- Safety
- 4
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 2
- on record
- MPG
- 27
- combined
Open recalls on record
2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2021 Kia Seltos
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- Owner complaints
- 345
- Complaints citing a crash
- 12
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalised by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
2 Recalls on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 21V259000high
Engine issue
ENGINE
Kia 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.
- 25V099000high
Engine issue
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.
Consumer complaints
345 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 345
- Total
- 12
- Crashes
- 5
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE276
- OTHER25
- ELECTRICAL11
- AIR BAGS6
- FUEL SYSTEM6
Notable Issues
345 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 8 reports involve injuries. 12 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- SUV
- Drive type
- FWD
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Seats
- 5
Fuel economy
22
City
34
Hwy
27
Comb
- Annual cost
- $1,944
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Systems recalled
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation AQ25001
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation AQ25001
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
- Recall
Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Recall
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.