NHTSA Complaint #11672797 — 2014 KIA SOUL

** Component/system that failed: The engine and catalytic converter. An independent mechanic confirmed the catalytic converter is clogged due to engine oil burning and entering the exhaust system. The component is still in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. ** Safety risk: The car struggles to accelerate, especially from a stop or uphill, and cannot reliably reach or maintain highway speeds. It revs at 3,500–4,000 RPM at just 20–60 mph. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially when merging, changing lanes, or avoiding traffic, putting myself and others at risk. ** Problem confirmed: Yes. A trusted independent shop diagnosed and confirmed the engine is burning oil, contaminating the catalytic converter, and advised against replacing the converter until the root cause is fixed, or it will fail again. The Kia dealership dismissed the issue without testing, claiming it’s acceptable to burn 1 quart of oil every 1,000 miles. However, my vehicle consumes about 1 quart every 500 miles despite routine 2,500-mile oil changes with 5W-20 high-mileage oil. This excessive consumption is abnormal and being overlooked without proper evaluation. ** Inspection by manufacturer or others: Yes. A Kia dealership inspected the vehicle but refused to perform an oil consumption test, claiming the vehicle was “too unstable to drive,” despite me driving it 20 miles there. They blamed the converter failure on “normal wear and tear,” and denied the presence of an oil leak. ** Warning symptoms prior to failure: Yes. The symptoms began months ago and progressed over time, including: loss of power, high RPMs under low speed, poor fuel economy (range dropped from 350 to 310 miles), and difficulty accelerating. No warning lights have appeared. ** Additional note: This issue closely mirrors NHTSA Recall 19V120, but my Soul has a 2.0L engine, not a 1.6L. Many 2.0L owners report the same problem. I believe this defect should be investigated for recall expansion.