2021 Kia Seltos engine problems
272 of the 372 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Seltos name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 26 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 272 reports a crash · 6 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 30 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 100 · 2026: 83
Half of the 65 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 25,000 and 85,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
372 complaints in all about the 2021 Kia Seltos, 83 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Seltos engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My locked Kia Seltos was stolen from my driveway while I was home. No alarm went off despite a broken window. This is a major problem with Kia/hyundai vehicles in Milwaukee where thieves are plugging in USB devices that start the car. Kia knows about the issue (look up news reports in Milwaukee) but is doing nothing to solve it.
on June 21st I took my car to be inspected for a recall on the engine. I was told it would take 1-2 hours, it took a total of 6. When I picked up the car not one person explained to me what was done, if my car passed the inspection or if work was done. On July 11th my car stalled on a main street with my child in the car.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was driving very rough and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that there was no oil was present in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V259000 (engine) however when attempting to schedule the recall repair appointment with the local dealer they were not attempting to schedule the repair appointment in a timely manner.
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that when she took her vehicle in for an oil change, she was informed that there was no oil in the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil and there was a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 25V099000 HighFeb 17, 2025 · 137,256 vehicles
- 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.
- 21V259000 HighApr 13, 2021 · 147,249 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- AQ25001 Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectivenessopened Aug 6, 2025 · closed Dec 18, 2025
- On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (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, in…
26 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SST082_R1 Service bulletinSep 4, 2025
- This bulletin provides instructions to perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles. The piston oil ring(s) in certain Kia engines may, over time, damage the surface of the engine cylinder wall. This may lead to increased oil consumption which will eventually result in abnormal noise from the engine and/or illumination of
- SC336YZ_TSB Service bulletinSep 4, 2025
- This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published under SC336 titled “Engine Inspection/Replacement and ECM Logic Improvement”.
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0017 P1327 P0014 P0605 P2181 P0304 P0011 P0013
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Kia Seltos names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Kia Seltos
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 68 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Kia Seltos?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 272 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (73% of everything owners filed about it), and 26 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Kia Seltos?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 25V099000, 21V259000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Kia Seltos?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 55,000 miles; half of them between 25,000 and 85,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.