2016 Kia Soul

Whistling noise and problem with acceleration over 35mph and drifting uphill. Although VIN number did not appear on the listed recall, the repair work recommended and partially completed by Kia repair dealer points directly to the description of an oil consumption problem that includes the 2016 Kia Soul. Some repairs done at Kia XXX and some done at Scott Kia in [XXX] (where I reside). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I own a 2016 Kia Soul 1.6L GDI with approximately 108,956 miles. The vehicle is consuming approximately 1/2 quart of engine oil every 1,000 miles. There is no obvious external oil leak. I am concerned about excessive oil consumption and possible internal engine damage. The vehicle also produces a very loud exhaust-type noise from the front of the vehicle when starting, which appears to be coming from the front exhaust/manifold/catalytic-converter area. The vehicle currently has no check-engine light. I checked the VIN through NHTSA and it shows zero unrepaired recalls. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and review whether these symptoms could indicate a safety-related defect affecting this vehicle or other Kia Soul vehicles with the same engine. It is getting worst and loud

My white paint is bubbling off and peeling down to the metal and it is all over and continues to do so more and more everyday. I am afraid to wash it for fear of having it all come off. It looks terrible and will really look ugly and value comes down quick enough on these cars as it is. It needs to be fixed or something. Can a lemon law be done on the manufacture or something? I still owe on this car and it will be really ugly in a month or so. Something needs to be done about these cars.

We would like to file a complaint and request a recall so that Kia Corporation is responsible to pay for a new paint job on our vehicle, 2016 Kia Soul. With Kia Corp, paint is covered under warranty for 3 years, however a customer would not know there is a paint adhesion problem within the first 3 years. The problem - Our paint is peeling off of the vehicle and started out of nowhere, no rock chip...nothing. It started as a bubble on the side of our vehicle and that bubble broke open and began peeling. We also have areas SEPARATE from the original area that just randomly flaked off with no bubble...just started peeling from the edges of the window, especially on top of the roof. No matter where it starts (and it continues to do so), it peels on its own. We have a white Kia and white (amongst a few other colors) seems to be an issue from KIA's manufacturer. Kia knows it. It seems the mfg used the incorrect paint adhesion product from the beginning, therefore it is peeling off. We've never seen anything like it. We currently have 77K miles on the car, but this started a year ago. We just had no idea this first, tiny area would turn into the entire car's paint peeling off. This is a manufacturing issue. The vehicle peels to the gray level first and then to a mustard color, so we are down to the original metal. This is all without us touching it at all. It peels ON ITS OWN. I have called Kia customer care to see what is wrong with the Kia Soul. The first time, KIA's customer care rep did not log it as a case number, so there is no record of my call. The 2nd time, calling on 6/15/26, I had to request to file a complaint so that a case number was created. I am now filing a complaint with NHTSA. Please see photos. Thank you for your consideration, [XXX] and [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Complaint Summary: Post recall catalytic converter failure on 2016 Kia Soul with 1.6L GDI engine (SC176 recall previously performed). Complaint Details: I own a 2016 Kia Soul equipped with the 1.6 liter Gamma GDI engine (engine code G4FD, emissions family GKMXV01.6DBE). This engine is part of Kia’s SC176 recall for catalytic converter overheating and thermal damage. My dealer performed the SC176 ECU software update in May 2019, but did not replace the catalytic converter at that time because the P0420 code had not yet appeared. In early 2026, my catalytic converter failed with a P0420 “Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold” code. My mechanic confirmed the converter was internally damaged. This failure is consistent with the known SC176 defect, where converters can be partially damaged before the ECU update and fail later. Kia and the dealer refused to replace the converter under the recall, stating that because the P0420 code did not appear in 2019, the converter is no longer covered. I was forced to pay $2,781.91 out of pocket for a new catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, and oxygen sensors. The diagnostic test was another $120 plus tax. This appears to be a case where the converter was already compromised by the SC176 defect prior to the software update, but the failure occurred later. I am requesting that NHTSA document this issue, as it suggests the recall remedy may not fully address pre existing catalyst damage and may leave owners with significant repair costs. VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: ~90,000 miles Engine: 1.6L Gamma GDI (G4FD) Recall: SC176 (ECU update performed, converter not replaced) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

March 22, 2026: driving through town when the engine started making an odd high pitched sound then lost all acceleration and had to get it towed back to my house. No indicator lights on the dashboard came on. March 26, 2026: my mechanic diagnosed it as a catalytic converter clog. 2019: vehicle was serviced at a Kia dealer for SC176 recall relating to catalytic converter failure. December 2022: Kia replaced the engine due to failure from metal shavings from the tie rod getting into the oil. In 2024 kia reimbursed me for the cost of this replacement due to a class action lawsuit for this issue. March 30, 2026: both Kia dealership and Kia phone line advised that my vehicle no longer qualifies for catalytic converter replacement since the recall service was completed in 2019.