# NHTSA recall 19V120000 A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups. - Published by: NHTSA \(United States\) - Campaign number: 19V120000 - Manufacturer's number: SC176 - Manufacturer: Kia Motors America - Reported: 2019\-02\-22 - Owners notified: 2019\-04\-17 - Component: ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR - Units potentially affected: 378967 ## What is wrong Kia Motors America \(Kia\) is recalling certain 2012\-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection \(GDI\) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure. ## What can happen 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. ## The remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1\-800\-333\-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176. ## Notes Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1\-888\-327\-4236 \(TTY 1\-800\-424\-9153\), or go to www.safercar.gov. ## Remedy progress the manufacturer reported - Report: Quarterly report 6, for 2020 quarter 3 - Filed with NHTSA: 2020\-10\-16 - Vehicles in the campaign: 378967 - Reported remedied: 224743 \(59%\) - Reported unreachable: 22569 - Reported removed: 23788 These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2020 quarter 3, as filed with NHTSA. They do not say whether one vehicle has been remedied: check the VIN with the official lookups. The reports are from data as of 2026\-10\-19. ## Vehicles this campaign lists - [2012 KIA SOUL](/makes/kia/soul/2012/recalls.md). Built 2011\-07\-08 to 2016\-08\-11. - [2013 KIA SOUL](/makes/kia/soul/2013/recalls.md). Built 2011\-07\-08 to 2016\-08\-11. - [2014 KIA SOUL](/makes/kia/soul/2014/recalls.md). Built 2011\-07\-08 to 2016\-08\-11. - [2015 KIA SOUL](/makes/kia/soul/2015/recalls.md). Built 2011\-07\-08 to 2016\-08\-11. - [2016 KIA SOUL](/makes/kia/soul/2016/recalls.md). Built 2011\-07\-08 to 2016\-08\-11. ## Investigated as DP18003 This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected. - DP18003: Defect petition, opened 2018\-08\-21, closed 2019\-05\-10. Non\-crash Vehicle Fires. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI\-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE \(PCV\); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE \(EGR VALVE\); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ENGINE; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH; UNKNOWN OR OTHER. From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/19V120000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/19V120000/investigations) ## Check a VIN - [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) - [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng) JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/19V120000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/19V120000) [Report an error on this page](https://github.com/wenmar-pro/wenmar-open/issues/new?template=data_correction.yml&title=Data%20correction%3A%20NHTSA%20recall%2019V120000&page=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.wenmarpro.com%2Frecalls%2Fnhtsa%2F19V120000&vehicle=NHTSA%20recall%2019V120000)