2017 Kia Soul: engine overheating

Filed May 5, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · FL · fire

I reported the issue yesterday, but we have additional information. Here is a timeline of the incident as recorded by the doorbell camera: 2026-05-03 085400 Car parked 101423 Car is already trying to start by itself 101713 Car still starting, starter slowing down 101734 Starter sounds overheated 101740 Starter slows to stop 101835 First visible smoke 102304 Neighbor notices 102338 I was notified 102452 Used extinguisher 102600 Fire out 102744 Called the fire department 103600 Fire department arrives shortly after I have camera videos showing much of the timeline. I cannot upload because they exceed the limits of this form. Well over an hour after the car was driven, the starter engaged. It ran for almost 4 minutes straight as far as I can tell. In the videos we have, you can hear it seize up from the heat. About a minute later, smoke is visible. Had this not been caught in thte timely manner that it was, it would have been devastating. Here is a link to two of the videos. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 3, 2024 · Engine · FL

I was driving down a freeway after changing my oil when my car began backfiring, which was strange so I pulled over and checked my engine but I saw nothing wrong, so I went back to driving so I could get home, but as I was driving home, the engine made a loud clang and then the engine completely died. I had come to find out later after paying to have my car towed home that it had infact overheated, and blown a piston straight through the engine block.

Filed Sep 21, 2023 · Engine · 106,000 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted however, the failure reoccurred. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the alternator and determined that the catalytic converter was overheating. The alternator was replaced, but the independent mechanic declined to repair the catalytic converter. The contact was advised to consult with the dealer about the catalytic converter repair. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 106,000.

Filed Jun 30, 2023 · Engine · CA

The engine of my vehicle began to make a knocking sound while driving, without a warning. It was diagnosed to be due to a broken rod and excessive cylinder clearance, leading to faulty engine, that needs replacement. Yes, it is available for inspection. Due to being stranded off the freeway for over 4 hours, over 300 miles from home, myself and 1 other person were left stranded overnight without a vehicle. We had to pay for an unplanned hotel room for the night and U-Haul to tow the car back home. We did not drive the car further, because we were worried about the possibility of the car and engine overheating or getting worse. Yes, the issue has been diagnosed by a AAA mechanic and Kia service mechanic, who notified me that this issue is common among many other Kias. The Kia service department notified me that I need the engine to be replaced, and that they will not be covering the charges. Additionally, a new engine rod knock sensor has been made for Kias, and I was never notified to get the sensor installed. The engine failure did not lead to any warning lights and when the issue first occurred, I stopped driving the car immediately to not make matters worse. In addition, this vehicle has been maintained regularly (following Kia guidelines), and has only 59000 miles.

Filed Mar 16, 2023 · Fuel system · CA

My kia soul 2017 had a catalytic burnout in 2021. Looks like the recall till 2016 should have been extended to 2017. This still pose a danger to consumers with model 2017 and newer models for overheating catalytic .

Filed Jun 22, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

My cars check engine light has come on at 87,659 miles with a p0420 code. My dealer has determined that this is a defective catalytic converter and because of the mileage it is not warrantied. In doing research the 2012-2016 Kia Soul with the 1.6 gdi engine. My car is a 2017 experiencing the same symptoms as the cars a year older. The recall campaign is 19v120000 with the federal safety agency and SC 176 with KIA dating back to 04/17/2019. My cars model year being a 2017 had not been determined at that time to be effected as the mileage had not yet accumulated to the mileage of the previous years. Now that my 2017 car had reached the mileage in which previous cars where effected , it too is experiencing this defect. The safety issue lies in that when the car is driven it could overheat without any warning lights indicating that and overheating a cylinder, piston damage will occur leading to catastrophic failure that could launch a connecting rod out the side of the engine block and allow oil to spray onto hot exhaust manifold leading to a fire.I would like to see that the recall to cover added years (2017-2019) to this recall as this is a continuing safety issue. The dealership is not wanting to acknowledge and help in this matter so I am filing this complaint to document continuing failures to aid in extending model years covered.

Filed Nov 9, 2020 · Engine · 113,000 miles · TX

While at work, driving, and in acceleration, the engine would start knocking. On my way home, the knocking got louder. Half way home, the engine stalled out on a major highway and I had to coast the vehicle through en exit ramp to stop on a service road. Fluid was found leaking from under the vehicle. Having put the vehicle in a service shop, the mechanic advised that the rod blew a hole straight through the engine block. Said it was more likely from the engine overheating, but would not be officially certain. Mechanic later pulled me aside and informed me that kia had been having major problems with their engines blowing. He also advised me there was a recall situation going on, but couldn't be certain whether my vehicle was or would be included in that.