{"id":"2023_kia_seltos","make":"Kia","make_slug":"kia","model":"Seltos","model_slug":"seltos","year":2023,"url":"/kia/seltos/2023/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":45244,"model":"Seltos FWD","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AV-S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":29,"hwy":35,"comb":31,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD","co2":283,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2000,"save_spend":1250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 EDT 2022"},{"id":45249,"model":"Seltos AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AV-S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":27,"hwy":31,"comb":29,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":314,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2150,"save_spend":500,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 EDT 2022"},{"id":45248,"model":"Seltos AWD","pt":"gas","drive":"All-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AM-S7)","cyl":4,"displ":1.6,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":25,"hwy":30,"comb":27,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":331,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2300,"save_spend":-250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"KMX","modified":"Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 EDT 2022"}],"vclass":"Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","segment":"Compact SUV","epa_certified":true,"recalls":[{"campaign":"25V099000","component":"ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL","mfr":"Kia America, Inc.","reported":"2025-02-17","owner_notified":"2025-04-04","units":137256,"summary":"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.","consequence":"Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.","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.  Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542.  Kia's number for this recall is SC336.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC336","initiated_by":"ODI","variants":[],"severity":"critical"},{"campaign":"23V531000","component":"POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP","mfr":"Kia America, Inc.","reported":"2023-07-31","owner_notified":"2023-09-28","units":39765,"summary":"Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles.  The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.","consequence":"An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.","remedy":"Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.  Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge.  Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023.  Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.  Kia's number for this recall is SC275.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":true,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"SC275","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"}],"recall_count":2,"critical_count":2,"park_outside":true,"do_not_drive":false,"score":70,"grade":"C","complaints":{"count":46,"crash":4,"fire":0,"injured":3,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Unspecified",17],["Engine",17],["Electrical System",15],["Forward Collision Avoidance",5],["Visibility",4],["Power Train",4]],"by_year":{"2022":3,"2023":11,"2024":10,"2025":11,"2026":11},"excerpts":[["2025-03-27","Engine","Bought my 2023 Kia seltos new, Been driving it and maintaining the maintaince myself. Vehical has 58,000 Miles still under the warranty. Did my normal oil change only to have it start blowing smoke out of the exhaust. Took it into the dealer for service only to be told that the Rings are failing. that i need a new engi\u2026"],["2025-03-03","Service Brakes","I purchased my vehicle in mid June 2024 used from the dealership. I purchased extended warranty although my vehicle still had original warranty. On [XXX], my parents 50th anniversary party. I packed my car and left my house. Vehicle drove fine, but my husband called me worried stated that after I left our driveway that\u2026"],["2025-01-10","Engine","Dear, I own a 2024 Kia Seltos and have experienced a recurring issue. While driving, I stopped at a red light, and the vehicle's automatic stop system activated as usual. However, when the light changed and I pressed the accelerator, the vehicle completely shut down. To restart it, I had to turn the key to the \"Off\" po\u2026"]]},"investigations":[{"action":"AQ25001","component":"ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL","opened":"2025-08-06","closed":"2025-12-18","campaign":"","subject":"Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness","summary":"On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (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. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, inconsistent inspection results to determine whether an engine replacement was needed, and the unavailability of recall remedies. On August 11, 2025, an Information Request (IR) was issued to Kia requesting: 1) why the inspection test was revised from requiring a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dccold\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 engine to a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwarm\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 en"}],"ncap":[{"desc":"SUV AWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.151,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard & Optional","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Standard & Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"SUV FWD","overall":4,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.169,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard & Optional","ldw":"Standard","aeb":"Standard & Optional","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null}],"popularity":63,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":31,"ncap":4,"complaints":46},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 06:27 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}