2021 Kia Seltos problems and recalls

61% of owner complaints on the 2021 Kia Seltos related to the Engine (220 of 363).

363
Complaints
2
Recalls
13
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
8
Injuries
46.0
Severity index

Severity index 46.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 46.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 67 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 27% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 220 complaints (60.6%)220 61%Power TrainPower Train: 66 complaints (18.2%)66 18%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 46 complaints (12.7%)46 13%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 44 complaints (12.1%)44 12%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 43 complaints (11.8%)43 12%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 24 complaints (6.6%)24 7%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 10 complaints (2.8%)10 3%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (1.7%)6 2%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE22060.6%
POWER TRAIN6618.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4612.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4412.1%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4311.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM246.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL102.8%
AIR BAGS61.7%

Complaints filed per year

0601202020: 182021: 332022: 392023: 382024: 272025: 1202026: 88 (partial year)20212223242512026
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202018
202133
202239
202338
202427
2025120
2026 (year to date)88
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.1x those in 2020 to 2022 (185 against 90).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V25900013/04/2021ENGINEKia 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.
25V09900017/02/2025ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALKia 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.

Other Kia Seltos model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 5 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.