Kia Seltos reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 559 complaints about the Kia Seltos with NHTSA since 2021, most often about engine and other or unspecified. Kia has filed 1 warranty extension and 6 service campaigns for it, and there are 4 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Kia Seltos? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Seltos a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2021 on.
- Owner complaints
- 559
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 1
- Filed by Kia
- Service campaigns
- 6
- Filed by Kia
- Safety recalls
- 4
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Seltos with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1 | Other or unspecified (100%) | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 4 | Brakes (50%) | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 13 | Exterior lights (23%) | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 46 | Electrical system (37%) | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | 46 | Other or unspecified (37%) | 2 | 3 |
| 2022 | 74 | Engine (53%) | 1 | 5 |
| 2021 | 375 | Engine (62%) | 2 | 4 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Seltos model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Kia
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Kia filed with NHTSA for the Seltos, in its own words. A warranty extension means Kia pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionJul 2024· Electrical system· model years 2021–2024
HORN ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY038) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY038) to inspect and, if necessary, replace the horn assembly on 2021-2024MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles produced from November 20, 2019 through May…
- Service campaignFeb 2026· Engine· model years 2026
DATA COLLECTION: EXTRACT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS DATA FROM ECU (DC26) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.
- Service campaignApr 2025· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2021–2023
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC297) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace the AWD Control Unit in certain 2021-2023 MY Seltos all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles…
- Service campaignAug 2022· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2021–2023
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, repair the transfer case oil seal and to perform the All-Wheel Drive Electronic Control Unit ("AWD…
- Service campaignJun 2022· Engine and cooling· model years 2022
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: C-RECIRCULATION SOLENOID VALVE HOSE ASSY REPLACEMENT (SC230) - This bulletin provides information to replace the C-Recirculation Solenoid Valve Hose Assembly to the intake manifold on some 2022MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles equipped with 1.6L…
- Service campaignMar 2022· Body and structure· model years 2022
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: ENGINE OIL FILLER CAP REPLACEMENT (SC224) - This bulletin provides information to replace the oil filler cap on some 2022MY Seltos (SP2) and Soul (SK3) vehicles produced in the date ranges listed below, which may have an oil filler cap with…
- Service campaignDec 2020· Equipment and accessories· model years 2021
SC199 - Questions and Answers: Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the Transmission Control Module (TCM) logic and, if necessary, replace the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) on some 2019-2020 Forte; 2020-2021 Soul, and…
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Seltos model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Engine297 (53%)
- Other or unspecified93 (17%)
- Electrical system91 (16%)
- Transmission and drivetrain88 (16%)
- Engine and cooling53 (9%)
- Fuel and propulsion30 (5%)
- Cruise control and speed control16 (3%)
- Automatic emergency braking and collision warning14 (3%)
Safety recalls
4 recalls cover at least one Seltos model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- AQ25001Audit query· opened Aug 2025, closed Dec 2025· Engine and cooling· model years 2021–2023
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
NHTSA's own page for the 2027 Kia Seltos has the complaint text and every document.
Was the work actually done on the car you're looking at?
Model-year records can't tell you about one car. A Kia service history check returns that vehicle's own dealer records by VIN.
Check a Kia's service historyCommon questions
Is the Kia Seltos reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2021 on: 559 owner complaints, 1 warranty extension and 6 service campaigns Kia filed, and 4 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2021 (375), 2022 (74), 2023 (46). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Kia Seltos?
Across every model year since 2021, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name engine (53%), other or unspecified (17%), electrical system (16%). Kia has filed 1 warranty extension covering the Seltos, listed on this page.
Which Seltos model years have the most complaints?
2021 (375), 2022 (74), 2023 (46). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Seltos with each other rather than with other models.
Has Kia extended the warranty on the Seltos?
Yes: electrical system (model years 2021–2024). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Seltos?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 4 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.