Kia Seltos Recalls (2021-2024)
The Kia Seltos has been the subject of 4 recall campaigns on record with NHTSA across the 2021 to 2024 model years. They cluster mostly around the engine and engine cooling, air bags, and power train.
The Kia Seltos scores 12 out of 100 (grade F), one of the heavier recall records among the vehicles we track. That score reflects how serious the recalls are rather than how many. 50% involve a critical safety system, none carried a do-not-drive warning, and 75% were issued in the last three years. How the score works.
Those 4 campaigns span 4 model years of the Kia Seltos. The single largest affected 39,765 vehicles, over power train. A recall repair is free at a franchised dealer and most never expire, so an older open recall is still worth fixing. Beyond recalls, you can also see the most common Seltos problems owners report and its crash-test safety ratings.
The full record is below, grouped first by model year and then listed in detail. Each entry gives the defect NHTSA describes, the safety risk it creates, the manufacturer's remedy, the number of vehicles in that campaign, and the dates. A recall covers a whole production run, so a campaign listed for the Kia Seltos may not apply to your exact vehicle, and one you have already had repaired will still appear in the history. To see what is actually open and unfixed on a specific car, check its 17-digit VIN.
Kia Seltos recalls by model year
Recall activity by model year. Select a year to jump to its recalls below. Older years often carry more recalls simply because defects surface over time.
Kia Seltos recalls by affected system
Which vehicle systems the recalls touch, using NHTSA's component groups. Select a system to see how it is recalled across every make and model.
Recalls by model year
2024 Kia Seltos Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2024 Kia Seltos, involving the air bags and power train.
2023 Kia Seltos Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2023 Kia Seltos, involving the engine and engine cooling and power train.
2022 Kia Seltos Recalls
1 recall affects the 2022 Kia Seltos, involving the engine and engine cooling.
2021 Kia Seltos Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2021 Kia Seltos, involving the engine and engine cooling and engine.
Every Kia Seltos recall in detail
Engine And Engine Cooling
- Affected years
- 2021-2023 Kia Seltos
- Vehicles in this recall
- 137,256
- Reported
- Feb 17, 2025
- Owners notified
- Apr 4, 2025
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 25V099000.
Air Bags
- Affected years
- 2024 Kia Seltos
- Vehicles in this recall
- 2,967
- Reported
- Dec 22, 2023
- Owners notified
- Jan 31, 2024
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC289.
NHTSA campaign number 23V830000.
Power Train
- Affected years
- 2023-2024 Kia Seltos
- Vehicles in this recall
- 39,765
- Reported
- Jul 31, 2023
- Owners notified
- Sep 28, 2023
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC275.
NHTSA campaign number 23V531000.
Engine
- Affected years
- 2021 Kia Seltos
- Vehicles in this recall
- 147,249
- Reported
- Apr 13, 2021
- Owners notified
- Jun 11, 2021
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 21V259000.
Common questions about Kia Seltos recalls
- Does the Kia Seltos have any recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA has 4 recall campaigns on record for the Kia Seltos across the 2021 to 2024 model years. The most common areas are the engine and engine cooling, air bags, and power train.
- How many times has the Kia Seltos been recalled?
- The Kia Seltos has 4 recall campaigns from the 2021 to 2024 model years. A single campaign often covers several model years at once, so the number of recalls is not the same as the number of years affected.
- What is the most serious Kia Seltos recall?
- The most serious recall on record involves the power train, affecting 39,765 vehicles. Owners were told to park outside and away from buildings because of a fire risk. An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
- Which Kia Seltos model year has the most recalls?
- The 2021 Kia Seltos has the most, with 2 recall campaigns on record. Older model years often pick up more recalls over time, since defects can surface years after a car is built.
- How do I check if my Kia Seltos has an open recall?
- Enter your 17-digit VIN on the recall check page. It returns the recalls tied to your exact vehicle straight from NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer, with no expiration on most safety recalls.
Recall data comes from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. For how it is sourced and how the safety score is built, see the methodology and data sources. This page is a reference, not legal or safety advice.