2022 Kia Seltos problems and recalls

51% of owner complaints on the 2022 Kia Seltos related to the Engine (37 of 72).

72
Complaints
1
Recalls
6
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
2
Injuries
69.2
Severity index

Severity index 69.2 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 69.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 37 of 97 by severity index among 2022 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 62% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2022 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 37 complaints (51.4%)37 51%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 17 complaints (23.6%)17 24%Power TrainPower Train: 10 complaints (13.9%)10 14%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 9 complaints (12.5%)9 12%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 8 complaints (11.1%)8 11%Air BagsAir Bags: 3 complaints (4.2%)3 4%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 3 complaints (4.2%)3 4%WheelsWheels: 2 complaints (2.8%)2 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE3751.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1723.6%
POWER TRAIN1013.9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING912.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM811.1%
AIR BAGS34.2%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE34.2%
WHEELS22.8%

Complaints filed per year

016332021: 32022: 72023: 62024: 72025: 332026: 16 (partial year)21222324253326
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20213
20227
20236
20247
202533
2026 (year to date)16
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 4.6x those in 2021 to 2022 (46 against 10).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
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 2026-08-21. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.