2015 Kia Soul Engine

Owned vehicle for 1 year. On [XXX} the vehicle kept Stalling and wouldn't accelerate. Drove to service station. Had 4 coils and spark plugs replaced. Car was still not right- compression test confirmed engine failure. Had car towed to KIA dealer Matt Blatt rt 37 Toms River, NJ. Their diagnostic shows 3rd cylinder failure top engine. Class action lawsuit on engine failure coverage is for bottom engine failure. Regardless the entire engine needs replacement. There's thousands of these cars with both top engine and bottom engine failure- yet they will not assist in replacement. It seems ridiculous to know the engines are bad and only cover the 1 area- when the entire engine needs to be replaced Regardless of engine failure location. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2015 Kia Soul (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced sudden catastrophic engine failure: loud pop, knocking, and immediate loss of power. The engine has a hole in piston #2 and a hole in valve #3. This is a known safety defect included in the Hyundai/Kia Theta II engine settlement. My vehicle has KSDS update installed, but Kia and the dealership are denying warranty repair unless a specific code (P1326) or rod-bearing damage is found. The engine failure occurred without warning and placed me in danger. Kia's refusal to cover a known safety defect leaves an unsafe vehicle unrepaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Despite receiving official recall notices and taking my vehicle to two separate Kia-authorized dealerships, I have not been provided with the necessary repairs, putting both my safety and livelihood at serious risk. At both dealerships, I was told that the issues, including a clogged catalytic converter and a failing exhaust manifold, fell within the scope of the recall. However, instead of performing the recall work, they simply cleared the codes and returned the vehicle to me. As a result, I was forced to pay out of pocket for repairs that should have been fully covered under the existing recall. Most recently, my vehicle was diagnosed with a failing long block, which is also clearly part of Kia’s recall campaign. Yet again, I was denied the proper repair. The vehicle is currently undriveable.

Engine started running rough, took it to a shop and was told that oil has been going through the exhaust and has clogged up the catalytic converter. Advised the engine must be replaced. Contacted a second shop and was told the same thing. Have been advised this is the same failure as the current recall for 2021 to 2023 but ours is 2015 and isn’t covered. Looking for guidance. Thank you.

I am submitting this report regarding an ongoing issue with my Kia vehicle related to the recall for code P1326 (Knock Sensor Detection System / Engine Bearing Wear). The first time this issue occurred, Kia documented the problem and kept my vehicle overnight to perform what they referred to as an “engine soak.” I was informed that this procedure might resolve the engine performance and oil consumption problems. I was also advised that if the issue reoccurred within 15 years of vehicle ownership or before reaching 150,000 miles, Kia would replace the engine under the recall warranty. Recently, the same issue has reappeared, but Kia is now refusing to replace the engine, citing “gaps in maintenance” from the early years of my ownership. I explained that, at that time, my father performed all oil changes and maintenance at home to reduce costs, as I was a young driver living with my parents. Kia is requesting proof of oil or tool purchases from over ten years ago, which I no longer possess. Additionally, all vehicle-related documentation was left inside the car when it was stolen and broken into twice—incidents connected to the nationwide Kia theft issue that has been subject to another class-action lawsuit. As a result, I no longer have access to those records. During my initial visit, the Kia service representative, Jake, assured me that if the engine failed again and I maintained the vehicle properly, I would be covered for a full engine replacement. I have made every effort to comply with those terms, yet Kia corporate has denied my claim. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance in resolving this matter and ensuring that Kia honors its recall obligations and prior representations made to me as a consumer.

On the way back from Missouri to Oklahoma, while on the turnpike the engine made a clanking sound and lost acceleration power. The car shook some, luckily the car was able to steer of to the right side of the shoulder just before a bridge. Car came to a stop and would not start. It was snowing and a child was in the car. The closest person for help was 3 1/2 hours away. The hazard lights did work but the car was not started back up after the loud clunk and shaking. Was not sure what happened at that moment. Did not want any further damage to occur. Attempted to have the car towed closer to home was made. A decision was made to take it to the closes kia dealership. As we was trying to figure out what might have happened with the engine. We found there where multiple recall on the car. I was unaware of the recalls. 2 of the recalls are on the engine for piston rod damage. A family member whom is a mechanic believed that was what happened. I called Kia they confirmed the recalls were made. They said there was a fix. I never received the recall notices. They also asked me if I knew someone by the name [XXX] something. If the mail was in this person name but sent to my address. I would not have opened it or paid any attention other then sending it back with the mail man. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE VEHICLE IS BURNING THROUGH OIL AND NOW THE GARAGE I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO IS SAYING IT WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE SOON. ALSO I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was a rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The rattling sound also occurred while driving at various speeds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the engine would not be replaced due to the mileage exceeding the mileage limitation of 60,000 and other unstated reasons. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

Unknown. Even while the car was still under warranty And under 130,000 miles, it's needed the catalytic converter replaced twice already. It burns/leaks oil to the point where it gets bone dry but will still run just with lost power. Sometimes it has a loud raddle when you first start the vehicle, only for a brief couple of seconds but it could be the lifters potentially. CRANKSHAFT & cams throw codes,

Kia soul engines are known for burning through oil very quickly. the recall does not include my car because i have a 2.0L engine. The excessive oil consumption of my engine completely melted the inside of my catalytic converter. my car only has 106,000 miles, so this shouldn't be an issue. I had my check engine light come on, so the mechanic told me to use different gas and turned the light off. My catalytic converter being completely blocked and melted is directly related to the oil consumption of the engine. i had two mechanics comfirm this. I experienced a major loss of power, and inability to accelerate normally, which can be very dangerous. I was trying to accelerate uphill on a road with little shoulder space or many places to turn around, and my car STOPPED and the check engine light started blinking. Very unsafe, if my car won't let me accelerate and i come to an unexpected dead stop, it could cause accidents. I can't believe my car isn't included in the recall, it has the same issues as the 1.6L engine. I now have to put out thousands to get my catalytic converter replaced, and with the engine burning oil, it'll ruin a new catalytic converter faster than normal.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking and ticking sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that while slowing down to come to a stop, the engine sounded very weak, as if the vehicle was going to shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, and that the catalytic convertor, knock sensor, and the exhaust gasket were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 101,725.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The engine misfired and the transmission shuttered. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed catalytic converter. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

On April 24, 2022, while driving my 2015 Kia Soul, the vehicle suddenly caught fire. The fire originated in the engine compartment and destroyed the vehicle. This occurred despite the existence of a known safety recall related to the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), which has been linked to engine fires in Kia vehicles. Following the incident, Kia America declined responsibility, and a joint investigation attempt by my insurer, USAA, was ignored. Kia proceeded with an independent investigation and later concluded that the cause was “undetermined” and that the fire originated in the engine compartment but could not determine the cause, which was likely due to the severe fire damage, per their own report. I have since been informed that USAA pursued subrogation against Kia, contrary to Kia’s recent claims. A letter of preservation was also sent to USAA following the incident to ensure the vehicle would remain in its post-fire condition. This was done to safeguard the integrity of the vehicle for investigative purposes. Following Kia’s refusal to assist, I was advised to explore reimbursement through other means, including the ongoing class action settlement related to this engine defect. I submitted a claim through that process but was ultimately denied due to a lack of “proof” that the fire was caused by the recall. However, my vehicle was so severely damaged in the fire that no conclusive cause could be determined , a point even Kia acknowledged in their own post-fire report, which stated the cause was “undetermined” but that the fire originated in the engine compartment. Over a year later, after the original dismissal of Kia, in September 2023, Kia America sent a letter via mail to the wrong address and email requesting documentation for reimbursement, which I provided only for them to again deny any responsibility. This delayed communication, along with the lack of transparency and accountability in handling a known safety issue, raises serious public safe

Excessive oil consumption noted at around 40,000 miles. No visible smoke coming from tail pipe but burnt oil smell coming from underneath car in region of catalytic converter. Had engine visually inspected and had pressure test done by repair shop; no engine seal compromise present. Took vehicle to dealer to report and was told that warranty did not apply to this issue. Car eventually burning 2-3 quarts of oil every 800 miles. Traded car in at just over 99,000 miles due to oil consumption and concern about failure. Private party mechanic and oil change facilities very familiar with this issue on Kia souls. Noted that class action lawsuit against Kia for this very issue was initiated in California but was abruptly dropped. First vehicle I've ever owned that had to have oil added between changes. Noted that Kia owners manual stated that up to 3 quarts of oil consumption between 7500 mile oil changes is normal. I had oil change service done predominantly every 3000 miles.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that when his wife started the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while performing an oil change, there were metal shavings found inside the engine oil that was drained from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer. However, due to the cost of the diagnostic test, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, and when the oil change was performed, there were metal shavings found at the bottom of the oil pan. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Vehicle Information: 2015 Kia Soul Issue Summary: My 2015 Kia Soul experienced a sudden engine failure while I was driving. The check engine light began flashing, and the vehicle went into limp mode, drastically reducing power and creating an immediate safety risk on the road. The dealership diagnosed the issue and found a knock sensor code (P1326), which confirmed the need for an engine replacement. This was especially alarming because the knock sensor had already been replaced during a previous service, as part of Kia’s known effort to address this widespread engine defect. Despite this, my extended warranty claim was denied by Kia due to a lack of full maintenance receipts. These records, along with my original sales contract, were stored in the glove compartment and stolen when the vehicle itself was stolen and later recovered — a theft tied to the well-documented vulnerability of this vehicle model, which is now the subject of a class action lawsuit. This complaint is now part of an open file with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (File #[XXX]). From my research and the many comments I’ve received online, this is not an isolated issue — it appears Kia is denying a growing number of valid warranty claims in similar ways, despite clear evidence of engine failure tied to a known defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling or accelerating, the vehicle started shaking at the front end near the engine. The vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine), and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The software update was performed; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact of DTC: P70300, which should have been resolved with the recall repair, which allowed the vehicle to pass the inspection as a successful repair; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle had not received any additional repairs. The contact found information on TSB: ENG222, NHTSA ID Number: 11014912 (Engine), which was related to the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, then opened a case and informed the contact that no additional assistance would be provided. The failure mileage was approximately 89,600.

Multiple cylinder misfires detected. Knocking/clacking present when symptoms occur. Inspected engine oil and found metal precent, engine has an internal failure and would need to be replaced.

The component that malfunctioned is the catalytic converter, which became clogged due to excessive oil consumption from the engine. The oil consumption likely resulted in oil entering the exhaust system and contaminating the catalyst, causing it to lose its efficiency. The dealer replaced the engine but failed to inspect and replace the catalytic converter, which was clogged due to oil consumption from the engine. Yes, the catalytic converter is available for inspection and can be physically examined by a mechanic or technician to confirm the issue. The clogging of the catalytic converter resulted in poor engine performance, to include reduced acceleration, high rough idling and risk of fire. This lead to dangerous driving conditions, the vehicle stalled and had trouble accelerating. The issue of a clogged catalytic converter due to oil consumption has been confirmed by dealer. They performed diagnostic tests and read the vehicle's diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that indicated problems with the catalytic converter. No, the dealer relayed that they did not inspect the catalytic converter. Yes, I noticed symptoms prior to the catalytic converter clogging. Check engine light coming on. Reduced engine performance, sluggish acceleration. These symptoms occurred the day the vehicle became incapacitated. Rough idling was happening over time, during winter months.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

I was making a left turn onto a street and the check engine light started flashing and the car immediately went into limp mode. Code is showing p1326

No early warning lights displayed, but traveling on the interstate in this Kia Soul, having only 74,000 original miles on it when sudden knocking began. Had to quickly get to a stopping point and eventually have the vehicle towed. Mechanic reported is the very common Theta II motor issue where a spun bearing has occurring and could have easily locked up the engine, causing safety risks. Only after the start of the knocking did the oil lamp indicator begin to flicker; was not even a stead light. Indications are that though some recalls were made for this model, this vehicle was not included, and many others have reported similar issues on the same model.

See attached document for complaint.

My daughter was driving my car on [XXX] when suddenly there was a pop and the car stopped working. Honestly she could have been killed but by the grace of God nobody was behind or aside her and she was able to coast over to the breakdown lane. This could have been a very different story. An independent mechanic notated engine failure codes, a worn crank shaft which triggered a sensor to seize the engine or go into “limp mode” then heavy metal in the engine oil. Maintenance was performed and AAA unaccompanied towed the vehicle to Wagner Kia in Shrewsbury MA the next day after a storm passed. Wagner Kia then refused to service the vehicle or acknowledge any responsibility. I contacted Kia America and opened a claim and again they denied any responsibility closing out the claim within 48 hours although the company has had class action lawsuits against this make/model and year of car. This is truly a nightmare where the little man wallet takes a hit while being bullied by a large corrupt corporation. I then accepted an offer on the car for what it is worth in its current condition and took a loss of over $4,000.00 on an auto loan that I had to pay off the balance of and hundreds of dollars of repairs over the past few months. This vehicle also suddenly had an evaporation leak prior to the event which cost myself even more money. I do believe when you engine suddenly shuts off with no warning on a highway and could have killed everyone in the car that it should be reported and taken seriously by the manufacturer and dealership. Thank you for hearing our family’s story- INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle was bucking and lurching forward. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recently occurred while driving and the vehicle was lurching while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The mechanic referred the contact to a dealer after relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact searched the VIN online and found that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,881.