- current statu.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while shifted into park(p), there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed as needing a product improvement code before the failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that a rental vehicle was paid for out of pocket. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 19v120000 (engine, engine and engine cooling); and the contact was informed that the vehicle was repaired prior to ownership in 2020. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

I kept all of the maintenance records for the oil changes. The engine blew a piston and I will need a new engine. Driving down the road, it just lost power and died. Local mechanic looked at it and said I needed a new engine. When I began looking for a new engine, the cost would have been $3500. 00 plus labor. When looking for a used engine, the salvage person said there was a recall on the engines. I took it to the local dealer, said I was over the mileage. And would probably cost the dealer $9000. 00. The car is almost 10 years old. It was a good car. It was a standard, which should mad it last longer.

While driving my 2016 kia Soul on the highway, the vehicle suddenly began shaking and immediately lost power. The check engine light came on and the car would not accelerate, even when pressing the gas pedal. This happened with no prior warning. I had to coast to the shoulder in moving traffic, which created a safety concern. The engine then stalled completely and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to findlay kia in las vegas. Their technicians diagnosed a major internal engine failure. The repair report shows zero compression in cylinder 2, a cracked intake valve, oil contamination, and extensive internal engine damage requiring a full engine replacement. Diagnostic trouble codes included p0300, p0302, p0303, and p0326. There were no earlier symptoms, no overheating, and the vehicle has been properly maintained. The failure was sudden and left the car completely inoperable. I opened case #[xxx] with kia corporate. They reviewed all documents, service records, and the dealer’s findings. Although they did provide assistance in reviewing the case, the final outcome was not in my favor, and they declined to cover the repair. This is concerning given the history of engine-related issues and recalls involving kia Souls from similar model years, particularly involving sudden engine failure and loss of power. My vehicle remains inoperable at the kia dealership. The sudden loss of power while driving presents a clear safety risk. Based on my experience and the dealership’s findings, I believe this engine failure is safety-related and should be evaluated further by NHTSA. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).