repaired · 2026 Q3
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk. Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
2021 Kia SeltosProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 385 owner complaints about the 2021 Kia Seltos, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-099 the manufacturer reports only 64% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Kia Seltos has problems
385 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
238Engine7 crash/fire/injury
68Power train1 crash/fire/injury
48Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
47Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury
26Fuel/propulsion system
11Vehicle speed control
6Air bags
6Forward collision avoidance
6Service brakes
3312 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 238 | 7 |
| Power train | 68 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 48 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 47 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 26 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 2 |
| Air bags | 6 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 0 |
| 12 other systems | 33 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2021 Kia Seltos recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Engine
Risk. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
47kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 37 engine complaints. 84% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 24% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
15under 30k miles31under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
14 owners mentioned a cost$3,500median
Middle half: $909 – $7,496
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other Seltos year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Seltos median. How we score
'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 Kia Seltos safety ratings
2021 Kia SELTOS SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 Kia Seltos, and the recalls they led to.
- Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall EffectivenessNo recall
In owners' words
What Seltos owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while inspecting the engine oil level using the dipstick, the dipstick indicated a complete absence of oil. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, and the dealer determined that additional testing was required to…
Recall SC209-SC336. Significant blow, engine tapping. Told by Kia service department that nothing done unless engine failure. So, I’m supposed to wait to experience engine failure while traveling 60+ mph down highway risking possible crash before problem corrected.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. Additionally, while at a stoplight, the vehicle was jerking and vibrating before shutting off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and…
Own a 2021 Seltos?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.