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.
Safety risk
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.
Manufacturer 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.
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.
Safety risk
If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer 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.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Engine
561
85,665 mi
Unknown or other
123
75,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
84
70,234 mi
Engine and engine cooling
66
100,000 mi
Power train
61
76,000 mi
Electrical system
54
55,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication
1
125,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
1
72,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal
1
73,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control
1
—
Forward collision avoidance: warnings
1
—
Interior lighting
1
52,080 mi
Power train: axle assembly
1
66,100 mi
Steering: column
1
108,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel /handle bar: yaw/angle sensor
1
57,000 mi
Structure: body: door
1
44,000 mi
Tires
1
—
Traction control system
1
25,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
1
195,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls
1
80,000 mi
The 2015 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2017 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
