2016 Kia Soul: engine failure

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · OH

As the original owner of this 2016 Kia Soul (approx. 124,000 miles), I am filing this safety and consumer compliance complaint for severe engine failure and a failure of manufacturer recall notification systems. On [XXX], my vehicle experienced severe power loss on the highway and extreme oil consumption. An inspection by an independent repair facility revealed catastrophic engine failure due to piston ring degradation, severe crankcase blow-by, and oil contamination of the exhaust system. The repair shop informed me that these symptoms directly align with known manufacturing defects covered under active safety recalls, specifically the federal safety agency Recall 19V‑120 and the Hyundai/Kia Engine Litigation II settlement (No. 8-18-cv-0223-JLS-JDE, C.D. Cal), for which my VIN is a confirmed match. On [XXX], I brought the vehicle to VanDevere Kia of Akron for evaluation. Service associate Jackie Mundri informed me I was denied engine replacement coverage, with Kia claiming I waited "too long" to address the recalls. When I escalated this to Kia Consumer Affairs and spoke with a representative named Cassandra, I was told it was my personal responsibility to proactively check for recalls. I have never received any notification via mail, email, or telephone regarding Recall SC176 or any other engine campaign. Furthermore, within the past two years, I paid out of pocket for major repairs directly related to these exact safety defects (replacing the catalytic converter and two brake lines), yet neither the independent shops nor the dealership flagged these open safety recalls during those services. By blaming the consumer for a lack of communication while failing to provide mandatory notice, the manufacturer is leveraging their own notification breakdown to evade responsibility for a dangerous, defective engine. I request that the federal safety agency investigate Kia's failure to provide proper notification and their refusal to honor safety obligations for a verified class-settlement vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Engine · 122,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under Kia Campaign Number: SC176 (Engine Control Unit (ECU) Logic Improvement). A compression test was performed by the dealer, and it was determined that the cylinder compression was low, which indicated an engine failure. However, the dealer determined that only the catalytic converter would be replaced because DTC: P030X was not retrieved. The contact stated that the service campaign repair was not adequate for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone but confirmed the assessment of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

Filed Sep 27, 2026 · Engine · CA

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)

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Engine · WA

My 2016 Kia Soul 1.6L GDI has an unresolved engine-related safety and recall concern. The vehicle is associated with safety recall SC176 / the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Sep 24, 2026 · Engine · CA

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 (the federal safety agency 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

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · Engine · GA

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

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

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.

Filed Jun 15, 2026 · Engine · IL

hello the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Jun 4, 2026 · Engine · CA

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 the federal safety agency 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 federal safety agency 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.

Filed May 9, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · IL

sudden reduced acceleration / limp mode while driving P1326 knock code potential engine failure / loss of power

Filed May 7, 2026 · Engine · 90,000 miles · FL

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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Apr 26, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · GA

I am reporting a safety concern related to the federal safety agency 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.