Most common 2021 Kia Seltos problems
Share of the 378 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Seltos complaints by model year
Best Seltos years: 2023, 2025. Years to avoid: 2024. Compare all years →
2021 Kia Seltos recalls (2)
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2021 Kia Seltos:
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
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.
What 2021 Kia Seltos owners say
Engine & cooling all 272 →
The contact leased a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while his son was driving in traffic, he heard an abnormal banging noise and noticed smoke emerging from the engine compartment. The driver was able to pull off the road and exit the vehicle. The vehicle spontaneously caught fire and was engulfed in flames. The fire department was on the scene to extinguish the fire. The driver did not sustain any injuries. There were no police reports filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000. VIN was not available. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 21V259000 (Engine).
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.
Transmission & drivetrain all 69 →
While driving normally at approximately 55 mph on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic, and spontaneous structural failure of the rear driver-side suspension and drivetrain. Without striking any road debris, potholes, or other vehicles, the entire driver-side rear wheel, wheel assembly, and structural axle components completely fractured and ejected from the moving vehicle. An eyewitness at the scene explicitly confirmed the nature of the failure, stating on video that they observed the 'entire rear axle just come right out' while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle sustained extreme structural damage, completely disabling it on a high-speed highway and creating an immediate, life-threatening situation. …
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, an object fell from a vehicle ahead. The contact stated that while attempting to switch lanes, the Blind Spot Detection system returned the vehicle back into the lane and the vehicle struck the object causing damage to the front mid-section of the skid plate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission and fuel injectors had failed three times since owning the vehicle. Both parts were repaired twice under warranty; however, the contact was recently informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Electrical system all 48 →
The car initially had electrical and engine issues since may of 2022. The engine would fail mid drive and the car would turn of in the middle of driving and would lock up until engine would restart on its own. It stayed at the dealership for repairs until march of 2023. After many modifications and alterations and several new engines and transmission changes they returned the car to me on march of 2023 assuring me it was fixed and there would be no issues. Several weeks later while driving on the highway, the engine turned off mid drive, I lost control of the car entirely. Brakes wouldn't brake. Car crashed into highway median. And upon impact none of the airbags deployed. The car continuously put myself and passengers at risk at the beginning of its failing. The car of April 2023 severely injured me. I was the only passenger at the times thankfully. …
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle would stall upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the battery, oil, and check engine warning light illuminated. The contact shifted the vehicle into park(P) and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle drove as needed. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed but no failure was found. The contact also stated that the horn intermittently failed to operate as needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
2021 Kia Seltos engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 29 / 34 / 31 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | AWD | 27 / 31 / 29 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | AWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Seltos to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 378 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Kia Seltos?
The engine & cooling — 272 complaints, 72% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (69) and electrical system (48).
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Seltos have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2021 Kia Seltos, the most recent from February 17, 2025 (hard parts internal/mechanical). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Seltos?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023 and 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024. See the full Kia Seltos years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Kia Seltos problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 56% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.