2021 KIA SELTOS Complaints

The fuel pump that is located within the fuel tank and under my seat somehow got a crack on a less than 5 year old car. I've had several people and mechanics tell me that that is rare with a car of that age. I am a safe and careful driver and purchased the car used directly from a Kia dealership. I have spent the past month trying to get a good will approval and they have denied twice even when I dont feel safe driving a car that will has parts not even exposed to the outside falling apart. My fuel pump is housed within my fuel tank and under my back seat so it is inaccessible to the average person, I have never even attempted to lift the seats. I am now left with a car I dont feel safe driving in with a large loan and a dealership and manufacturer that refuse to explain how this could happen or stand behind it. I'd also like to note that the light came on in early June so change in weather was not a factor. No extreme heat or cold at that time of year immediately prior or after it happened.

Car began throwing a P0304 code in June of 2025. I took it to Brookshire Car Care and they ran a diagnostic, but found nothing to be wrong. In November of 2025, the car began throwing a P0304 code again and this time also had a P0303 code and P0335. The car was taken to Christian Brothers as it was unsafe to drive and the closest mechanic to my location. They found the crankshaft sensor to be damaged due to metallic debris. In March of 2026, the P0304 code came on again and I now took it to the closest Kia dealership. They determined 2 coils and all spark plugs should be replaced. Now, again, the P0304 code is back as of 8/31/26. I have a long list of symptoms that include the metallic debris on the crankshaft sensor, rapid oil loss, frequent rough starts on a cold engine, a metal ticking sound, constant idle vibration, a/c shuddering when car is idle or turned on and in park. The dealership has said they will not acknowledge the findings of Christian Brothers because they are not the ones who made the repair. They said they will do a thorough test on my engine, however they continued to insist it is likely a fuel injector issue. I am concerned there is extensive engine damage and they are going to try to get out of the repair by saying it’s a cheaper fix and not determining the actual cause.

My 2021 Kia Seltos 2.0L is experiencing excessive engine oil consumption between regularly scheduled oil changes. There is no visible external oil leak or oil accumulating underneath the vehicle, but the oil level becomes extremely low before the next scheduled oil change, requiring me to add oil myself. I am concerned that continued excessive oil consumption could result in inadequate engine lubrication, engine damage, engine seizure/stalling, or loss of power while driving. I took the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership on September 1, 2026 and reported the excessive oil consumption. The dealership did not inspect the vehicle, perform diagnostic testing, or provide a repair order. I was told that because the vehicle has approximately 138,000 miles and is outside the warranty period, there was nothing the dealership or Kia would do and that diagnosis could be expensive. I subsequently contacted Kia Consumer Assistance. Kia confirmed that safety recall SC209 was completed on this vehicle in 2021. Kia advised that this vehicle is not currently included in SC336/NHTSA 25V099. Kia has opened a dealer complaint and advised that the matter will be brought to the attention of a District Manager. I am concerned because Kia has identified piston oil-ring-related problems involving increased oil consumption in certain Kia Seltos vehicles. Although my vehicle has not yet been diagnosed and Kia states that it is not included in SC336, I am reporting the excessive oil consumption and potential resulting engine failure as a safety concern. The vehicle is available for inspection.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact became aware several years ago that the transmission was not shifting properly and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the technicians found no failure. The contact stated that on another occasion while in traffic, the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the brakes locked up while the vehicle was on a hill, forcing the contact to steer to the side of the road and turn the vehicle off. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence, but the following day the vehicle stalled. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and requested that the contact return the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was returned to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced 3 times within 3 years. The contact was informed by the service manager that the dual clutch was not ideal for driving in the mountains. The contact stated that during the first failure, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated with audible alerts to exit the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure continued with reduced power.

My 2021 Kia Seltos SX Turbo (1.6L Turbo engine) is experiencing severe, excessive oil consumption, burning (and heavy smoke ) approximately 1 to 2 quarts, (Kia dealer oil change standard amount) of oil every 1,000 miles without any external visual leaks. A formal diagnosis by a certified Kia dealership confirms that heavy carbon buildup has accumulated around the piston rings, causing severe ring distortion. Because the oil rings are stuck and distorted, the engine is bypassing oil directly into the combustion chamber and burning it. This exact physical failure mode—carbon buildup causing piston oil ring failure—is identical to the defect described in NHTSA Recall 25V099 (Kia Campaign SC336) for the 2.0L Seltos models. However, my vehicle is currently excluded from safety remedies due to its 1.6L Turbo engine variant. This vehicle presents a severe safety hazard, including sudden engine knocking, very heavy smoke from the exhaust, power loss, stalling at highway speeds, or potential engine fire due to running dry on oil. Regulators must expand the scope of the piston ring investigation to include the 1.6L Turbo engine footprint. There were no engine lights, oil lights, or any warning codes. I was told by Kia repair service department that although the car was smoking heavy and smelled like it was burning that I should continue to drive it and then I wasn’t in danger. Please help

Acceleration is sluggish and vehicle struggles to maintain freeway speeds. Engine stalls (engine turns off, ACC still on) during normal operation. When reducing speed approaching a stop and for making a right angle turn, only the engine shuts off, all accessories (i.e. lights, climate control, radio and navigation screen) remain on. Tachometer intermittently indicates significant increase in RPM not comparable to vehicle speed. With IGS deactivated and AC off there is no change in engine stall occurrence; gasoline level is sufficient enough to not be a contributing factor and nominal amounts of engine oil is verified, yet an engine ticking is definitely audible. Oil changes (including oil filter replacement) completed every 5,000 miles, along with other milestone services in accordance with Kia preventative maintenance schedule. *there is oil burning somewhere, as the recommended amount only lasts approximately 1,000 miles; however, no noticeable traces of oil are observed in the same spot where vehicle is regularly parked. ***Three occurrences w/similar symptoms, CEL and P001700 via OBDII diagnostic scanner (attached history of dealer service and diagnostics): 1. 2024-10-11 @ 56,990 miles 2. 2025-02-26 @ 61,732 miles 3. 2026-05-01 @ 74,839 miles Each time the following parts were removed and replaced: -24370 2E020 (FP): CVVT ASSY-EXHAUST -24200 2E074 : CAMSHAFT ASSY-EXHAUS -22441 2700 : GASKET-ROCKER COVER -22443 2000 : SEAL-OIL On average, this issue occurs at 14,000 mile intervals (57k, 62k, 75k) which, with diagnostics, parts (12,000 mile part warranty), and labor adds a $2,000 cost to own annually. **Symptoms closely resemble Class Vehicle defects outlined in both: -NHTSA Campaign Number 25V099000 -NHTSA Campaign Number 21V259000 When my VIN is submitted for recall inquiry, neither campaign applies. In the meantime, it's a pain doing so, but I've discovered a delicate temporary workaround: shift to Neutral, press start until engine runs, shift to drive

Was driving and power steering became difficult to steer and a red steering wheel icon with a exclamation mark came on in the dashboard.

My 2021 Kia Seltos stalled twice while driving and failed to restart, creating a severe safety hazard. The vehicle was previously inspected twice at a Kia dealer for the Piston Ring Recall (SC209). The dealer diagnosis now shows timing failure codes P0014 and P0017 with misfires. The technician notes that the engine oil is entirely 'metalized' and the oil control valves are contaminated with metal debris. Kia is attempting to charge me $7,182 to fix a failure caused by the exact oil starvation symptoms of their active federal safety defect.

I am requesting a formal review of an engine failure involving my 2021 Kia Seltos LX with the 2.0L engine. At approximately 103,000 miles, the original engine failed after losing nearly all of its oil. There was no obvious external oil leak or oil puddle, suggesting that the engine may have been consuming oil internally. Earlier in my ownership, the vehicle also unexpectedly shut off while operating. I paid out of pocket for a replacement engine and installation. Within approximately one to two hours of receiving the vehicle back, the check-engine light began flashing. The diagnostic information reportedly indicated piston noise, even though the replacement engine appeared to run smoothly. These circumstances appear similar to the piston-ring condition described in safety recall SC336/NHTSA 25V-099, including excessive oil consumption, cylinder damage, abnormal piston noise, engine failure, and possible loss of power. However, Kia’s online system currently shows that SC336 is not open for my VIN, and the dealer found no record that the recall had previously been completed. I understand that my VIN may not currently be included, but I am asking Kia to investigate whether my original engine experienced the same defect, confirm in writing why my VIN was excluded, and review my case for reimbursement or goodwill assistance. The failure occurred only about 3,000 miles beyond the 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and I have already incurred substantial engine and labor expenses. Please open a formal case, review my vehicle’s production and engine records, and provide a written determination. I can supply the VIN, repair invoices, proof of payment, mileage records, maintenance documentation, diagnostic codes, towing records, and replacement-engine information.

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning into the driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and there was no oil in the engine, and metal flakes were found in the camshaft. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with camshaft failure, timing failure and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,707.