2021 Kia Seltos problems and complaints
Owners have filed 384 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Seltos. The most-reported areas: Engine (237), Power Train (68), Electrical System (48).
Key takeaways
- 384 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 | 237 | 62% |
| Power Train | 68 | 18% |
| Electrical System | 48 | 13% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 47 | 12% |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 | 12% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 26 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 6 | 2% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 2% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 | 1% |
| Steering | 5 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2021 Kia Seltos
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| 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 2026-11-05
Recall SC209-SC336. Significant blow by, 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.
Engine - filed 2026-11-04
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 continued driving normally...
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-11-02
The contact owns a 2021 KIA Seltos. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming engine oil and needed to be topped off regularly. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with oil consumption failure. The technician stated that the engine was consuming...
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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.