NHTSA Complaint #11344168 — 2015 KIA SOUL

IN OCTOBER OF 2019,I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY 2015 KIA SOUL ACCELERATING. IT WOULD BOG DOWN AND I HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. I TOOK IT INTO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN IDAHO FALLS` AND THEY SAID THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLUGGED, WARPED AND VERY HOT. THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE THE PART BUT THERE WERE NO CATALYTIC CONVERTERS TO BE FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES. APPARENTLY, DUE TO A RECALL EVERYONE WAS HAVING THEIR CARS FIXED. THE DEALER FOUND ONE IN SEATTLE THAT I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE SHIPPED. THE TOTAL REPAIR, INCLUDING SHIPPING, WAS CLOSE TO $2000.00. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED IN DECEMBER 2019. THEN IN JUNE 2020, ON A TRIP TO SALT LAKE, MY CAR STARTED BLOGGING DOWN AGAIN. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT THE CODE AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS 'MISFIRING'. A SHORT TIME LATER, MY CAR BOGGED DOWN ON THE WAY HOME AND I COULD NOT GO MORE THAN 40 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO DRIVE 35 MILES WITH MY HAZARDS ON. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER AND HE DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER JUST SIX MONTHS AGO. NOW THEY SAY MY ENGINE IS DAMAGED AND I HAVE TO REBUILD THE ENGINE OR GET A NEW CAR. IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES COVERED BY THE RECALL ON ALL 2015 KIA SOUL BASE MODELS BUT MY PLUS MODEL IS NOT COVERED. 'NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 19V120000 REPORT DATE: FEB 21, 2019 CONSEQUENCE: 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.' I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS THE SAME CATALYTIC OVERHEATING PROTECTION ENGINE CONTROL UNIT LOGIC IS ALSO FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHICH INCLUDES GETTING A NEW ENGINE.