NHTSA Complaint #11415075 — 2014 KIA SOUL

ON APRIL 13, 2021 KIA COMPLETED THE RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND AND COMPUTER SYSTEM RECALL/UPDATE. ON APRIL 13, 2021 I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN WHEN THERE WAS A ROTTEN SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR. THEN UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED TO FEEL WARM, LIKE IT WAS HEATING UP. THE CAR THEN VIOLENTLY JERKED AND THE RPM DROPPED SUDDENLY AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND SPUTTERING AND SMOKING FROM THE EXHAUST, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AS WELL. I GOT OFF ON HIGHWAY 151 IN METTER GEORGIA AND PULLED OVER TO A LOCAL GAS STATION. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO CALL FOR HELP BUT DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE SIGNAL IN THE AREA. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE COIL 3 TO MISFIRE BECAUSE MORE THAN LIKELY THE PART WAS FAULTY. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WET BECAUSE THE OIL AND FUEL MIX FROM WHAT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME AS BLOWBACK FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CLOGGING THE ENGINE. THE CAR DOESN'T GO PAST 2000 RPMS AND IT HAS LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION. ONCE KIA GOT THE CAR THEY'RE SAYING IT COULD TAKE ALMOST 30 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR ON THEIR END. THEY'RE ALSO SAYING THAT THEY POSSIBLY WON'T COVER THE ENGINE WORK BECAUSE THE RECALL ONLY COVERS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I DISPUTE THAT BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE DAMAGE.