2016 Kia Soul

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.

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.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. Upon further research, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the inside of the catalytic converter had melted, but there was no fire. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

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.

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.