2021 KIA Seltos Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Seltos years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 376 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 KIA Seltos. That is the most of any Seltos model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is engine (231 complaints, 61%), typically at around 42,500 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 376owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 KIA Seltos problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 231 | 61% | 42,500 | “piston oil” (12%) | $1,650 |
| Power Train problems | 68 | 18% | 6,700 | “piston oil” (13%) | — |
| Electrical System | 48 | 13% | 8,750 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 46 | 12% | 100 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 45 | 12% | 70,854 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 26 | 7% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 3% | 29,200 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 1% | 975 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 100 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 1% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | 36 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 8,261 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | 51,268 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 KIA Seltos recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Problem: 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.
Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
Engine
Problem: 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.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness (AQ25001) — opened Aug 6, 2025, closed Dec 18, 2025.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine, oil pressure, and charging system warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that after waiting several minutes, the vehicle returned to normal…
As I was driving my 2021 KIA SELTOS LX AWD, at approximately 45 mph, my car had stalled causing an injury to my facial area, specifically my nose.
RECALL EVASION & TIMELINE FRAUD REPORT Filing formal complaint against Kia America & Kia of Cerritos (CA) for evasion of mandate under Safety Recall SC336 (NHTSA 25V099). 1. CRITICAL TIMELINE: ⢠[XXX]: Kia Cerritos confirmed NO diagnostic/recall tests were performed. ⢠[XXX]: Dealer documented…
Burns a lot of oil bad piston rings, and cylinders # 25v099000/KIA#SC336 incorrectly manufactured parts
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power in the middle of the highway and came to a stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and an abnormal burning odor was…
Other KIA Seltos years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Seltos | 1 | 0 |
| 2026 Seltos | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 Seltos | 13 | 0 |
| 2024 Seltos | 46 | 2 |
| 2023 Seltos | 46 | 2 |
| 2022 Seltos | 74 | 1 |
| 2021 | 376 | 2 |
See all KIA Seltos problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 KIA Seltos?
Owners most often report engine, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 231 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 KIA Seltos?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 KIA Seltos a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Seltos model years, the 2021 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.