What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 KIA Seltos

Typical pattern

12.6% of complaints about the 2021 KIA Seltos came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (221 complaints), typically at 4.6 yr or about 40,000 miles.

Complaints
508
Median age at failure
4.4 yr
Median mileage
36,000 n=101
Crash / fire / tow
11% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
221 reports · 40,000 mi
4.6 yr
7.2%
Power train
66 reports · 7,400 mi
4.3 yr
4.5%
Electrical system
47 reports · 9,500 mi
2.9 yr
6.4%
Other
44 reports · 7,350 mi
4.3 yr
11.4%
Engine cooling
43 reports · 70,000 mi
4.5 yr
30.2%
Fuel / propulsion
26 reports · 9,000 mi
4.9 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

25V099000 2025-02-17
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

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.

Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

21V259000 2021-04-13
Engine

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.

A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

In owners’ own words

Engine 9,000 mi 0 mo in service
TRANSMISSION DEFECT , TRANSMISSION OVER HEATS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC , ALSO CAUSES SKIPPING OF THE GEARS. KIA KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT CAR WILL SHUT DOWN ON ITS OWN BECAUSE OF THIS.
Engine 8,360 mi 1 mo in service
CAR WAS PARKED WITH AUTO OFF FEATURE DISABLED. VEHICLE STALLED 2-3 TIMES WHILE PARKED.
Engine 9,500 mi 2 mo in service
HVAC BLOWER WOULD NOT BLOW. DEALER FOUND MELTED RELAYS. ONE WEEK AFTER REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS I STARTED TO GET A BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL THROUGH THE VENTS. I LOOKED IN THE ENGINE FUSE BOX AND THERE WERE MELTED RELAYS AGAIN.
Fuel / propulsion 9,000 mi 0 mo in service
TRANSMISSION DEFECT , TRANSMISSION OVER HEATS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC , ALSO CAUSES SKIPPING OF THE GEARS. KIA KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT CAR WILL SHUT DOWN ON ITS OWN BECAUSE OF THIS.

Other Seltos model years

2024202320222021

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