Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
2021-2027 · 7 model years
Kia Seltos Problems by year
Owners have filed 576 complaints about the Kia Seltos across 7 model years, and it has 4 recalls. The 2021 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (385), while 2025, 2027 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling, followed by the electrical system.
- Complaints
- 576
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 29
- Fires
- 10
- Injuries
- 17
- Deaths
- 0
Seltos complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common Seltos problems
Kia Seltos recalls 4
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
Latest Seltos complaints
Rear hatch latch disintegrating from corrosion and could release and open while traveling allowing any cargo to fall out. And sharp edges can cut fingers when pressed on to release to open.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while inspecting the engine oil level using the dipstick, the dipstick indicated a complete absence of oil. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, and the dealer determined that additional testing was required to identify the root cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,040.
Recall SC209-SC336. Significant blow by, engine tapping. Told by Kia service department that nothing done unless engine failure. So, I'm supposed to wait to experience engine failure while traveling 60+ mph down highway risking possible crash before problem corrected.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. Additionally, while at a stoplight, the vehicle was jerking and vibrating before shutting off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving normally; however, the failure recurred. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The failure mileage was 166,248.
The contact owns a 2021 KIA Seltos. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming engine oil and needed to be topped off regularly. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with oil consumption failure. The technician stated that the engine was consuming one liter of oil every 1,000 miles. The contact stated that there was a persistent abnormal burning oil odor. The contact stated that the engine had seized on several occasions while making abnormal...
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sounds. The contact stated that the oil consumption failure had started since the vehicle was purchased. The contact associated the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); with the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 110,000.
This complaint concerns the ineffectiveness of the recall remedy for NHTSA campaign SC336 (Kia recall for incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings in 2021-2023 Soul/Seltos vehicles; remedy is dealer inspection, engine replacement if necessary, plus piston-ring noise sensing software). The vehicle was purchased new in [redacted]. On [redacted], the vehicle was brought to the Kia dealer in [[redacted]] for the SC336 recall remedy. The dealer kept the vehicle for 30 days and returned it on [redacted]. After the...
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recall repair, the vehicle exhibited the exact same symptoms as before (excessive oil consumption / engine malfunction) - the recall remedy was ineffective. The engine defect symptoms persisted unchanged. The complainant subsequently surrendered the vehicle and no longer possesses it. No crash, fire, injury, or death resulted from this complaint. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Questions about the Kia Seltos
Which Kia Seltos years have the most problems?
What are the most common Kia Seltos problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the engine & cooling (361), electrical system (94), transmission & drivetrain (88) most often.
How many recalls does the Kia Seltos have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls across all Kia Seltos model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data