2021 Kia Seltos problems and complaints
Owners have filed 376 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Seltos. The most-reported areas: Engine (231), Power Train (68), Electrical System (48).
Key takeaways
- 376 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 13 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 8 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 231 | 61% |
| Power Train | 68 | 18% |
| Electrical System | 48 | 13% |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 | 12% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 45 | 12% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 26 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 6 | 2% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 2% |
| Steering | 5 | 1% |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia SELTOS SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Kia SELTOS SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-10-08
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine, oil pressure, and charging system warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that after waiting several minutes, the vehicle returned to normal operation. The vehicle wa...
Engine - filed 2026-10-07
As I was driving my 2021 KIA SELTOS LX AWD, at approximately 45 mph, my car had stalled causing an injury to my facial area, specifically my nose.
Vehicle Speed Control,engine - filed 2026-10-06
RECALL EVASION & TIMELINE FRAUD REPORT Filing formal complaint against Kia America & Kia of Cerritos (CA) for evasion of mandate under Safety Recall SC336 (NHTSA 25V099). 1. CRITICAL TIMELINE: • [XXX]: Kia Cerritos confirmed NO diagnostic/recall tests were performed. • [XXX]: Dealer documented engine is completely SEIZ...
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More for the 2021 Kia Seltos
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.