NHTSA Complaint #11230754 — 2012 KIA SOUL

I TOOK MY 2012 KIA SOUL INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TWO RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. ONE OF THE RECALLS INVOLVED HIGH EXHAUST TEMPERATURES WITHIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY CAUSE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS AND CONNECTING RODS, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL AND FAILURE. DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE CATALYTIC OVERHEATING PROTECTION ENGINE CONTROL UNIT LOGIC TO PREVENT OVERHEATING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND REPLACE THE CONVERTER IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED, ALSO ASSESSING AND REPAIRING RELATED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AS NEEDED FREE OF CHARGE TO RESOLVE THE CONCERN. THEY DID AN ECU UPGRADE BUT AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL SERVICE THEY NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING PRIOR TO SERVICE. THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. A WEEK LATER I NOTICED THE ENGINE KNOCKING AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT ADDRESSED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE #2 ROD BEARING WAS BENT AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF $5500. THEY STATED THAT THE BENT ROD WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALL DEFECT BUT COULD NOT TELL ME ANY OTHER REASON FOR HOW IT WAS BENT EITHER. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS PART OF THE RECALL.