2023 Kia Seltos: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
44
Complaints
2
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
3
Injuries
81.8
Severity index
Severity index 81.8 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 80 2023 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2023 Kia Seltos ranks 28 of 80 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 65% of its model-year peers. See the full 2023 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 17 | 38.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 15 | 34.1% |
| ENGINE | 15 | 34.1% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 4 | 9.1% |
| POWER TRAIN | 4 | 9.1% |
| VISIBILITY | 4 | 9.1% |
| STRUCTURE | 3 | 6.8% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 | 6.8% |
The single most-reported system is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, cited in 17 of 44 complaints (38.6%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 9 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 10.7x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V531000 | 31/07/2023 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP | Kia 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. |
| 25V099000 | 17/02/2025 | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.