2023 Kia Seltos problems and recalls

Owners have filed 45 complaints on the 2023 Kia Seltos, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (17 complaints).

45
Complaints
2
Recalls
4
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
3
Injuries
69.6
Severity index

Severity index 69.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 69.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 29 of 82 by severity index among 2023 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 65% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2023 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 17 complaints (37.8%)17 38%EngineEngine: 16 complaints (35.6%)16 36%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 15 complaints (33.3%)15 33%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 4 complaints (8.9%)4 9%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (8.9%)4 9%VisibilityVisibility: 4 complaints (8.9%)4 9%StructureStructure: 3 complaints (6.7%)3 7%Service BrakesService Brakes: 3 complaints (6.7%)3 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1737.8%
ENGINE1635.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1533.3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE48.9%
POWER TRAIN48.9%
VISIBILITY48.9%
STRUCTURE36.7%
SERVICE BRAKES36.7%

Complaints filed per year

06112022: 32023: 112024: 102025: 112026: 10 (partial year)222311242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20223
202311
202410
202511
2026 (year to date)10
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 10.7x those in 2022 to 2022 (32 against 3).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
23V53100031/07/2023POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMPKia 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.
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 2026-08-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.