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Kia P0441

Evaporative Emissions System Incorrect Purge Flow

DriveNot yet established by verified evidence.
ChargeNot yet established by verified evidence.
ServiceService evaluation is appropriate because official Kia/NHTSA bulletin evidence specifies an ECU reprogramming correction for some applicable Kia Soul vehicles with MIL illumination and P0441.
Confidence95%

Quick answer

For some 2015–2016 Kia Soul (PS) vehicles in the US, P0441 means “Evaporative Emissions System Incorrect Purge Flow.” Kia service bulletin ENG164/ENG164R1/ENG164_R2 addresses vehicles that may have the malfunction indicator light (MIL) on with this code and specifies an ECU software upgrade/reprogramming procedure.

This page separates verified manufacturer/regulator evidence from supporting material. Unsupported causes, repairs or safety conclusions are not guessed.

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1. What does P0441 mean?

For some 2015–2016 Kia Soul (PS) vehicles in the US, P0441 means “Evaporative Emissions System Incorrect Purge Flow.” Kia service bulletin ENG164/ENG164R1/ENG164_R2 addresses vehicles that may have the malfunction indicator light (MIL) on with this code and specifies an ECU software upgrade/reprogramming procedure.

2. Technical explanation

P0441 is a diagnostic trouble code for incorrect evaporative-emissions-system purge flow. Verified Kia/NHTSA bulletin evidence identifies a condition on some 2014–2016 Kia Soul (PS) vehicles where the MIL may illuminate with P0441. The cited bulletin describes correction through ECU reprogramming using the Kia KDS download procedure.

3. What system is affected?

Evaporative emissions system; ECU software calibration is addressed by the verified service bulletin.

4. How serious is this code?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

5. Symptoms you may notice

  • Malfunction indicator light (MIL) may be ON with DTC P0441.

6. Possible causes

  • For the applicable vehicles covered by the cited Kia bulletin, ECU software is addressed through an ECU reprogramming update.
  • Other causes are not yet established by verified evidence.

7. Can I still drive the vehicle?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

8. Can I charge the vehicle?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

9. What you can safely do

  • Arrange diagnosis with a Kia dealer or qualified service facility.
  • Provide the stored code P0441 and ask the service facility to check applicability of Kia bulletin ENG164 revisions for the vehicle.
  • Do not attempt ECU programming without the required Kia service equipment and procedure.

10. Step-by-step troubleshooting

  1. Confirm the vehicle is a US-market 2015–2016 Kia Soul (PS).
  2. Confirm P0441 is stored and the MIL condition is present.
  3. Have a Kia service facility determine whether the vehicle is covered by TSB-ENG164, TSB-ENG164R1, or TSBENG164_R2 and perform the applicable ECU software update procedure.

11. When to contact service

Service evaluation is appropriate because official Kia/NHTSA bulletin evidence specifies an ECU reprogramming correction for some applicable Kia Soul vehicles with MIL illumination and P0441.

12. What the service center may check

  • Verify vehicle model year, platform, market, and VIN applicability for the bulletin.
  • Confirm the presence of DTC P0441 and MIL illumination.
  • Check for the applicable ECU software update using Kia KDS, following the manufacturer procedure.

13. Possible repair or resolution

  • For vehicles meeting the bulletin’s applicability and condition criteria, the bulletin specifies ECU reprogramming/software upgrade using the Kia KDS download procedure.
  • Any additional repair resolution is not yet established by verified evidence.

14. Affected vehicles

15. Related TSBs / service bulletins

  • Kia TSB-ENG164, reported by NHTSA as Manufacturer Communication 10109888, published February 16, 2017: applies to some 2014–2016 Soul (PS) vehicles and addresses MIL ON with P0441; it states the ECU should be reprogrammed using the KDS download procedure.
  • Kia TSB-ENG164R1, reported by NHTSA as Manufacturer Communication 10109851, published March 16, 2017: software upgrade for some 2014–2016 Soul (PS) vehicles that may have MIL ON with P0441.
  • Kia TSBENG164_R2, reported by NHTSA as Manufacturer Communication 10143468, published July 3, 2018: addresses some 2014–2016 Soul (PS) vehicles that may have MIL ON with P0441.

16. Recall information

  • Not yet established by verified evidence.

17. Official manufacturer information

Official NHTSA-hosted Kia manufacturer communications: 10109888 (TSB-ENG164), 10109851 (TSB-ENG164R1), and 10143468 (TSBENG164_R2). The supplied evidence identifies US applicability for 2015–2016 Kia Soul vehicles.

19. Frequently asked questions

What does P0441 mean on a Kia Soul?

It means “Evaporative Emissions System Incorrect Purge Flow.”

Is there a Kia service bulletin for P0441 on a 2015–2016 Soul?

Yes. Verified NHTSA-hosted Kia communications for ENG164 and its revisions address some 2014–2016 Soul (PS) vehicles with MIL illumination and P0441.

What correction does the bulletin specify?

The verified bulletin evidence specifies an ECU software upgrade/reprogramming using the Kia KDS download procedure.

Can I continue driving or charging?

Not yet established by verified evidence.

20. Sources & verification

ReferenceVerified
Kia P0441: Evaporative Emissions System Incorrect Purge Flow | EV Diagnostics