Home / Vehicle Problems / 2021 Kia Seltos

2021 Kia Seltos — Problems, Recalls & Complaints

Aggregated from NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints. Data updated daily from federal databases.

2
Open Recalls
310
Owner Complaints
6
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths
57
Fair
Reliability Score (0–100)
Accelerating +128%
Complaint Trend
171 last 24mo vs 75 prior

Own a 2021 Kia Seltos? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

2021 Kia Seltos Safety Recalls (2)

21V25900013/04/2021
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.

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.

25V09900017/02/2025
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.

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.

Most Common Problems Reported for 2021 Kia Seltos

ENGINE
116
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
34
POWER TRAIN
27
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
18
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
8
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6

Based on 310 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Safety Incident Summary

10
Crash-Involved Complaints
6
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Check a Specific 2021 Kia Seltos VIN

Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer records, legal actions, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Run a Free VIN Report →