2021 Kia Seltos problems and complaints
Owners have filed 369 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Seltos. The most-reported areas: Engine (225), Power Train (68), Electrical System (47).
Key takeaways
- 369 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 13 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 8 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 225 | 61% |
| Power Train | 68 | 18% |
| Electrical System | 47 | 13% |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 | 12% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 43 | 12% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 26 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 6 | 2% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 2% |
| Steering | 5 | 1% |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia SELTOS SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Kia SELTOS SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-09-20
Had the software update for piston recall in April 2025, did all the testing and getting codes p0300 all the way to p0305 being that it only has 4 cylinders a 5th cylinder misfire code leads to piston ring failure, it is also burning oil the spark plugs are ashy which I have photo evidence of all of this and they are c...
Power Train,engine - filed 2026-09-17
My check engine light went on and the vehicle was driving sluggish, was louder at higher rpms and had a rough idle. The light went on around Aug 1st, 2026 and that's when I noticed the strange driving. Brought it to my mechanic that week and they got the following codes: p0017, p0014 and p0013. My mechanic thought this...
Engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-10
Severe Safety Hazard, Corporate Negligence, and Delayed Repair: * After picking the vehicle up following the secondary service, a heavy, toxic smell of raw gasoline began pouring directly through the cabin’s HVAC vents while driving. * I immediately called the dealership. A representative consulted a technician and dis...
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More for the 2021 Kia Seltos
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.