2021 Kia Seltos problems
The Kia Seltos (Korean: 기아 셀토스) is a subcompact crossover SUV manufactured by Kia. Introduced in mid-2019, the Seltos is positioned between the smaller Stonic, Soul, or Sonet and the larger Sportage in Kia's global SUV lineup.
The Seltos is designated as a global product with three variations introduced for different markets. The first variation is the largest version of the Seltos, which is manufactured in South Korea (codename: SP2) mainly aimed at developed markets, including North America and Australasia. The two other variations are the Indian-made Seltos (codename: SP2i) and the closely related Chinese version badged as the Kia KX3 (codename: SP2c). The SP2i and SP2c models are the low-cost versions of the Seltos to penetrate emerging markets, built on the Hyundai-Kia K2 platform and closely related to the second-generation Hyundai Creta/ix25. Despite being a globally marketed model, the Seltos is not sold in the European market.
The name "Seltos" is derived from "Celtos", the son of Hercules and Celtine in Greek mythology. According to Kia, the Seltos will be marketed to millennials.
Social links
Common 2021 Kia Seltos problems
The 2021 Kia Seltos has been reported to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are the details of these issues:
- Engine Major: Some 2021 Kia Seltos owners have experienced engine-related problems. These problems include the engine shutting off while driving up an incline and not restarting until the driver realizes the issue and hits the brakes. This can potentially lead to accidents if there is a vehicle behind the Seltos.
- Exhaust: There have been no specific exhaust-related problems reported for the 2021 Kia Seltos. However, engine issues can sometimes affect the exhaust system.
- Engine Minor: Some minor engine issues have been reported for the 2021 Kia Seltos, such as the engine using excessive oil. One owner reported using one quart of oil every 1000 miles, which is not normal for most vehicles.
- Paint and Trim: No significant paint or trim issues have been reported for the 2021 Kia Seltos.
- Transmission Major: Transmission problems have been reported for the 2021 Kia Seltos, with some owners experiencing transmission overheating in slow-moving traffic. This issue can cause the vehicle to hesitate and stall, potentially leading to accidents in heavy traffic.
- Engine Electrical: There have been no specific engine electrical problems reported for the 2021 Kia Seltos. However, electrical issues can sometimes affect the engine's performance.
- In-car Electronics: Some owners have reported issues with the in-car electronics of the 2021 Kia Seltos. For example, one owner reported that the electronic gas mileage display didn't update while filling the tank, although the physical gauge did update.
- Drive System: No significant drive system problems have been reported for the 2021 Kia Seltos.
In summary, the 2021 Kia Seltos has been reported to have engine, transmission, and in-car electronics problems. These issues can potentially lead to accidents and inconvenience for owners. It is essential to address these problems promptly to ensure the safety and satisfaction of Kia Seltos owners.
What is the common problem with Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos engine is prone to stalling while stopped and even during acceleration. That can create a significant safety hazard for you and other drivers, especially if you are cruising down the highway and your engine suddenly stalls out. The engine has also exhibited acceleration delays.
What is the engine issue on the Kia Seltos 2021?
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.
Is the 2021 Kia reliable?
Yes, Kias are reliable cars. J.D. Power ranked Kia the most reliable mass-market manufacturer in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Kia vehicles also have one of the industry's longest powertrain warranties: 10 years/100,000 miles.
Is Kia Seltos reliable?
The 2024 Kia Seltos has a predicted reliability score of 87 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
2021 Kia Seltos car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Kia Seltos problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine problems
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Kia Seltos vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2021 Kia Seltos
The NHTSA has received 152 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Kia Seltos. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2021 Kia Seltos vehicles.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-09
- VIN: KNDERCAA3M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an audible pinging sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and an oil change was performed. The contact was informed that the oil level was low; however, there was no indication of an oil leak. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. In addition, the contact stated that again the oil consumption was unusually high and again there was no indication of an oil leak. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-14
- VIN: KNDEUCAA8M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 65-70 MPH on the highway, the engine was revving but the vehicle failed to respond as needed before shutting down. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, but provided no additional assistance. The contact called the SAG Office and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-16
- VIN: KNDEU2AA6M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: I was at a stop light and when the light turned green the car i took my foot off the brake and placed it on the gas pedal, but the car wouldn't move. Almost like it shut down. I had to restart it to make it go. It ran but not the same.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-14
- VIN: KNDEPCAA2M7
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Hello, I received the anti theft software update on my Kia last year part of the nationwide recall. Today, I had to use my steel key to open the car door and when I did, it started ringing the alarm. The car was unable to start without pressing the open button in my key fob. I had to replace the key fob battery in order for me to get into my car and drive it. I have a steel key, not push to start.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-01
- VIN: KNDEUCAA6M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Engine oil burning to quickly. Have replaced two quarts between oil changes.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-13
- VIN: KNDEU2AA2M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The Engine. No? The engine blew up at night in the middle of a busy highway. Leaving the vehicle powerless and overheating. Yes. No, there was no immediate indication of an issue until it occurred.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-14
- VIN: KNDERCAAXM7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The check engine light turned on and my 2021 Kia Seltos stalled as I exited the highway. With seconds, my vehicle turned off, and I was unable to restart it for a bit.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-19
- VIN: KNDETCA21M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: This happens everyday while I’m driving. The vehicle hesitates and grinds when you try to accelerate and prevents you from going forward. It pulls the car back in yanking motion. Which is extremely dangerous.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-20
- VIN: KNDEPCAAXM7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Two times in the last week, my engine shut off/stalled while driving in traffic. The check engine, battery and oil lights came on because the key was still turned. I had no other warning, I just couldn’t accelerate and had to coast to safety. Both times I was able to safely pull over and turn the key to restart the car and get home. I am currently at 63k miles and just got an oil change. My last oil change was in March 2024 at 58k miles.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-14
- VIN: KNDEPCAA2M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly jerked before returning to normal functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact also stated that the transmission had been replaced 5 times; however, the failure had not been resolved. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 19,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-06
- VIN: KNDERCAA3M7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
- Summary: I’m not really sure what the problem was. I feel like the car may have lost power and I lost function of the car / brakes. I’m assuming it’s either an engine or electrical. Warning lights came on. Prior to losing function, the vehicle felt like it was sorta puttering. I’d give it the gas and there was a delayed, and then jerk forward. There’s a vibration sound that happens when I go around 15-30 miles an hour. Not sure if it’s related. It’s being looked at on June 24. I had to turn off the car and restart to gain control.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-08
- VIN: KNDEP2AA7M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shuddering. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing to replace a piston ring in a cylinder. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was told the engine needed to be repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 16,927.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-24
- VIN: KNDEUCAA7M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The engine stalls and or dies when breaks are applied. Yes, it was confirmed by dealer. Engine light came on. Has been in shop. Car only has 97,000 miles. They are refusing to honor extended warranty even though other Kia Seltos engines have the exact same problem that are under recall. These are engine sensor problems ... they have nothing to do with "oil changes" that they claim were made late (One)
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-13
- VIN: KNDEPCAAXM7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: My car is burning through oil.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-01
- VIN: KNDEU2AA6M7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: You are driving with all windows up in Florida with the temperature outside from 70's to 90's Degrees with AC on cold and running and suddenly car displays the temperature outside -39 Degrees and the car starts blowing very hot air that fogs all windows within seconds and daughter is unable to see. Car has been taken to Kia of Leesburg, FL more than 5 times. Dealer has changed the temperature sensor and checked the wiring, but the vehicle is still doing the same. Daughter almost had 3 major accidents because of this with 3 year old in the car. Need NHTSA to investigate this and push KIA of America for resolution. Has happened multiple times and we have it on video.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-23
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: KNDEU2AA3M7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE
- Summary: The car initially had electrical and engine issues since may of 2022. The engine would fail mid drive and the car would turn of in the middle of driving and would lock up until engine would restart on its own. It stayed at the dealership for repairs until march of 2023. After many modifications and alterations and several new engines and transmission changes they returned the car to me on march of 2023 assuring me it was fixed and there would be no issues. Several weeks later while driving on the highway, the engine turned off mid drive, I lost control of the car entirely. Brakes wouldn’t brake. Car crashed into highway median. And upon impact none of the airbags deployed. The car continuously put myself and passengers at risk at the beginning of its failing. The car of April 2023 severely injured me. I was the only passenger at the times thankfully. Since the airbag never deployed my face, chest, ribs, arm, and neck were severely injured. It’s been almost a year and im still physically affected by the crash.
ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-10
- VIN: KNDEU2AA6M7
- Components: ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: See attached document for complaint
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-23
- VIN: KNDERCAA6M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact's daughter owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that his daughter was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that his daughter was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated during the failure. The contact stated that his daughter drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine piston oil rings had failed and damaged the engine. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,736.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-01
- VIN: KNDETCA20M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: My Transmission Temp light goes on when I am in slow traffic going on an uphill road. I need to pull over and let it cool down, This has happen in Mountains in Colorado , So it is cold outside. Both times i need to get a tow due to the fact there are no places to pull over on single lane road. it takes approx. 1 hour to cool down and i can only drive 100 yards before light comes back on. I have brought to Dealership twice in last several months and they tell me there is nothing they can do about it. This is a Major safety hazard.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-03
- VIN: KNDETCA28M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Car cannot operate in reverse. Error code P060194. Forward gears are questionable.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-27
- VIN: KNDEU2AA1M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Car is burning oil to the point the engine light comes on between oil changes. This is the second engine they have put in this car and still doing it. They did engine oil consumption test and say it's not burning over a quart every 1000 miles. I've never in my life had a car burn oil like this. They said Kia won't do anything about it.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-06
- VIN: KNDERCAA0M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: After about a hour and a half of driving the car began to surge between 2,000 and 3,000 RPM. This has happen and few times but the last time the transmission lost high gear. The car had to be towed to the dealerships. The dealership is stating there is nothing wrong. I feel this is a safety issue.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-26
- VIN: KNDETCA28M7
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: The vehicle was sputtering and then shut off and would not start. I called KIA and had it towed to Dealership. They called several days later stating there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. Then several weeks later getting on the turnpike it sputter and shut off. I was able to get it started again and repeated the same sputter and shutting off an additonal 2 times on the turnpike. I was able to get the vehicle home to my drive way. The tow truck came and could not get it to start. He towed it back to the dealership. This time they replaced the fuel injector. The mechanic advised KIA that this issued caused scoring on the cylinders. KIA authorized replacing the fuel injector. KIA claimed scoring on the cylinders is normal. You don't have to be a mechanic to know this is. not normal and over time will lead to engine failure. KIA will not replace the engine. My case # is 15929784
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-16
- VIN: KNDERCAA0M7
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: My wife went to work 11/23/23 and the car died in the intersection, she would have been going 5 to 10 mph, the engine light came on. She was able to start it and return home. I made the appointment at Bob Lanpheres Beaverton Kia and the inspected the issue. It is reported to me that, “Boroscoped cylinders and found vertical scoring on the cylinders. Performed compression test and all cylinders are under spec” They replaced the engine, The total costs was 6486.65$. My research has shown me that a recall was issued for Seltos engines from this year and after talking to Kia and online my engine is not qualified for engine reimbursement because the manufacturer date was beyond the range of the recall. I feel this is wrong as the description from the repair shop and recall notice are identical and that the recall should be expanded. This page will not let me upload photos, I have a copy of the dealers findings.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-12-01
- VIN: KNDEP2AA4M7
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: esta quemando aceite de motor muy rapido y antes de tiempo. mientras se utiliza esta lento y cuando sube cuestas muy pesado tiene que hacer mucha fuerza.
2021 Kia Seltos recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2021 Kia Seltos.
- Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
- Components: ENGINE
- 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.
Negative 2021 Kia Seltos car reviews
Positive 2021 Kia Seltos car reviews
-
Your car is amazing! It drives like a dream and has great features. Even though it's smaller, there's still plenty of room for everyone. And the moon night blue color is just awesome. You made a great choice and I'm so happy for you!
-
My wife had a Kia Forte for 8 years and loved it, but it was time for a change and I wanted her in a slightly larger, safer vehicle. She absolutely loves her Seltos! We've had it for 9 months and 6000 miles with no issues. I'm 6' and 245 and find it very comfortable, but so does my 5'3
-
Good handling, nice ride for an AWD. The 2021 Kia Seltos 2.0L boasts very smart technology.
-
It's great to hear that you're enjoying the spaciousness of the SUV! The comfortable seats and smooth ride definitely make for a pleasant driving experience.
-
I have a SX 1.6 turbo in star bright yellow with a moon roof (which I had wrapped in black). So far, it's been great! We've had it since October 17th, 2020, but it only has 900 miles on it since it's my wife's car and we only use it for 200 miles per month. Unfortunately, the wireless phone charger doesn't work with our Samsung phones. The turbo has a bit of lag when first taking off, but it quickly makes up for it. The transmission is a bit quirky in any mode but sport. However, if you keep it below 65, the gas mileage is in the mid 30's. Around town, we average 28. I really like the handling as it feels very sporty. Overall, I'm very happy with it so far!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Kia Seltos problems:
Kia Seltos - Good, Bad or Ugly? | Problems After 4,500 Kms - YouTube
Sep 11, 2022 ... Hi, this is the #Kia #Seltos and we will what problems the car has after 4500 Kms of running. The aspects which we will be looking at is ...
2021 Kia Seltos Reliability - Consumer Reports
Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Engine Major · Exhaust · Engine Minor · Paint And Trim · Transmission Major · Engine Electrical · In-car Electronics · Drive ...
Most Improved!? Did Kia Fix a BIG Problem With The NEW 2024 Kia ...
May 12, 2023 ... ... Small SUV. Redline Reviews•158K views · 17:56 · Go to channel · 2021 Kia Seltos | Bad Name, Good Car. savagegeese•217K views · 18:31 · Go to ...
2021 Kia Seltos Problems Include Major Oil Leak Recall, Electrical ...
Mar 29, 2022 ... 2021 Kia Seltos' First Big Problem: Major Oil Leak Recall Affecting Almost 150,000 Models. The 2021 Kia Seltos has had a pretty smooth rollout ...
Kia Seltos 2021 SX Turbo: Transmission Dead After Under 1 year ...
Nov 22, 2021 ... I wouldn't be too worried about it - these things happen and doesn't seem to be a common occurence on these cars. I'm willing to bet the 1.6T+ ...
Other years of Kia Seltos
Are you having problems with your 2021 Kia Seltos?
Ron Sauer 2024-10-26
The car has been in the shop for almost a month despite having been driven for less than 5k miles in the year that I have owned it. Despite attempts to fix the issue, the car still has every light on the dashboard on, will not shift into drive or reverse, and the keys will not work. The entire fuse block has been replaced in an effort to resolve the issue, but the car was still completely dead when I attempted to pick it up after being told it was fixed. Given these persistent issues, I am considering exploring my legal options.
Diamond Mohr 2024-09-27
I have owned my Seltos since May 2020. While it has experienced a few recalls and required some maintenance, I am confident in its overall quality and performance. I am currently addressing a piston issue and a leak, but I trust that these will be resolved quickly and effectively. Despite its low mileage of 5000 miles, I am satisfied with my Seltos and would recommend it to others.
Floyd King 2024-09-13
I've been driving the car for 6 months now and I must say, I really like the look and feel of it. The bells and whistles are also quite impressive. However, I did notice that some parts of the car tend to scratch easily both on the inside and outside, just like one of the other reviewers mentioned. Unfortunately, I've already had two engine issues with only 7200 miles on the car. Currently, the car turns off completely when stopped, even when it's in DRIVE! Additionally, the engine has started making loud noises and shakes when it's in lower speeds. This week, the check engine light came on, so I'll be taking it to the dealership. If things don't improve, I might have to write to the corporate office. It's frustrating to have so many issues with a new car in just a few months, don't you think?
Lucas Hettinger 2024-09-07
Despite my car breaking down with only 2800 miles on the clock, I am confident that Kia will resolve the issue. Although it has been 2 months, they have now proposed to replace the engine on my brand new vehicle, which I trust will resolve the issue once and for all.
Willis Rogahn 2024-09-01
I purchased my Kia Seltos brand new in 2020 and drove it for 28,000kms. Unfortunately, I experienced some issues with the engine due to defective parts, but Kia was able to provide me with a new engine. Although it took 3 weeks to fix, I was grateful for their assistance. However, I did experience another issue with a loose hose clamp for the coolant, which caused me to be stranded on the road for 2 hours. This was not the fault of the mechanics, but rather a bad clamp. Despite these setbacks, I still believe that the Seltos is a great car. It's important to do your research before purchasing any vehicle, and I highly recommend the Subaru Crosstrek as a replacement option. Used cars are currently quite expensive, so if you can wait, it's best to purchase a new car and save money in the long run. Stay safe on the road!