Kia Seltos years to avoid (and the best years)

543 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls across 5 model years, 2021 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

543complaints
4recalls
28reported crashes
10reported fires
15reported injuries

Which Kia Seltos years should you avoid?

By NHTSA owner complaints, the Kia Seltos year to avoid is 2021. The typical Kia Seltos year has 46 complaints on file.

2021: 368 complaints, 8.0 times the typical year. Most complaints name the engine (72% of complaints) and the transmission and drivetrain (18% of complaints).

What are the best Kia Seltos years?

The Kia Seltos year with the fewest complaints on file is the 2023 (46). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Year	Complaints	vs typical year	Recalls	Crashes	Injuries	Our read	Most reported
2025	12	0.3×	0	1	0	Few red flags	Exterior lighting
2024	45	1.0×	2	4	2	Few red flags	Electrical system
2023	46	1.0×	2	4	3	Few red flags	Engine
2022	72	1.6×	1	6	2	Some concerns to check	Engine
2021	368	8.0×	2	13	8	Approach with caution	Engine

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 543 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Engine & powertrain397 (73%)
Electrical & infotainment64 (12%)
Structure & body23 (4%)
Steering, suspension & tires20 (4%)
Other systems16 (3%)

Recalls (4)

Engine · 25V099000 · Feb 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Airbags · 23V830000 · Dec 2023 · model year 2024
An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Transmission · 23V531000 · Jul 2023 · model years 2023, 2024
An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Safety · 21V259000 · Apr 2021 · model year 2021
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.