2021 KIA SELTOS Complaints

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 informed me there was a fire under my engine. Within five minutes, the entire car was engulfed in flames. I was very lucky. Someone told me and I was able to get out.

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 end of October/Beginning of November.

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 kept saying it would be done next day. After a few days I called and they said they were putting in an engine. I Picked it up and then two weeks before Christmas It started grinding sound and shaking etc. It was towed into Kia I bought from as my Kia roadside had expired a few days before. They ran diagnostic test and said they found nothing. I told they to try harder. Ran another test and supposedly according to some bulletin they upgraded some software back to what it was before engine replaced and the problem should be fixed. Only drove car 1 mile according to service papers I have. I have a 5 year old car with 24,000-25,000 mi. on and I am afraid to drive it. So far it has only happened when driving 45 mph or less. I will not drive it on turnpike or interstate. I want this recorded someplace so it is on the record for other with this issue.

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 and repeat internal damage, Kia and the dealer have refused recall reassessment or engineering (Techline) review and are treating this as an out-of-warranty cam failure. The vehicle experienced timing issues and near-total oil loss prior to scheduled service, creating risk of sudden loss of power while driving. I am requesting investigation of recall adequacy and engine defect.

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 brand new engine block and transmission. The recall was a safety recall to prevent the engine from stalling, risk of a crash and increased risk of fire. Although the issues with my vehicle are clearly as a result of the piston issue which were supposed to have been fixed they obviously were not and I am now experiencing all issues of the recall and bad engine. Kia of Round Rock is refusing to make this repair correctly and are asking me to pay for the new engine and transmission because they say it is out of warranty. That being said, had the recall problem been correctly resolved in 2021 I would not be having these same problems will fall directly in line with the issues resulting in the recall.

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 possible engine failure or fire hazard. The car had only 42K miles and should have been under warranty, but the dealer refused service because the code was cleared and said the warranty expired 4 months earlier. They claimed recall work was completed in June 2021 and would only help if the check engine light returned. Despite research showing codes are stored in the engine control system, the dealer insisted there was “no way to see the code.” After 10 days, the light didn’t return, so I picked up the car and continued driving, noticing a burning oil smell. On 02/02/26, I returned to the dealer, who offered only an Oil Consumption Test, stating it’s acceptable for the vehicle to burn 1.3 quarts per 1,000 miles—though the car’s oil capacity is just 4.2 quarts. The service advisor suggested I contact Kia USA, which I did on 2/06/26. Kia USA sent a repair order to the dealer, who claimed to be “working on the diagnosis.” Kia USA requested two more business days to follow up. GPS tracking shows the vehicle hasn’t moved except for parking since it was brought in.

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 tomes randomly since. Then one day after work my car wouldnt start at all and when we eventually got it started, it would then stall every 15 feet that id be able to drive it. The entire car just shuts off every time. All of my lights were still working, but the engine itself would shut off.

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 stall risk. I am being denied a loaner vehicle despite having a medically fragile child who requires this vehicle for surgery and doctor appointments. The dealership is utilizing 'oil consumption tests' as a delay tactic to avoid performing the recall-mandated engine replacement. This vehicle is unsafe to operate.

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.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), but the failure occurred. While the contact's wife was stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. While the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle lunged forward and then stalled. The contact's wife was able to coast to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that there was no oil in the engine, causing the exhaust pin to be sheared off the exhaust camshaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that when the vehicle was serviced in August of 2025, the engine was inspected; however, the recall repair was not performed. There were no oil stains found on the ground, and there was no warning light illuminated, indicating that the oil level was low. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and refused to perform the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.