MOTOR BLEW UP AT 73,000 MILES KIA WOULDN'T UP HOLD WARRANTY SO I BOUGHT A SHORT BLOCK FROM KIA MOTORS HAD IT REPLACED AND IN LESS THAN 5 MIN OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND NEW SHORT BLOCK HAD ALREADY SPUN A BEARING KIA WOULDN'T UP HOLD WARRANTY ON NEW SHORT BLOCK EITHER SO I HAD TO JUNK A CAR I STILL OWED OVER 12,000.00 ON
2016 Kia Soul
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Soul years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Soul are substantially higher than the model-year median of 225.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Soul years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
362 reports with mileage · 448 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 555 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
555 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AS THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES, TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON WHICH RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (42…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AS THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES, TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON WHICH RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICART AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (4255 S. HAMILTON RD, GROVEPORT, OH 43125, (614) 836-5321) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,665.
MY CAR EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVEL OVER 50 MPH. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODE THROWN. BROUGHT TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 3 WEEKS DISCOVERED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED AND MELTED. REPLACED 90 DAYS AGO. SECOND IS NOW DESTROYED AND MELTED. WANTS TO INSTALL THE THIRD. SAYS MOTOR IS …
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MY CAR EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVEL OVER 50 MPH. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODE THROWN. BROUGHT TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 3 WEEKS DISCOVERED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED AND MELTED. REPLACED 90 DAYS AGO. SECOND IS NOW DESTROYED AND MELTED. WANTS TO INSTALL THE THIRD. SAYS MOTOR IS FINE, NOT RUNNING RICH OR LEAN. NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME AND THEY JUST HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THIS $3,000 REPAIR EVERY 3 MONTHS AS IT FAILS. VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CONVERTER BEING CLOGGED CAUSES IT TO SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. KIA SAYS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, JUST NEED TO KEEP REPLACING THE CONVERTER EVERY FEW MONTHS. A CONVERTER RATED TO LAST 10+ YEARS. HIGHLY UNUSUAL. SPOKE TO OTHER MECHANICS AND THEY BELIEVED THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CONVERTER FOR THIS REASON BUT MY BIN SHOWS NO RECALL. PLEASE HELP.
AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON A MAIN ROAD THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT LIGHTED UP. SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE GOT LOUD AND SPILLED A LOT OF OIL ON THE ROAD. LOTS OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD A HUGE HOLE. LUCKILY THE OIL FUMES DID NOT IGNITE AS THE ENGINE WAS NOT TO HOT, BECAUSE THE DRIVE JUST STARTED SOME M…
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AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON A MAIN ROAD THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT LIGHTED UP. SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE GOT LOUD AND SPILLED A LOT OF OIL ON THE ROAD. LOTS OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD A HUGE HOLE. LUCKILY THE OIL FUMES DID NOT IGNITE AS THE ENGINE WAS NOT TO HOT, BECAUSE THE DRIVE JUST STARTED SOME MINUTES BEFORE. WITH THE CAR WE BOUGHT A WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THE INSURANCE PAID FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WITH A USED ENGINE WAS MORE THAN USD 8.000. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE GARAGE WE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR A KSDS SOFTWARE UPDATE TO SENSOR AN ENGINE ISSUE WITH EXCESSIVE CONNECTING ROD BEARING DAMAGE. NOW KIA IS NOT WILLING TO IMPLEMENT THE EXTENDED 120,000 MILE ENGINE WARRANTY DUE TO THE KSDS UPDATE FOR THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING DAMAGE ISSUE TO THE SWAPPED ENGINE. HAD EXTENDED E-MAIL COMMUNICATION WITH KIA ABOUT THAT. KIA CLAIMS THE WARRANTY IS CAR AGE/MILEAGE RELATED, NOT ENGINE RELATED.
AUGUST 28, 2020 I RECIEVED A LETTER FROM KIA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS STATING A RECALL ON A 2014 - 2016 KIA SOUL CONDUCTING SOFTWARE UPDATE ON ENGINE TO PROTECT THE ENGINE. GOT THAT COMPLETED AND SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WENT BACK TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WAS ASKED DID I GIVE A GOOD REVIEW FOR KIA AND THE GUY APPEARED U…
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AUGUST 28, 2020 I RECIEVED A LETTER FROM KIA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS STATING A RECALL ON A 2014 - 2016 KIA SOUL CONDUCTING SOFTWARE UPDATE ON ENGINE TO PROTECT THE ENGINE. GOT THAT COMPLETED AND SEVERAL WEEKS LATER WENT BACK TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WAS ASKED DID I GIVE A GOOD REVIEW FOR KIA AND THE GUY APPEARED UPSSET, ANYWHO AFTER THAT OIL CHANGE MY KIA STARTED TO RUN SLOW AND WOULD NOT ACCERATE TO THE NORMAL SPEED OR SEEMS TO STOP. ASK A MECHANIC AND SAID IT SOUNDS LIKKE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I LOOK UP INFORMATION ON KIA AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP IS CHECKING FOR OTHER THINGS. HOW DO I PROTECT MY CAR?
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (70MPH) , THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SHAKE THE CAR. THEN THERE WAS A BANG, AND SEVERAL PUFFS OF WHITE SMOKE, AND THE CAR DIED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, AND THEY TOLD US THAT A PISTON SHOT THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND DRAINED ALL THE OIL IN THE CAR. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD NEED T…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (70MPH) , THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SHAKE THE CAR. THEN THERE WAS A BANG, AND SEVERAL PUFFS OF WHITE SMOKE, AND THE CAR DIED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, AND THEY TOLD US THAT A PISTON SHOT THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND DRAINED ALL THE OIL IN THE CAR. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. QUOTED COST TO REPAIR 9K FOR A USED ENGINE, 15K FOR A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND SERVICED REGULARLY.*DT CONSUMER STATED FOLLOWING CODES FROM DIAGNOSTIC P0326, P0014 P0303.*JB*DT CONSUMER STATEDMANUFACTURER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT.*JB
2016 KIA SOUL 2.0L SERVICED REGULARLY RUNNING FULL SYNTHETIC. OIL CHANGED 10/1/2020, ON 10/19/2020 THE OIL WAS CHECKED IN THE MORNING AND FULL AT THAT TIME, ON WEDNESDAY 10/21/20 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - CODE WAS PO441 WHICH IS AN EVAP ISSUE, BUT CAR STARTED KNOCKING PRETTY BAD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. PULLED INTO GAS …
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2016 KIA SOUL 2.0L SERVICED REGULARLY RUNNING FULL SYNTHETIC. OIL CHANGED 10/1/2020, ON 10/19/2020 THE OIL WAS CHECKED IN THE MORNING AND FULL AT THAT TIME, ON WEDNESDAY 10/21/20 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - CODE WAS PO441 WHICH IS AN EVAP ISSUE, BUT CAR STARTED KNOCKING PRETTY BAD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. PULLED INTO GAS STATION IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKED THE OIL AND THE OIL HAD DISAPPEARED COMPLETELY, NOT EVEN REGISTERING ON THE DIP STICK. TRIED TO ADD OIL AT THIS POINT BUT IT WAS TOO LATE THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD.
LAST SUMMER WE WERE ON VACATION, DRIVING FROM TEXAS TO KANSAS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED SOUNDING LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND CHECKED THE OIL. I NOTICED THAT WE HAD SPONTANEOUSLY LOST OIL. NO LEAKS OR ANYTHING. WE PULLED INTO AN AUTO PARTS ST…
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LAST SUMMER WE WERE ON VACATION, DRIVING FROM TEXAS TO KANSAS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED SOUNDING LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND CHECKED THE OIL. I NOTICED THAT WE HAD SPONTANEOUSLY LOST OIL. NO LEAKS OR ANYTHING. WE PULLED INTO AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND PURCHASED 3 QUARTS OF 5W-20 SYNTHETIC CASTROL GTX SYNTHETIC OIL, I ADDED THE OIL AND THE RATTLING STOPPED. NOW THE ENGINE AGAIN HAS DONE THE SAME THING AND NOW ITS IN NEED OF EXPENSIVE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS A PISTON ROD KNOCK DUE TO SPONTANEOUS OIL LOSS.
I WAS ON MY INTO WORK AND MY VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DONE ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD SOMETHING POPPED OUT UNDER NEATH MY VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. SOME SORT OF A ROD THAT MUST OF CAME OFF. I HAD THIS TOWED TO OUR COMPANY MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE.
I WAS DRIVING NORMAL AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE SHE HAD A LOUD NOISE AND NO POWER
Official recalls
219V120000 · Engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
Feb 22, 2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
17V608000 · Steering
Sep 29, 2017
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA21003 · Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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