kia recalled exhaust

No power. Very little acceleration. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) was on and set a catalytic converter efficiency code P0420. Had 8 PSI exhaust back pressure on start up at idle. Dropped the exhaust and found the downstream catalytic converter was plugged with a gray substance. Blew that substance out and reconnected the exhaust and the engine runs great again but knows the gray stuff had to come from the front catalytic converter. Looking for any information on causes of premature catalytic converter failure.
There is a recall campaign for Engine Control Module (ECM) programming. The recall bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the Catalyst Overheating Protection (COP) logic in the ECM and, if necessary, to replace the Catalytic Converter on some 2012 ~ 2016 MY Soul (AM/PS) vehicles, produced from July 8, 2011 through August 11, 2016. Depending on the extent of damage, the short block assembly may also need to be replaced. This problem can also cause the code P0420. See related document for the 2012 - 2016 Kia Soul recall campaign SC176 - ECU reprogramming - potential catalytic converter damage.

[charleslease]

One thing people don’t realize now recalls expire so when you get them, you better have it done or it’s done and it’s over it’s no longer the life of the vehicle

[dallas]

We never got a recall notice from them I just payed them $1800 for the bank two now the first bank is going out...

[NeverGetzMe]

not sure if its on all cars cause i not know but i drive a 2013 kia cerato petrol not diesel so not sure if that'd count for me but yeaah oh ooh

[shimeicareaves]

Wow I didn’t know this ugh I replaced it last year

[michealkirton]

Yeah good luck getting Kia to fix anything, as soon as I received the recall letter on my car I carried it to them. They updated the ECU and that was all. Still have a CEL on and they want $4, 000 to fix it. They told me their fix was the update.

[jdh]

How about this. My girlfriends 2015 soul 1.6, she bought it from a small used lot. It threw p0420 shortly after purchase. After months of the lot owner messing around and us telling him we've read of a recall, he simply replaced the mani/cat with an aftermarket part. Sure enough p0420 is back and the catalyst can be heard rattling.

Will kia help us? When i mentioned the recall initially, I didnt realize that the controller's calibration is what is destroying the cat.... If kia will be of no help, i just want to cut it open and remove the catalyst, weld it back up and have a forever CEL and p0420.

[veganninja]

I fixed the exhaust manifold/catalytic converter but my car is still not getting a lot of RPM's. Do you think its bad pipe or muffler?

[johnnybench]

Your Cat doing What brother? Be specific and more clear please

[no-hndle]

I replaced my Kia with a Toyota, no CEL. At 238500 the cat rusted out & I paid 1300$ to replace it.

[kenfong]

Car failed emission inspection spent $400 on O2 sensors and cans of cataclean and spacers . Kia bailed and said nope on the recall