2021 Kia Seltos Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph the engine experienced a complete loss of automotive power, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and the contact was advised that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number : 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11755100

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

Mileage

120,000 mi

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 vehicle is a low-mileage Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) unit with under 24,000 total miles on the odometer, indicating a severe manufacturing, material, or component fatigue defect rather than wear-and-tear. There were no warning lights or symptoms prior to the failure. The vehicle is currently being held at a recovery yard and is fully available for inspection upon request. A formal defect investigation has been initiated with the manufacturer, and the insurance provider is inspecting the sheared axle and metal components for structural forensic analysis

NHTSA ID

11754636

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that on March 13, 2026, the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine); however; the spark plugs were not replaced when the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a misfire in the engine associated with the spark plug. The dealer stated that the failure was not associated with the recall. The contact stated that the failure was caused by the dealer not installing new spark plugs during the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the recall repair was performed and was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11753845

Incident

Jul 5, 2026

Mileage

92,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that while the technician was attempting to start the vehicle, the engine seized, and the contact was informed that the failure was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The vehicle was scheduled for a diagnostic test at the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 77,500.

NHTSA ID

11753695

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

Mileage

77,500 mi

Purchased new, Feb, 2020. Received piston ring defect recall notice (SC209). Serviced by dealer July, 2021. In 2025, noticed engine knocking noise. Car stalling out. No warning lights. Car 3 quarts low on oil. Consumption tests proved excessive oil used. Piston ring soak (Kia's "solution") did nothing to reduce oil use. After ring soak, oil still low at 1000 mile test. I stressed my belief the engine needs replacement and a ring soak is a band aid, NOT a permanent fix. Was asked to drive 3000 miles, check the oil, and top off if necessary. The engine was noisy during this test. At the 3000 mile mark, I pulled the dipstick. Bone dry. Drove to the dealer and told them it was very low. They sent me to the lounge and said they would pull the car in and come get me. When they didn't come, I went to check, to find a service rep putting oil in my car out in the parking lot. He claimed it was only about one quart low. Then, another consumption test at 1000 miles. Low again. They wanted to do another 1000 mile check after this. They changed the oil and told me to come back at 1000 miles. When I came back, I asked to be present to witness the oil level. They took me to the lounge, said they were pulling the car into the shop, and would come get me. Again, they pulled the stick without my presence, and told me it was full. Now, they want me to do another 4000 mile test. I took the vehicle to two independent mechanics. Their borescope inspection proved engine damage. I have filed a complaint with Kia Corporate and it seems to be falling on deaf ears. I demand a full refund at this point! Kia has lost my trust, both in quality and customer service. I have all the maintenance records and a written statement regarding engine damage, along with photos from the borescope.

NHTSA ID

11753530

Incident

Aug 29, 2025

Car cutoff. Started back up to get off interstate. Saw smoke under hood and got it. Within 5 min sparks under the frame and then 10-15 min later flames

NHTSA ID

11753443

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

After getting recall work done last year regarding SC336 my sensor went off and now my car needs a new engine due to defective heat-treated Piston oil rings causing Catastrophic failure. Kia is declining responsibly because of lack of enough oil changes. They have not proved this failure was from neglect.

NHTSA ID

11753056

Incident

Jul 18, 2026

Just purchased a used 2021 KIA seltos with about 45k miles. I did my research and checked prior if there were any major issues. Since it showed zero recalls and received relatively good reviews I thought it would be a safe and reliable vehicle. I was wrong.I had the vehicle for only about three months when I noticed the check engine light come on while driving on the freeway. It was solid, however, I thought it was better to be safe than sorry and started to look for an exit. While driving up a freeway interchange the car suddenly started to lose speed. I pressed the accelerator but couldn’t get any power to the engine. As the car started to slow rapidly I pulled over to a narrow strip of the road. This was a dangerous stretch of the freeway because there was virtually no shoulder and cars were accelerating to merge up the rising ramp on the stack. After I came to a stop I put the car in park and turn it off. I then tried to restart the engine but had no luck. The engine would crank but would not start. I was now stuck and getting anxious as traffic began to steadily increase. Cars were flying by at high speeds less than a foot away. I had no choice but to call for a tow truck and patiently wait. I sat there praying that nobody would hit my car. I was fortunate to be safely towed to a service center.The technician performed a borescope and found severe scoring on the cylinder walls directly relating to defective piston rings. The improperly heat-treated piston rings chipped and literally carved deep grooves into the block dropping the compression causing the car to sputter and die.The engine has internal damage and will not start. Needs a new long block (Engine replacement). There is a recall on these piston rings.The dealership sent in their inspection including compression test and borescope images showing the groves and scoring on the cylinder walls. KIA is refusing to cover cost because the car is out of warranty. Safety recalls never expire with warranty!!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11752762

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

Car was driving absolutely fine, no dash lights no signs of distress for 1.5 years then suddenly out of the blue it made a "weird noise" -no lights on dash board, and it went away. Two days later my daughter was sitting in a fast-food line and the car just died. They had to push her out of the line. She turned the car off and when she turned it back on it started up and she drove home. We made an appointment to have it looked at but with in two days before getting to the appointment it happened again, same thing different place so she drove it home. it was looked at by Pep-Boys they told us it needs a new engine. Referred us to the recall of the Seltos 2021. We then towed it to Kia Dealership and they have confirmed it is the engine and that it needs to be replaced. The car is doing exactly what the recall was specified for and they are asking us to pay because the vin number of my daughter's car is not included in the batch of vin numbers recalled. My daughter's safety was compromised by the faulty manufacturing, the car has less than 60 thousand miles on it. We are the second owner, bought at Carvana and was certified by Carvana. I wanted to file this report to ensure all options have been explored for KIA to be held accountable for the repairs. Luckily my daughter was not hurt or endanger, but it could have easily been another story.

NHTSA ID

11752002

Incident

Jul 7, 2026

The contact's daughter owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that one quart of engine oil or more needed to be added after an oil change had been performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11751473

Incident

May 1, 2024

Mileage

25,000 mi

My 2021 Kia Seltos 1.6L Turbo GDI is experiencing a severe safety hazard involving catastrophic internal engine failure. The vehicle aggressively consumes its oil supply, running critically low within 1 to 2 weeks. On July 6, 2026, a certified Kia dealership pressure-tested the engine and formally documented "NO EXTERNAL LEAKS," while confirming the spark plugs are entirely "OIL COATED" due to severe internal burning. The dealership noted on the invoice that the vehicle was "9,000 miles due" for service. I must explicitly clarify that this mileage gap occurred because the engine burns through its oil so rapidly that standard interval changes became meaningless; I was forced to continuously top off the engine manually out-of-pocket with store-bought oil just to keep it from running dry and seizing while driving. Otherwise, all other oil changes were consistently done at Kia dealerships, and this excellent service history was even explicitly acknowledged and noted by a Kia Consumer Care representative on a recorded line. Furthermore, the engine builds extreme crankcase blow-by pressure that actively forces oil vapor out of the oil filler cap. This defect creates an immediate risk of sudden engine seizure, highway stalling, or an engine bay fire. Kia Corporate Consumer Affairs has refused to authorize safety repairs or diagnostic testing under TSB ENG222, issuing a blanket denial while ignoring an imminent safety failure diagnosed by their own technician.

NHTSA ID

11751424

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

My engine is damaged and needs replacement. My car starting stalling, when I put the car in reverse the car would stop working, the car starting vibrating and my check engine light came on. When I took it to Southwest Kia dealership, they pulled the recall and stated that the symptoms I was experiencing were what was described in the recall. However, the warranty has refused to repair the recall. I have been without a car for almost 6 weeks. The warranty keeps saying my VIN is not associated with the recall.

NHTSA ID

11751005

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving uphill at 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to pull over, and the vehicle experienced engine failure. An independent mechanic or dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed. The contact checked the oil, and there was no oil on the dipstick even though the vehicle had received an oil change two months earlier. The contact called a friend to top off the engine oil. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact was informed that the vehicle had been repaired in 2021 before owning the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 96,070.

NHTSA ID

11750929

Incident

Jun 27, 2026

Mileage

96,070 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11750394

Incident

Jul 4, 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+ to replace piston rings that were recalled on other models that were not recalled on my model, even though the same year was recalled.

NHTSA ID

11748897

Incident

Nov 13, 2025

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 engine seizing. We used to keep oil in the car at all times and check it frequently. Now we are afraid to drive it and damage it any more. We have done all the recalls and because the one recall was a piston ring system update, we aren't covered under the recall then. The system must be faulty. We do get a check engine light or oil light on when the car stalls, otherwise we just have to keep watching the oil that keeps disappearing. Kia has denied us the new engine after asking for an Out-of-Warranty Goodwill Breakdown for the car. The first owner went 10,000 miles without seeing a dealership and we did as well when we first bought it. The problems started at 57,700 miles. The car is junk and they wanted to give us a deal on the new engine $7,750 out the door. WOW, it's not our fault the engine or the piston rings burn the oil and are burning the engine up. Kia is at fault, their cars are crappy.

NHTSA ID

11748383

Incident

Oct 5, 2024

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 employee at the independent service center. The vehicle was lightly inspected by the manufacturer but there isn't a concise conclusion as to what caused the issue. There was not any warning lamps or messages before the incident. My airbags did not deploy during the incident even though there was significant damaged to the body of the car. A couple days prior to the incident, I was at a complete stop at a traffic light. As I had my foot on the brake, the car began to surge and jerk forward itself.

NHTSA ID

11747313

Incident

Mar 31, 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 and sent it to the nearest auto shop which is called precision tune auto roughly 1.8 miles away from where the car was parked. The tow truck dropped it off at 11pm. I called the next day in the afternoon to provide my contact information and wat happened. They ran a diagnostic on the vehicle and said either a piston or rod blew through the oil pan which caused all the oil to leak out from underneath the car and said the engine needed to be fully replaced.

NHTSA ID

11746926

Incident

Jun 24, 2026

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 being moved. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed during the failure, with both feet on the brake pedal; however, the vehicle continued driving. The failure had occurred a second time while stopped at a red traffic light with the brake pedal depressed, and the vehicle had unintendedly accelerated. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. No warning lights were illuminated during the failure; however, the engine was revving unexpectedly. A Police report was filed during the crash. The vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive but the insurance company towed the vehicle to a Kia dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. During the crash, the contact sustained injuries to the abdomen, left knee, and left thigh, with severe pain in the lower back. Several days following the crash, the contact had pain in the chest. The contact received physical therapy for the injuries. The contact previously suffered from PTSD. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11746782

Incident

Mar 31, 2026

Mileage

55,000 mi

Multiple times the car has shut off while driving. It did receive the PNSS sensor thing from the dealership 2 years ago. It has done this while my wife and kids were in the car in a busy roundabout. There are known engine issues with this model. Kia dealership is dragging their feet and “can’t recreate the issue.” (because it happens randomly) They ran “tests” and they all came back with “no issues.” Dealer states that they are waiting to hear back from the tech line at Kia. Service advisor said to me that they may just give me the car back because they can’t find anything wrong. And the “we would essentially have to wait for a complete component failure.” It is available to be inspected. There were no warnings at all and it has done it at random times in seemingly normal conditions. It receives routine maintenance and after my last oil change my mechanic (not from Kia) said that they found metal shavings in the oil and that there was only 1 qt of oil. And recommended that I talk to the dealer about engine replacement. The last time it shut off was June 4 and and it has been at the dealership since June 15th.

NHTSA ID

11746505

Incident

Jun 4, 2026

The vehicle started loosing engine power. The vehicle stalled while driving 5-6 times, this posed a danger to driver, passengers, and others. A car accident can easily happen when the engines dies. Power to all systems was lost, including steering and brakes. No warning lights or check engine lights appeared at anytime, symptoms started a week before. Vehicle was approx 3 quarts of oil low. It was about 2 months from previous oil change. Other 2021 Kia Seltos have an open recall for defective piston rings (SC209 or SC336.) The vehicle was taken to the nearest Kia dealership. They stated this VIN did not fall under the recall and there was nothing they would do. Kia was called directly and also stated no assistance would be offered. No inspection or diagnosis has been made as neither the dealership nor the manufacturer is willing to assist. This vehicle should fall under the recall.

NHTSA ID

11746460

Incident

May 29, 2026

Driving my car on Interstate highway going approximately 65 miles an hour, and the engine just stopped. It started chugging.. I then check the engine oil stick, there was very little Oil, and it was very dark and thick. Got the car home and it’s been sitting ever since. I’m going to have to take it to Kia to have it checked. I spoke with corporate they said that if the recall repaired was completed, because there is still engine trouble and that I should be it taken to the closest dealership. I haven’t checked ones before at Kia near me and they told me I just needed to change the more often. My son has changed the oil twice since then, and the problem has gotten worse instead of better.. So let’s see what the next dealership says about the situation. I’ll keep you updated.

NHTSA ID

11745449

Incident

May 11, 2026

Engine problems. Car stop running and I had it towed to a local KIA dealer in Medford, Oregon. They said the engine didn't have any oil even though it wasn't time for my next oil change per the mileage sticker. They said the engine has to be replaced. I'm waiting on KIA's approval since it is still under warranty. They have had the car for a week. It's a 2021 KIA Seltos and I'm assuming other people are having the same issue.

NHTSA ID

11745121

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

To Whom It May Concern, I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Seltos (VIN: [XXX]). My vehicle was previously serviced by Kia in connection with a recall in 2021. Despite the recall-related repair being completed, the issue has not been resolved. My check engine light continues to illuminate, and my vehicle has repeatedly stalled and completely shut off while stopped at red lights and intersections. This creates a serious safety hazard. When a vehicle unexpectedly loses power in traffic, it places the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at risk of an accident, injury, or worse. I understand that there have been reports, recalls, investigations, and consumer complaints involving certain Kia vehicles with engine-related issues, including concerns regarding piston oil rings, excessive oil consumption, engine damage, and engine failure. While I am not a mechanic and cannot state with certainty that this is the cause of my vehicle’s problems, I believe my vehicle may be experiencing a similar issue based on the symptoms it is displaying. My concern is that the ongoing engine warning light and repeated stalling events may be related to an underlying engine defect that was either not corrected by the previous recall repair or has developed despite that repair. Given the known concerns surrounding certain Kia engines and piston oil ring-related issues, I believe my vehicle should be thoroughly reviewed to determine whether it qualifies for coverage under any applicable recalls, warranty extensions, service campaigns, or defect-related repair programs. I have been informed that my vehicle is not covered; however, I respectfully request that Kia reevaluate my VIN and investigate whether the stalling condition is connected to any known engine-related defects or recall conditions. I am requesting that: • Kia provide towing assistance if the vehicle is unsafe to operate. • Kia perform a complete diagnostic inspection at no cost. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

NHTSA ID

11744889

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that the vehicle was intermittently overheating and losing motive power while driving. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the spark plugs and ignition coil packs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact returned the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

NHTSA ID

11744878

Incident

Jun 25, 2025

Mileage

106,000 mi