2021 Kia Seltos Safety Report
2021 KIA SELTOS Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Kia Seltos
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 Kia Seltos. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (306) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 15 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2026 | Compare against the 2026 Kia Seltos with 1 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2022 | Check the 2022 Kia Seltos before buying across this generation. |
Kia Seltos Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Seltos years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Kia Seltos | 61 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2023 Kia Seltos | 41 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2024 Kia Seltos | 38 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2025 Kia Seltos | 8 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 1 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2021 Kia Seltos Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 Kia Seltos, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
113 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
34 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Kia onlyPower Train
27 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other
17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyPower Train,Engine
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Kia onlyElectrical System
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Kia Seltos
Reliability Score
The 2021 Kia Seltos receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 Kia Seltos
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2021 Kia Seltos
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Kia Seltos:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Oil Ring Defect A known defect in the engine oil ring can cause engine seizure and failure, particularly in the 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. |
High | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Seizure Engine seizure has been reported, leading to engine failure and difficulty starting the vehicle. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Check Engine Light Activation The check engine light has been activated due to various issues, including engine stalling and power train problems. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Rattling Noise Drivers have reported a continuous rattling noise from the engine, which can be a symptom of the oil ring defect. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Kia Seltos:
Engine issues are the most common problem, with 40% of reported issues related to engine performance and failure.
Electrical system problems, including check engine light activation, account for 20% of reported issues.
Power train issues, such as engine stalling and loss of motive power, are reported in 27% of cases.
Other miscellaneous issues, including engine cooling and fuel/propulsion system problems, make up 13% of reported issues.
Recall Details for the 2021 Kia Seltos
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Kia Seltos by NHTSA:
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.
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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Kia Seltos
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Kia Seltos with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 2 involved fires. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
While driving engine shut off and car will not start. Garage states engine is seized up. It is same engine that Kia recalled
The engine seems to be failing/affected. The vehicle is currently available for inspection at Huffines Kia in [XXX] where it has been since Saturday, March 14, 2026 and they have yet to perform the SC336 Safety Recall while trying to charge a diagnostic fee for a multipoint inspection that I did not ask for. The vehicle would not start which now I know is due to total oil consumption, which app...
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the engine, before the engine caught on fire. After the failure, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over safely. The fire was extinguished independently. There were no reported injuries. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA...
I made a turn onto a highway. I got up to 45 mph after my turn and my car stalled. It felt like a was reared ended, my car came to just about a complete stop. It then began to shake and would not accelerate past 5mph to get me over to the side of the road. The check engine light came on. On 2/28/2026 my engine came on, I took it to Kia and they replaced my spark plugs, I got my vehicle back on 3/1...
Engine stalled at stoplight. Was able to restart and pulled into closest parking lot where it began idling hard. Check Engine light turned on. Checked oil and it was bone dry (no signs of oil leak/burning beforehand). After adding about a quart of oil, while in park I revved the engine slowly, but it would stall out if it went over 3000 rpms and idle even harder. My basic code reader popped for P0...
I am filing a complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Seltos 2.0L. While driving, the engine made a continuous rattling noise, and the check engine light illuminated with code P0017 (Camshaft/Crankshaft Correlation). Upon inspection, I discovered the engine oil level was extremely low. After adding oil, the rattling stopped, but the P0017 code remains. I contacted my dealership, which refused to perform ...
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to stop the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that there was an open recall for the engin...
My 2021 Kia Seltos (manufactured April 2020, ~94,000 miles) has the 2.0L Nu MPI engine affected by a known piston oil ring defect. Symptoms include piston noise, excessive oil consumption, rough idle, reduced power, and codes: P1327 (PNSS-detected knock), P0304 (cyl 4 misfire), P0017 (crank/cam correlation error). These indicate progressive cylinder wall scoring from improperly heat-treated rings,...
[XXX] Kia Seltos engine stalled and then stopped running. Driver attempted to turn engine over with no success. [XXX] The 2021 Seltos was towed to Kia in Jacksonville Nc. Kia Jacksonville stated engine seized, performed a compression test of cylinders with failure. cylinder 1 had a 135 psi, cylinder 3 had a 105 psi. It was stated that cylinder 1 and 3 had excessive scoring on the walls. P...
On [XXX], check engine light came on with P1327 (PNSS piston noise detection). History includes SC209 recall in 2021 (inspection passed, PNSS software added Feb 2022). Now at 94,000 miles with misfire P0304 on cyl 4 and timing correlation P0017—dealer refuses full engine replacement under recall. Service dealer insisted it would be safe to drive 300 miles to Billings, MT from my home base location...
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH up a slight hill, the vehicle shuddered significantly and failed to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light then started flashing. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to Hamlin Automotive on several occasions. The mechanic replaced...
I had my car to a reliable mechanic who informed me of open recalls on my vehicle. The next morning, while I was driving, the engine started making a noise and I called a local Kia dealership. I was making arrangements to bring the car in for them to look at when the car stalled, and I got to the side of the road. While I was looking up the number to call for a tow service, a driver passed me and ...
Shuddered into limp mode at a stop sign. Has a sever shudder that throws it into limp mode, loses ability to drive in reverse and then loses ability to drive at all. Has issues shifting gears while driving causing the engine to rev itself while driving. Vehicle has left me stranded on multiple occasions. Has nearly 75,000 miles and I've put just over 4,000 of those on it since acquiring it at the ...
My engine was replaced April 9. 2025 because of piston issues. I had taken it in a few weeks prior for terrible grinding noise, shaking, and slowing down. They didn't find anything wrong. It happened for a short time twice after and didn't take in as sporadic and would stop. Then it happened again for longer time. I had it towed to Kia again. During time in shop, I received a recall letter. Shop k...
My 2021 Kia Seltos has experienced repeat internal engine damage related to oil consumption. An intake camshaft previously failed and was replaced by Kia. The vehicle has now suffered a second camshaft failure (exhaust cam) with dealer documentation of oil starvation. Prior recall SC336 was addressed only with a software update and no mechanical engine inspection. Despite documented oil starvation...
My Seltos had a recall in 2021 (recall number SC209) because the piston oil rings were not property heated which can result in engine damage. The problem was supposedly repaired in 2021, yet in 2026 at 50,000 miles I am having piston notice problems and the engine light is constantly lit. The car has stalled on several occasions. I am being told that my vehicle with only 50,000 miles needs a br...
On 01/04/26, my vehicle’s Check Engine light came on and the engine was shaking. The next day, my mechanic diagnosed a P0301 code (cylinder #1 misfire), found signs of burning oil and cylinder damage in all cylinders, and noted the car had burned over 2 quarts of oil since the last oil change. He suspected faulty oil rings (previously recalled) and advised immediate dealer repair, warning of possi...
Dealer has denied to look into recall claiming that it is part of a warranty extension when it is a safety recall due to the issues I am experiencing. The car began to stall not even a year into me owning the vehicle. I had barely had the car for 4 months, not even enough time for my first oil change and my car stalled on me in a parking lot as I was driving. It shut off. It has done this multiple...
I am reporting a failure of the remedy for NHTSA Recall 25V099 (Kia Recall SC336). My 2021 Kia Seltos with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine is exhibiting severe engine knocking and high oil consumption. Despite providing video evidence of the knock to Archer Kia (Houston, TX), the dealership refuses to acknowledge the defect or perform the required borescope inspection. This defect is a documented fire and...
The Kia was traveling approximately 45 - 50 mph and struck another vehicle that had pulled out from a stop sign. I had my hand on the horn and the airbags did not deploy on impact.
Showing 20 of 306 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2021 Kia Seltos
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Opened 2025-08-06 · Closed 2025-12-18
On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, inconsistent inspection results to determine whether an engine replacement was needed, and the unavail...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Kia Seltos
Has the 2021 KIA SELTOS been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 KIA SELTOS has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 KIA SELTOS have?
The 2021 KIA SELTOS has 306 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 10 involved crashes. 6 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
The 2021 KIA SELTOS received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 KIA SELTOS involve engine (113 complaints), engine and engine cooling (34 complaints), power train (27 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, power train,engine, electrical system.
How many crash reports does the 2021 KIA SELTOS have?
There are 10 crash reports associated with the 2021 KIA SELTOS out of 306 total complaints (3.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 KIA SELTOS have?
There are 5 fire reports for the 2021 KIA SELTOS out of 306 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 KIA SELTOS.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
6 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 KIA SELTOS. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 KIA SELTOS?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 KIA SELTOS is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 306 complaints, 2 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 KIA SELTOS are: 1. ENGINE (113 complaints), 2. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (34 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN (27 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (17 complaints), 5. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (13 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 113 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 KIA SELTOS?
Be aware of potential engine seizure and check engine light activation. Ensure to check for recalls and address any issues promptly. The 2021 KIA SELTOS has 306 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
The 2021 KIA SELTOS receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 306 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 15 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Oil Ring Defect and Engine Seizure.
What are the known issues with the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
Known issues with the 2021 KIA SELTOS include: Engine Oil Ring Defect, Engine Seizure, Check Engine Light Activation, Engine Rattling Noise. These are based on patterns found across 306 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common engine issues with the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
Common engine issues include engine seizure, check engine light activation, and oil ring defects.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 KIA SELTOS?
Yes, recalls have been issued for engine oil ring defects that can lead to engine seizure.
What should I do if I experience engine problems?
Contact a mechanic to inspect your vehicle and address any issues, especially if you notice engine seizure or check engine light activation.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential engine seizure and check engine light activation. Ensure to check for recalls and address any issues promptly.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Kia Seltos
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Kia Seltos. The data includes 306 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 10 reported crashes, 5 fire incidents, 6 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 Kia Seltos an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16