2021 KIA Seltos Engine Problems
Owners have filed 231 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2021 KIA Seltos, 61% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 42,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “piston oil” (12% of reports).
- 231engine complaints
- 42,500median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,650typical repair cost reported by owners
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Piston oil: mentioned in 27 of 231 complaints (12%)
- Engine damage: mentioned in 15 of 231 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2021 KIA Seltos at $1,650, and half of them between $1,100 and $5,900.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 34 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 231 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 2 an injury.
KIA Seltos engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Seltos | 1 | 25% | — |
| 2025 Seltos | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2024 Seltos | 8 | 17% | 300 |
| 2023 Seltos | 17 | 37% | 40,150 |
| 2022 Seltos | 39 | 53% | 84,000 |
| 2021 Seltos | 231 | 61% | 42,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 KIA Seltoss have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 231 owner complaints about engine for the 2021 KIA Seltos (61% of the 376 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 KIA Seltos engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 42,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2021 KIA Seltos?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,650 (half paid between $1,100 and $5,900), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2021 KIA Seltos?
The most frequent phrase is “piston oil”, in 27 of 231 complaints, followed by “engine damage” (15).
Other 2021 KIA Seltos problems
- Power Train problems (68)
See all 2021 KIA Seltos problems or engine problems across all Seltos years.