2017 Kia Soul

Kia started knocking loudly and then seized while driving turnpike. Car had to be pushed off road. Unable to restart. It had blown a rod. Oil was dry but had not appeared to be leaking prior and no warning lights were on before failure. Now needs new engine but is not in any current recalls thought the engine seems to have been recalled in other models.

The number 2 compressor(if I’m wording correctly) in engine failed causing the engine to be useless. When failed the engine reduced power, sputtered and began knocking. Fumes filled the cabin. We immediately pulled over and stopped driving. A repair shop did the compression test and confirmed the failure. 126,000 miles. Less than 5 years old. Just out of warranty. Car used to commute to work in metroplex only. Oil changes every six weeks

It started with stalling on hills, acting sluggish, and losing oomph. This worsened over the course of approximately one month. I did a mini engine flush and changed the oil (at a reputable shop) early, thinking maybe it just needed a little love. A week later, I was driving down the freeway (Interstate 5) at night when the car stalled - all of the dashboard lights came on and the engine disengaged. I pulled off, and turned the car off. I attempted to restart it, and it would not turn over. After waiting on the side of said highway with two children for almost 3 hours, I had it towed. Ultimately, it was taken to two different service shops - one independent and one dealership - who both diagnosed the engine had essentially "exploded"; there were metal shards everywhere, no oil pressure, and lots of knocking/misfiring. The engine needs to be replaced - this has been reported to KIA, who has yet to decide if they are going to address the issue (case number 14385039). Insurance declined to address it. Police were not called.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while either stopped at a stoplight or while making a turn, the vehicle would lose motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with fuel system failure due to trash in the fuel tank. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000. The VIN was invalid.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine. Vehicle is currently at the dealership. No idea when we'll get it back, but we'd be more than willing for it to be inspected. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Any time a car engine is at risk of dying or seizing, it's a risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The dealer seems to know what the issue is and is jumping through Kia's hoops to try and get something done about it. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? By the dealership. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The problem first appeared over the Fourth of July weekend of 2021. I was alerted to the fact that there was an issue because the oil light would flicker for just a split second on sharp curves. The car had somewhere in the neighborhood of 60K miles at that point. From what I'm finding out, many of the 2017 Kia Souls have the same issue with their engines that the Kias that are under recall have. Burning copious amounts of oil, stalling, running rough to the point that it feels like it's going to die at stops. Kia is quietly replacing these engines after a long cycle of testing, but they're definitely taking their time.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing an oil change. The dealer had the oil maintenance completed but continued to see the check engine warning and low oil level lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to a local dealer who called the manufacturer and was instructed to have an oil consumption test completed. The contact took the vehicle back on 11/2/2021 to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 55 MPH, she heard abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine and the vehicle inadvertently began to stall. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's daughter veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. Then the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who provided the same diagnosis and advised the contact to tow the vehicle back to the dealer as the failure was a safety issue. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was still awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Engine completely shutdown in heavy traffic. Very unsafe condition. Teenage driver unable to control the vehicle and nearly caused subsequent accident. No prior warning messages, prior to the engine shutting down, and then getting the check engine light. Had to have car towed to local dealer. Engine no longer usable and needs to be replaced. Vehicle has only 62,000 miles on it, 2000 miles out of warranty. Vehicle unsafe.