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2021 Kia Seltos

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Seltos years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Kia Seltos are substantially higher than the model-year median of 45.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 88 of 367 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 223 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports6 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

367 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2026
Engine

Excessive oil consumption Engine damage or failure Ticking noise from the engine Loss of power when driving Rough idle, shaking the car is not able to be used, for safe.

NHTSA ODI #11727876

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2026
Engine

While driving engine shut off and car will not start. Garage states engine is seized up. It is same engine that Kia recalled

NHTSA ODI #11726992

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2026
EngineFuel/propulsion System

The engine seems to be failing/affected. The vehicle is currently available for inspection at Huffines Kia in [XXX] where it has been since Saturday, March 14, 2026 and they have yet to perform the SC336 Safety Recall while trying to charge a diagnostic fee for a multipoint inspection that I did not ask for. The vehicle would…

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The engine seems to be failing/affected. The vehicle is currently available for inspection at Huffines Kia in [XXX] where it has been since Saturday, March 14, 2026 and they have yet to perform the SC336 Safety Recall while trying to charge a diagnostic fee for a multipoint inspection that I did not ask for. The vehicle would not start which now I know is due to total oil consumption, which appears to be a precursor to the recall. Having a vehicle that can catastrophically fail or stall without warning due to defective piston rings creates extreme risk of a crash or fire while my family is inside. The service department at Huffines Kia Mckinney confirmed to Kia Corporate on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 that the vehicle was completely depleted of oil. However, they have not officially confirmed the recall failure because they have not done the recall test. They told corporate that they haven't done the recall because I did not have oil in my car. They have had my car since Saturday, but have not topped it off with oil since it has been there for several business days. I have also opened a formal case with Kia Corporate (Case #XXX) due to the dealer not providing the free safety remedy required by law. There was no oil pressure warning light prior to the failure, however, when trying to start my car and it wouldn't start, the oil and engine light came on. A tow truck came to tow to the dealer. The tow driver was able to start my car using a jumper box. The dealership says my car ran fine and no oil or engine light was on. However, if they ran my car knowing it was depleted of oil, they have potentially further damaged my engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11725321

100,000 miles · Mar 16, 2026
EngineEngine And Engine CoolingFire

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the engine, before the engine caught on fire. After the failure, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over safely. The fire was extinguished independently. There were no repor…

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The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the engine, before the engine caught on fire. After the failure, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over safely. The fire was extinguished independently. There were no reported injuries. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine was scorched and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11724618

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2026
EngineInjury

I made a turn onto a highway. I got up to 45 mph after my turn and my car stalled. It felt like a was reared ended, my car came to just about a complete stop. It then began to shake and would not accelerate past 5mph to get me over to the side of the road. The check engine light came on. On 2/28/2026 my engine came on, I took it…

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I made a turn onto a highway. I got up to 45 mph after my turn and my car stalled. It felt like a was reared ended, my car came to just about a complete stop. It then began to shake and would not accelerate past 5mph to get me over to the side of the road. The check engine light came on. On 2/28/2026 my engine came on, I took it to Kia and they replaced my spark plugs, I got my vehicle back on 3/10/2026. At the beginning on 2026, Kia had my car for over a month for the same engine issues but said nothing is wrong with the vehicle. Back in December 2024 I had this exact issue of the car jolting and stalling. Kia said it was the transmission. I paid to have that replaced but it seems the vehicle is still having all of the same issues. My life was put at risk driving this 2021 Kia Seltos. I am very lucky that the cars around me were paying attention and did not crash into my car that came to a complete stop with vehicles going 65+ around me. Others lives could have been at risk had they crashed into my car. My car is once again back at Kia, with the engine light on again.

NHTSA ODI #11723933

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2026
EnginePower Train

Engine stalled at stoplight. Was able to restart and pulled into closest parking lot where it began idling hard. Check Engine light turned on. Checked oil and it was bone dry (no signs of oil leak/burning beforehand). After adding about a quart of oil, while in park I revved the engine slowly, but it would stall out if it went o…

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Engine stalled at stoplight. Was able to restart and pulled into closest parking lot where it began idling hard. Check Engine light turned on. Checked oil and it was bone dry (no signs of oil leak/burning beforehand). After adding about a quart of oil, while in park I revved the engine slowly, but it would stall out if it went over 3000 rpms and idle even harder. My basic code reader popped for P0014 and P0017 (crankshaft/camshaft position). Had to have it towed to the local dealer for safety. 75,400 miles on it and my VIN has not been part of recalls. Requesting an investigation to include more VINs as these issues point to a prior recall resulting in engine replacement.

NHTSA ODI #11722774

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2026
Engine

I am filing a complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Seltos 2.0L. While driving, the engine made a continuous rattling noise, and the check engine light illuminated with code P0017 (Camshaft/Crankshaft Correlation). Upon inspection, I discovered the engine oil level was extremely low. After adding oil, the rattling stopped, but the P00…

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I am filing a complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Seltos 2.0L. While driving, the engine made a continuous rattling noise, and the check engine light illuminated with code P0017 (Camshaft/Crankshaft Correlation). Upon inspection, I discovered the engine oil level was extremely low. After adding oil, the rattling stopped, but the P0017 code remains. I contacted my dealership, which refused to perform any recall or warranty inspection. I also contacted Kia Consumer Affairs, and my goodwill claim was closed with no follow-up. I am concerned this issue is related to a known engine defect affecting 2021 Seltos 2.0L engines, specifically problems with piston rings and excessive oil consumption, which can lead to engine damage, stalling, or timing errors. I request that NHTSA record this complaint, investigate whether my vehicle is affected by a defect, and ensure Kia provides proper inspection and repair coverage. This is a potential safety and engine reliability concern.

NHTSA ODI #11722713

148,000 miles · Mar 6, 2026
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to stop the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, an…

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The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to stop the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that there was an open recall for the engine and to take the vehicle to a dealer. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, and the contact was informed that the engine had seized, and it was unknown if the recall was related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact that the engine would not be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

NHTSA ODI #11722508

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2026
Engine

My 2021 Kia Seltos (manufactured April 2020, ~94,000 miles) has the 2.0L Nu MPI engine affected by a known piston oil ring defect. Symptoms include piston noise, excessive oil consumption, rough idle, reduced power, and codes: P1327 (PNSS-detected knock), P0304 (cyl 4 misfire), P0017 (crank/cam correlation error). These indicate…

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My 2021 Kia Seltos (manufactured April 2020, ~94,000 miles) has the 2.0L Nu MPI engine affected by a known piston oil ring defect. Symptoms include piston noise, excessive oil consumption, rough idle, reduced power, and codes: P1327 (PNSS-detected knock), P0304 (cyl 4 misfire), P0017 (crank/cam correlation error). These indicate progressive cylinder wall scoring from improperly heat-treated rings, risking seizure or fire. Service history shows: • SC209 (Safety Recall 21V-259) inspection in Jul 2021. • SC209A (PNSS software update) in Feb 2022—explains why P1327 now triggers. • Other campaigns: anti-theft (CS2309/CS2312), AWD ECU (SC242/SC297), ECM logic (SA463). The defect progressed despite early recall work; dealers deny full engine replacement, citing prior completion or shifting coverage. SC209 has no mileage limit—progressive damage qualifies for re-inspection (vibration test, bore scope, compression) and free long block replacement if confirmed. You’ve faced loaner return demands before 2-week period, goodwill denials, and inconsistent coverage. The issue aligns with NHTSA concerns (e.g., AQ25001 on similar recall effectiveness).

NHTSA ODI #11721571

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2026
Engine

[XXX] Kia Seltos engine stalled and then stopped running. Driver attempted to turn engine over with no success. [XXX] The 2021 Seltos was towed to Kia in Jacksonville Nc. Kia Jacksonville stated engine seized, performed a compression test of cylinders with failure. cylinder 1 had a 135 psi, cylinder 3 had a 105 psi. It was…

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[XXX] Kia Seltos engine stalled and then stopped running. Driver attempted to turn engine over with no success. [XXX] The 2021 Seltos was towed to Kia in Jacksonville Nc. Kia Jacksonville stated engine seized, performed a compression test of cylinders with failure. cylinder 1 had a 135 psi, cylinder 3 had a 105 psi. It was stated that cylinder 1 and 3 had excessive scoring on the walls. Prior recall fixes included SC209 on Jul 19, 2021 with a dealer code of NC072. Recall SC209A was issued on 4/13/2021 per a car fax report. Recall for Sc209A was issued before the Sc209 recall fix. SC209A was not fixed on Jul19,2021. In February 2026 SC209A was updated after the engine stalled, had cylinder scoring and inadequate compression in cylinders. Owner of the 2021 Kia Seltos paid $1304,91 after a goodwill assist was authorized by the General or Regional Manager of Kia Jacksonville NC. Service Manager stated that Engine does not qualify for a replacement under the recall for not meeting the workflow criteria issued by Kia. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11720977

Official recalls

2

25V099000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

Feb 17, 2025

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.

21V259000 · Engine

Apr 13, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

AQ25001 · Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness

Opened Aug 6, 2025 · Closed Dec 18, 2025

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, inconsistent inspection results to determine whether an engine replacement was needed, and the unavailability of recall remedies. On August 11, 2025, an Information Request (IR) was issued to Kia requesting: 1) why the inspection test was revised from requiring a ‘cold’ engine to a ‘warm’ engine; 2) why the recall remedy was suspended from April 30, 2025 to May 7, 2025; 3) how Kia notified customers of the recall remedy suspension and the need to re-test engines that failed the ‘cold’ engine test; 4) the number of post-recall remedy complaints alleging engine or other engine related failures; and 5) the warranty coverage Kia is offering to vehicles that passed either inspection tests. On September 10, 2025, Kia responded to NHTSA’s IR: Kia reported the change in temperature from ‘cold’ to ‘warm’ engine testing was done to increase accuracy. The inspection test uses diagnostic tools that detects abnormal engine vibrations to identify damaged engines. From the initial launch of the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) on April 4, 2025 through April 28, 2025, ‘cold’ engine testing resulted in a higher-than-expected failure rate when compared to the pre-recall warranty claim rate. This discrepancy led Kia to re-evaluate its inspection test and found that performing the inspection on a ‘cold’ engine can result in imprecise test results due to normal cold-start vibrations. Kia revised the inspection to ‘warm’ engine testing to minimize vibration interference. Kia sampled the field and performed a comparative analysis between ‘cold’ and ‘warm’ engine testing, and validated that ‘warm’ engine testing was more accurate in identifying damaged engines. Kia also reported the suspension of the recall remedy was due to a software error in the diagnostic tool, which was introduced in concert with the April 29, 2025 launch of the TSB that revised the inspection from ‘cold’ to ‘warm’ engine testing. The software error resulted in all inspection tests reporting false positives for a damaged engine. On April 30, 2025, Kia suspended the remedy until May 7, 2025, which was when the software error was corrected with the release of the latest TSB and software update. The recall remedy remains available to eligible customers. Kia reported owners were not mailed letters concerning the suspension to the recall remedy. Kia reasoned since it resolved the issue faster than it would have taken to draft and mail letters, Kia did not want to create unnecessary customer confusion involving an issue that would have already been addressed upon receipt of a letter. Kia also determined that mailing letters about re-testing engines was unnecessary since those vehicles were already at the dealer awaiting engine replacement. In most instances, Kia Customer Care agents would respond to customer inquiries related to the recall, including remedy availability, dealer issues, and questions about differing test results. Kia provided ODI a review of engine related consumer complaints received on post recall-remedied vehicles. Kia did not find any common patterns or trends related to those complaints following completion of the recall, as the complaints included issues that were unrelated to the subject defect. To aid in the diagnosis of whether a complaint is related to the recall, the remedy includes the installation of a software program, the Piston-ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS), that monitors the engine for unusual noise patterns (an indicator of potential damage to the piston oil rings), and alerts the customer by flashing the check engine light and setting Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1327. Kia confirmed that it is not offering any specific warranty coverage for this recall. Instead, Kia has instructed dealers to replace the engine, at no cost to the customer, with no time or mileage limitation, following the installation of the PNSS software and the presence of DTC P1327. On September 4, 2025, Kia issued Subsequent Repair Action (SRA) # SC336YZ, which provided engine diagnosis and replacement instructions for vehicles with a potentially related complaint following completion of the recall. Under this SRA, customers whose vehicles set DTC P1327 will have their engine replaced. If DTC P1327 is not set and it is unclear whether the issue is related to the recall, dealers are instructed to contact Kia's Technical Assistance Center to ensure the issue is appropriately handled. Kia notes that any issues determined to be unrelated to the recall are subject to the 10-year / 100,000-mile Powertrain warranty for original purchasers and a 5-year / 60,000-mile Limited Basic Warranty for subsequent purchasers. In summary, Kia identified the insufficiencies of its initial inspection test that led to a pause to its recall campaign, explained why it did not mail letters to affected customers about the paused campaign or revised inspection test, reviewed existing consumer complaints that did not identify any potential trends related to the recall, and identified its warranty coverage for any vehicles exhibiting qualifying engine symptoms. After review of Kia’s response to the IR, ODI has determined that no further action from Kia is necessary at this time, and ODI will close this AQ investigation accordingly. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.