NHTSA Complaint #11653674 — 2022 KIA SOUL

Shortly after purchase (8/2/23) I began noticing a persistent engine rattle between regular oil changes. This escalated to stalling issues, including on the highway and at intersections and around sharp curves. I brought the car in for service multiple times, and although a part was replaced, the symptoms soon returned. On one occasion, the vehicle stalled while being driven by your service advisor, who confirmed it was “critically low” on oil—despite no dashboard warning, no visible leaks, and adherence to routine oil changes every 3,000 miles. Since that point, I followed all diagnostic procedures requested of me, including multiple oil consumption tests that required me to repeatedly take time off work. These tests produced inconsistent results: at times oil levels were acceptable, but shortly after, the same symptoms would return. At approximately 80,000 miles, a case was finally opened for suspected oil consumption, and I was told my concerns were valid and would be honored—even beyond the 100,000-mile warranty mark due to early documentation. Now, at 90,000 miles, I have been informed that the latest oil consumption is “within acceptable range,” and that no further action will be taken. Meanwhile, I am left with a car that unpredictably stalls from unindicated low oil levels—a serious and unsafe condition that has gone unresolved for the majority of my ownership. The lack of dashboard alerts means this issue places myself and others at risk each time I drive. To be clear, this is not just an inconvenience; it is a matter of safety and reliability. The engine has likely suffered long-term damage from prolonged oil starvation. I should not have to manually check the dipstick before every trip in a vehicle that is less than four years old and still under warranty. Moreover, I was never made aware of this issue at the time of sale (9/6/21).