NHTSA Data Explorer

Kia Seltos

Data refreshed July 19, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Kia Seltos.

Complaints

508

Active records

Recalls

4

Active records

TSBs

160

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

17

Crashes

27

Fires

9

Top reported issues — Kia Seltos

Click a category to expand its values.

Operating state

216

Engine behavior

173

Fluid issue

143

Reporting mechanism

128

Performance issue

104

Noise

84

Condition issue

81

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

46

Thermal issue

41

Vibration/harshness

41

Driver assistance issue

33

Braking behavior

28

Powering on/off behavior

28

Safety restraint issue

22

Smell

17

Infotainment behavior

15

Starting behavior

15

Electrical issue

14

Safety restraint behavior

11

Steering behavior

8

Access/entry issue

7

Lighting behavior

7

Recent change

6

Ride/handling behavior

6

HVAC behavior

5

Communication/network issue

2

Wiper/washer behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jul 14, 2026


The car has less than 50,000 miles on it and the transmission is malfunctioning. Something about the dual clutch system losing protection. It has lost more than 70%. I knew there was a problem when the car reported transmission temp hot.

2022 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jul 11, 2026


My 2022 Kia Seltos is burning through oil at a very high rate. I was reading that there is a recall for 2021-2023 Kia Seltos for this exact issue with the engine, but my vin from my vehicle is not listed on the recall. I spoke with Naperville, IL Kia and they advised I would have to buy a new engine.

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jul 7, 2026


My Kia has been stalling, shaking, and just driving extremely badly for the past year. This day, I was driving on 55, and the car just stopped and stalled in the middle of highway near Berwyn, IL. This was extremely dangerous and could have honestly been life threatening. I pulled over, turned the car off and on, and was safely able to drive it to Berwyn Kia. Unfortunately, this was not the only time that this has occurred and I’m assuming will not be the last. In addition, I was charged $500+…

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jul 5, 2026


The oil pan is consistently out of oil. It burns up. Causing the engine to stall, shake or grind at times. We have been having this problem for 2 years now. Taken it to 2 different dealerships. They confirmed it needs a new engine however Kia will not replace it for us. It is a known problem with these vehicles and there is a lawsuit currently going on. We have receipts from dealerships, we have been stranded on the side of the road many times and can not drive it due to risk of fire or…

2022 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jul 2, 2026


Crash

I pulled into the drive and put the car in park I left it running for the air conditioner.I got out opened back door to adjust the babies car seat shut the door and went into the house. My in-law told me my car was moving so I ran outside and the car had run into the garage door.The drive has a upward slope so the car was going uphill and seemed to be picking up speed

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jun 29, 2026


1 injured
Crash

I am unsure what part of my car malfunctioned. I had my foot on the brake when my car began to surge forward and accelerate itself, crashing me into a tree because the steering completely stopped working as well. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk because I was in the middle of the street. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. A couple days after the incident, the same exact malfunction happened to an…

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jun 27, 2026


I was driving on the highway at 63 mph. I went to change lanes and pass the vehicle next to me so I gradually went up to 75 mph. Then there was an explosive metal sound and white smoke filled my cabin and under my hood. I could smell oil from inside the vehicle. I pulled over, opened the hood and let it cool off. After it cooled off I checked the oil and found there was none. I then called roadside assistance through my maxcare extended care plan. They sent a tow truck to pick up the vehicle…

2022 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jun 27, 2026


My 2022 Kia Seltos is equipped with Idle Stop & Go (ISG), which shuts the engine off when stopped and restarts it when the driver releases the brake/presses the accelerator. ISG stopped functioning about a year ago (the engine stayed running at stops). I didn't think anything of it because the ISG had worked sporadically from the day I bought the car. (I purchased it new.) It began working again, sporadically, about a week ago. Since then, on 3 occasions, when stopped at a red light with the…

2021 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jun 26, 2026


1 injured
Crash

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a complete stop with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and crashed into a tree, where the vehicle came to a stop. The contact stated that the brake pedal remained depressed during the failure. While being placed on the tow truck, the vehicle violently jerked. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the collision center for repair, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated while…

2023 KIA SELTOS

Filed Jun 26, 2026


To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am writing to formally submit a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Seltos, which exhibits a recurring, dangerous defect involving the engine stalling without warning. This defect results in a total loss of power while the vehicle is in operation or attempting to accelerate, posing a critical safety risk. The failure manifests in two primary scenarios: * **Remote Start Failure:** The vehicle frequently stalls immediately…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated July 19, 2026. Refreshed nightly.