Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia Seltos. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Engine Damage May Cause Stall or Fire
- 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.
Improperly Heat-Treated Piston Oil Rings
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (372)
372 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 372 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 228 | 61.3% |
| Power train | 68 | 18.3% |
| Electrical system | 48 | 12.9% |
| Unknown or other | 46 | 12.4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 44 | 11.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 26 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 2.7% |
| Air bags | 6 | 1.6% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 1.6% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 1.6% |
How 2021 compares with other Seltos years
Best and worst Seltos years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 372 | 2 |
| 2022 | 73 | 1 |
| 2023 | 46 | 2 |
| 2024 | 46 | 2 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2027 | 1 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Kia Seltos suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 31 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,150
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 285 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 31 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 34 / 31 | $2,150 | 285 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 27 / 31 / 29 | $2,300 | 314 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · Automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 30 / 27 | $2,500 | 331 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Seltos for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Kia Seltos FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Seltos have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 25V099000 (engine), 21V259000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Kia Seltos problems?
Owners filed 372 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (228), Power train (68), Electrical system (48) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Kia Seltos get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · AV-S8 CVT version at 29 city, 34 highway and 31 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Kia Seltos get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Kia Seltos suv fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (16.9% rollover risk).
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.