VIN REPORT

KNDEUCAA0T79460332026 KIA SeltosS

0of 100
Low Risk
Buyer Risk Score
Recalls
Clear
No open recalls
Safety Grade
B-
80/100 composite
Complaints
3
NHTSA filed
Vehicle Age
0 yrs
Made in SOUTH KOREA
BUYPurchase Verdict

2026 KIA Seltos was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 3 owner complaints include 2 reported injuries, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.

Verdict & Risk Assessment
📄

Executive Summary

2026 KIA Seltos

2026 KIA Seltos was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 3 owner complaints include 2 reported injuries, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.

  • 2 injuries reported across 3 owner complaints
  • Complaint rate is accelerating — issues appear to be getting worse, not better
Owner Complaint Intelligence

3 owner complaints filed — top areas: Brakes (67%), Safety Systems (33%). 1 crash reported.

Critical Alerts

Title Brand Check

Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull

No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.

Vehicle

Vehicle Specifications

Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database

Make
KIA
Model
Seltos
Year
2026
Trim / Series
S
Body Style
Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Vehicle Type
MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
Drive Type
4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Engine
2.0L
Doors
5
Manufacturer
KIA CORPORATION
Assembly
GWANG-JU, GYEONGGI PROVINCE, SOUTH KOREA
GVWR
Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Assembly Plant Quality

Plant: GWANG-JU, GYEONGGI PROVINCE

CQuality55/100
Standard📍 GWANG-JU, GYEONGGI PROVINCE

No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.

Safety

Safety Intelligence

Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data

B-
Score: 80/100
Crash Test Rating20/40
Recall Safety30/30
Complaint History30/30
0/100Clear

✓ No high-risk recall components found

83/100
Comprehensive
16 of 20 safety features detected

Driver Assistance Features

ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database

Forward Collision WarningStandard
Automatic Emergency BrakingStandard
Pedestrian AEBStandard
Rear AEBStandard
Lane Departure WarningStandard
Lane Keep AssistStandard
Lane Centering Assist?Unknown
Blind Spot MonitoringStandard
Rear Cross Traffic AlertStandard
Adaptive Cruise Control?Unknown
Adaptive Headlights?Unknown
Auto High BeamStandard
Parking AssistStandard
Backup CameraStandard
Electronic Stability ControlStandard
Tire Pressure Monitoring?Direct
Event Data RecorderStandard
Crash Notification?Unknown
Dynamic Brake SupportStandard
Keyless IgnitionStandard
Recalls

NHTSA Safety Recalls

CLEAR
0found
No Recall Campaigns Found
NHTSA has no active or historical recalls for this 2026 KIA.
1 in 1

1 in 1 complaints involved an injury — significantly above average, indicating real-world safety incidents.

Complaints3

Complaint Intelligence

3 complaints analyzed across 2 system categories

Brakes
2
Safety Systems
1 crash2 inj1
Accelerating +100%
3
Last 24 months
0
Prior 24 months

⚠ Complaint rate is accelerating — issue may be getting worse

Owner Complaints

3 safety complaints filed with NHTSA

3found
1
Crash
2
Injuries
ODI #11740703AIR BAGSCRASH2 INJURIES

The contact owns a 2026 Kia Seltos. While driving across an intersection, another vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with the contact's vehicle. The impact occurred on the driver-side door, causing extensive damage to the vehicle. No property damage reported. The vehicle came to a complete stop after being struck. The contact stated no air bags were deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard but was than brought to the residence. No warning lights were illuminated before the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle will be fixed. The contact stated she was the driver and had a passenger (son) in the front. The contact sustained a severe head impact and was knocked unconscious. The head trauma caused total numbness across the right side of her face and directly impaired her peripheral vision. Additionally, the contact sustained deep contusions to her neck and severe structural disc damage to her lower back. The contact's son, who was also an occupant in the vehicle, experienced acute head pain following the crash. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

ODI #11731946SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2026 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to make a right turn, the brake pedal went to the floorboard and the vehicle accelerated independently. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the brake line needed to be tightened and the brake fluid reservoir needed to be topped off. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that there was no warranty for the repair. The manufacturer denied the buyback request. The approximate failure mileage was 1,322.

ODI #11722904SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2026 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that the heating system was inoperable and was blowing cold air. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the radiator cap was not tightened, causing air to build up in the system. The dealer tightened the radiator, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the sound was likely coming from the fuel injectors. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop on several occasions, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown part was disconnected. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH and making a turn on a bypass, the brake pedal travelled down to the floorboard while depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond, causing the contact to panic. The contact shifted to park(P) and drove over a grassy area, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually rolled to a stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the driver's side rear brake line was loose and leaking, and there was air in the brake line. The vehicle was repaired. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 1,200.

Details & Analysis
Financial

5-Year Total Cost of Ownership

Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation

$31,344
~$522/mo over 5 yrs
Fuel
$10,000
Insurance (est.)
$7,500
Maintenance
$4,000
Repair Risk Buffer
$1,500
Depreciation
$8,344

Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $31,344 (~$522/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Tailored for the 2026 KIA Seltos — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list

MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: AIR BAGS
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic
For any used vehicle with a risk score above Low, a $100–$150 independent inspection is always worth it.
MEDIUM
Run a VIN check on NHTSA.gov to confirm all recalls are closed
Free at nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/recalls — enter the VIN and confirm all campaigns show as completed.
MEDIUM
Verify title is clean and check for salvage/rebuilt brands at your state DMV
Title washing across state lines is common — confirm with your state DMV before finalizing purchase.

Recall Probability Forecast

Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals

20%
18-month
36%
2-year
Moderate Probability
Cumulative 2-year risk: 36%

20% estimated recall probability — some indicators present but not alarming.

  • Accelerating complaint rate — increasing pressure on NHTSA to act

Maintenance Schedule

OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle

Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.

Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.

History & Auctions

Auction History

Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators

Searching Public Auction Records

Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for KNDEUCAA0T7946033. Results appear automatically when found.

Insurance Cost Estimate

Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings

Full Coverage
$2,040–$2,590/yr
~$170–$216/mo
Liability Only
$560–$710/yr
~$47–$59/mo
Category: Standard Vehicle
New / recent model year: +15% (high replacement cost)

Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.

Manufacturer NHTSA Penalty History

Federal fines issued for recall delays and safety violations

KIA has been fined $27M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2020: Failure to promptly conduct recalls for Theta II engine defect.

2020$27MFailure to promptly conduct recalls for Theta II engine defect

State-Specific Legal Protections

What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state

Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.

Complete Data Table

All decoded fields in a single flattened view

Vehicle Identity

VINKNDEUCAA0T7946033
Model Year2026
MakeKIA
ModelSeltos
TrimS
SeriesWagon Body Style
Vehicle TypeMULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Body & Configuration

Body StyleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
Drive Type4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Fuel TypeGasoline

Engine

Displacement (L)2.0

Manufacturer

ManufacturerKIA CORPORATION
Assembly CityGWANG-JU
Assembly CountrySOUTH KOREA

VIN Structure

WMI (Chars 1–3)KND
Check Digit (Char 9)0
Model Year Code (Char 10)T
Plant Code (Char 11)7
Sequence (Chars 12–17)946033

Safety Data

NHTSA Recall Count0
NHTSA Complaint Count3

VIN Structure Decode

ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number

K
1
N
2
D
3
E
4
U
5
C
6
A
7
A
8
0
9
T
10
7
11
9
12
4
13
6
14
0
15
3
16
3
17
WMI (1–3)
VDS (4–8)
Check Digit (9)
Model Year (10)
Serial (11–17)
K
World Manufacturer
Country & region of manufacture
Position 1
N
Manufacturer
Specific manufacturer identifier
Position 2
D
Vehicle Type
Division or vehicle type
Position 3
EUCAA
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Body style, engine type, restraint system
Position 4–8
0
Check Digit
Mathematical validation character
Position 9
T
Model Year
Year of manufacture
Position 10
7
Assembly Plant
Where the vehicle was assembled
Position 11
946033
Production Sequence
Unique serial number for this vehicle
Position 12–17
Country of Manufacture
South Korea
From VIN position 1 (K)
Model Year Character
"T" → 2026
Could also be 1996
Check Digit (Pos 9)
✓ Valid
ISO 3779 weighted-sum algorithm
Research This Model

Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 7/1/2026, 7:02:20 AM.