Kia Seltos Complaints (2022)

76 consumer complaints on file.

#11708016December 31, 2025
ENGINE
My Seltos transmission heats up to such an extent that I have to get out of the car and park it for 45 minutes to have it cooled down. Has only 25k miles in it. Took to the dealership and they say nothing is wrong. Numerous reported issues of the same kind on Kia message boards regarding the same issue. Something to do with the dual clutch system and start/stop function
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707764December 30, 2025
ENGINE
My 2022 KIA Seltos with 52000 miles shut down on me completely in the middle of a road while I was going full speed limit causing the car behind me promptly to change lanes to avoid the collision. It happened 2 more times until I got to my destination l. After I googled what could cause the issue I saw the recall info which I didn’t get any notification about. I brought my car to a dealership and they told me that it passed the recall but I have to replace the whole engine because they found metal filings in the oil. They are refusing to do it under warranty or recall because I cannot produce oil change receipts since January of 2025. I was under the impression that recalls need to be fixed but they denying that it is a recall even though it is to a tee follows the description of a recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704100December 9, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
My vehicle was sent to the Kia dealership for service after a front-end collision there was minor body damage however the car wouldn't move so long story short a modular had to be replaced on the transmission there was multiple issues trying to program it I was told there was an issue with my computer they had to reach out to Kia manufacturer for help. I received my car back and while it was there for service I had them do an oil change I hadn't drove 300 to 400 miles and all of my oil was gone from my car when I called Kia they had me bring it back in couldn't find anything wrong with it and said they want to do a oil consumption after I had already documented oil that I had to put into the car three times in the week up until my appointment because every time I check the car it was empty of oil. Now Kia is telling me to drive a thousand miles on it so they can do an oil consumption however my check engine lights on my oil lights on and it is clearly burning extremely high amount of oil. So in caution of not blowing my engine I added oil to my car yesterday one quart and now my oil light is back on after maybe 20 miles of driving. Haven't gotten to 400 mi yet total out of the thousand Kia wants me to drive and my car has stalled at three red lights and cause me to miss out on two job opportunities. My car is a 2022 and has 62,000 miles on it. Everything I research shows there's piston recalls on the engines that are causing these exact problems that my car is having except there hasn't been a recall put into place for my specific year and make. The 2021 and the 2023 Seltos are listed, but my VIN number shows no recalls. The car has a horrible smell now it constantly smells like burning rubber or oil rather, exhaust stinks now. Car is not performing as you would expect a car would with that low of mileage in less than 3 years of ownership. And related to my accident the only issue was the modular on the transmission according to the mechanics everything else was ok
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702868December 3, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2022 Kia Seltos repeatedly stalls and shuts off while driving, including in traffic and at stop signs. The vehicle has also had multiple electrical failures and an emergency brake malfunction. A few weeks ago, October 26th, while going through a Starbucks drive-through, My car completely stopped. I got stuck in the Starbucks line and multiple people had to help me push my car out of the drive through. I can get the name of the lady at the Starbucks and maybe her co-workers to collaborate if need be plus I have text messages with my family because I didn't know what to do. The vehicle has now been at Covina Kia for three weeks, and the dealership has refused to provide a diagnosis, repair timeline, or loaner vehicle. I called today to get an update and was told to expect a response or diagnostics in approximately 10 days. They won't even give me a rental car and I'm stranded without transportation. This is a serious safety hazard that could cause a crash. I am requesting NHTSA investigation and documentation of this defect.”
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700512November 20, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
This vehicle passed the piston oil ring recall in September 2025, by November 2025 the vehicle was burning through a quart of oil a week. Two different dealerships advised that this wouldn't be covered under the recall, stating the recall was for engine noise. The recall states that the issue in question can cause increased oil consumption that will then lead to noise. The vehicle was 5,000 miles out of warrenty
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699926November 17, 2025
ENGINE
[XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] 2022 Kia Seltos [XXX] 54,000 mileage I am reporting two serious safety defects with my 2022 Kia Seltos: Engine Shut Off / “Push Engine to Start” Warning: Date(s) of occurrence:[XXX] Location: Throughout Portland, OR Description: While slowing down and stopping at intersections, the vehicle starts beeping very fast, then displays the “Push Engine to Start” warning, and then shuts off completely, creating a high risk of collision. Cruise Control Unintended Acceleration: Date(s) of occurrence: [XXX] Location: Throughout Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC Description: While cruise control was engaged, the vehicle accelerated without any driver input. This happens infrequently. On two occasions, I was on straight open roads and watched to see how fast the speed would increase - 80 mph and 100 mph. I used the brakes to stop the increase in speed. This is a severe safety hazard. The transmission stutters at low speeds, causing the car to lurch: Ongoing issue - a few times a month since purchasing the car. Previous Claims / Service History: I have previously filed a warranty claim for other issues with this vehicle. The current issues have been reported to the dealership but have not yet been repaired or reproduced. Additional Information: No video evidence is available, as the events are intermittent and stop before a camera can capture them. I am concerned for my safety, the safety of passengers, and the safety of other drivers. Action Requested: I request that NHTSA review this complaint for potential safety investigation and recall consideration. [XXX] 11/17/2025 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11698726November 11, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While at red lights, my car shuts off. It happened within the first year I had my car but Scott Kia in Springfield, PA 19064 said "we can't duplicate the problem" and did nothing. Now this has happened 3 times within 3 weeks. This morning, it took several minutes and many tries before it restarted; I had to put it in park and hit the start button many times before the engine restarted. A few times, the dashboard would light up, but then go off and engine didn't engage. There have not been any warning lights. I am taking it to my mechanic, then Kia, again. Prior to this, it would turn off in drive, then reverse. I did report this to Kia (not Springfield, the main Kia) but nothing was done.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695999October 28, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 55 MPH, they crashed into a buck. The hood came ajar and shattered the front windshield. The front end was smashed, and the radiator was leaking. The airbags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The contact sustained injuries to her neck with spasms and reversed neck and back pain; medical attention was provided. The collision alert was illuminated. The collision message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The towing company referred her to the NHTSA hotline. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11695072October 22, 2025
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
When the car goes 75-80mph on the highway, there is a metallic "ticking" noise coming from the front two sides of the car, around the area where the tires are. KIA is refusing to do anything about it because they claim they cannot drive the car that fast due to speed limits. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? --unknown How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? It is unknown what is causing the issue since KIA is refusing to look further into the issue. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - There is audio and video recording of the noise. However, the dealer is refusing to reproduce the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - No
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687008September 12, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Engine failure while driving. Car not accelerating. Check engine light came on. Pulled over, checked oil, found to be very low without evidence of leak. Oil should’ve not been that low, seemed to be burning up. Car towed to nearest auto shop for inspection/repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684601September 2, 2025
ENGINE
My car was part of the piston ring recall. It burns over half a quart of oil per 1,000 miles. When I took the car in for the recall inspection, it was deemed that it needed a new engine. They then called me and told me that they “revised” the test, and it no longer would be getting a new engine. The car is still burning oil and makes a ticking sound. The recall issue was not resolved, and my car still has the symptoms relating to the piston rings being faulty. Kia did not fulfill their duty of the recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684067August 30, 2025
ENGINE
My engine failed while i was driving on a busy street almost causing cars to hit me there were no warning signs about the engine, my battery also died as well that is the only sign that appeared.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680714August 14, 2025
ENGINE
My car was part of the original Kia engine recall for 2021-2023 Seltos'. At the initial appointment I was told that my car had failed the test and would require a new engine. Then I was called and told that Kia had issued an update on the recall and that I would have to bring it in for a different test. I called Kia's corporate office and was told on the phone by them (the guy refused to give me his name) that even if my car did fail a second time that it was hard telling when it could be fixed because they didn't have the engines to replace them with and they were on back order. Then I was told that my car had magically passed the second test. I maintained that I disagreed with them because my car still has issues going uphill and when you pull out it feels like all the power drains. They informed me that they disagreed and the technician had test driven it and didn't have any issues. They tried to coerce me into saying that it was fixed. Kia even contacted me multiple times trying to get me to "agree" that my car was fixed and I refused to answer their calls anymore. I do not agree that my car is fixed and I feel that they are just trying to rip people off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668308June 21, 2025
POWER TRAIN
I own a 2022 Kia Seltos that has experienced a persistent coolant leak. I’ve brought the vehicle in multiple times, but each time I was told the issue couldn’t be duplicated. The coolant reservoir was consistently dropping week after week. Dealership had even marked the reservoir with a line for tracking purposes. Despite keeping the vehicle for several days, the technicians were still unable to locate the source of the leak. I was then informed that any further diagnostic work would incur a service charge. When I expressed concern about this, Mark responded by saying, “The mechanics do not work for free.” Before I picked up the car, Dealership called to let me know a technician had accidentally broken a part, which they replaced. He stated the broken part was unrelated and that the original issue still had not been identified. I retrieved the vehicle and, interestingly enough, for over a year afterward, the coolant level remained stable. After this I contacted KIA corporation and I was advised they could not help in the matter and I'm have to work with the dealership. While changing the oil on [XXX]—roughly three months since I last checked the reservoir—I noticed the coolant level had dropped again, below the “low” mark. I refilled it to avoid potential damage, but it appears the original issue has returned. Ive notified the dealership on 6/19/2025 the issues has returned, I haven't heard back from as of today. The vehicle is still under it's 100K mile warranty and I need help getting KIA to honor it's warranty and not force me to pay for diagnoses. I'm being told this should fall under the lemon law and get a lawyer. I'd rather not go this route , as it's still forcing me to spend money. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663619May 29, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the contact had scheduled a recall appointment and was advised by the dealer that the recall had been placed on hold. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and advised the contact that the recall was on hold. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and ascending a hill, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, and failed to respond as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that vehicle was making abnormal knocking sounds while the vehicle was stopped and idling. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed by the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661306May 15, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer where an unknown sensor was replaced; however, the failure returned soon after the repair. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact informed the dealer of the recall, and the dealer acknowledged the recall and that the piston oil rings had failed; however, the dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had ordered the dealer not to perform the recall repair. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer. The contact was recently informed that the vehicle needed to be picked up from the dealer location because the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11661196May 15, 2025
ENGINE
Vehicle went into dealer for safety recall on 4/15. I was notified on 4/16 that my vehicle failed the test and would need a new engine. I was given a rental car. They were unsure of time frame. Later found out that recall had been placed on hold. 5/13 contacted that new test protocol had been released and my car passed under new testing. No engine would be needed. I asked for documentation of both tests the fail and the pass. I was told they are unable to print this out for me as it all goes into the Kia database. No reasonable explanation was given as to what changed that made my vehicle pass, when it previously failed. This feels incredibly suspicious. Now I am just driving around in this car that may or may not have a problem, and the value of the vehicle could be effected, should i wish to get rid of it. I do not feel this was handled appropriately.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659415May 7, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have called 2 dealers to schedule an appointment to get this major safety recall completed. Neither one is responsive. I called another and they told me that Kia put out a remedy, but that remedy was unsuccessful, so there is NO fix at the current time and KIA will notify me at a later time when another remedy is put out, then I'll have to call and schedule an appointment. This is my ONLY vehicle that I am paying a car note on. I HAVE to drive it while thinking about and risking it bursting into flames or causing me to crash. This is terrifying. I don't know what to do.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11659028May 5, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had ordered the dealer not to perform the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11658883May 5, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact stated that the failure had recurred while driving at various speeds, but mostly while driving at slow speeds. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, which required the contact to add a quart of oil to the vehicle every 2 to 3 days to reduce the frequency of the failure. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for recall repair, the local dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had put a hold on the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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