10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
345 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Kia Seltos miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2021 Kia Seltos Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Apr 012024

Seltos

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #21

Aug 242023

Seltos

  • miles
My vehicle appeared to restart itself (dashboard lights turned off and immediately turned back on as if the car had been started up) as I was a approaching a red stop light toward the end of a 1 hour/60 mile commute. This is the 3rd time since I've had my vehicle (purchased in October of 2020) that I've had an event like this occur while driving. Currently waiting service appointment, 2 weeks away 1st incident, within the 1st 6 months of ownership, cant remember the exact date: Vehicle appeared to restart as I turned left at a green light. 2nd incident: Vehicle appeared to restart itself whilst driving on highway (thankfully no traffic/other cars on the road at this time, but I was doing 70+mph at the time). Shortly after this incident, I called the local dealer to setup a service appointment about this issue. Service was unable to to replicate issue. They looked for whatever codes that might lead them to the source of the problem, but none found. Was told to monitor bring vehicle back in if it happened again. It's seems to look like some sort of electrical/computer glitch that causes the car to do this. It happens inconsistently (different driving conditons) and infrequently, but is a major safety issue.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #20

Jun 052023

Seltos

  • miles
MY VEHICLE HAS SHOUT OFF ON ME 4 TIMES EITHER WHILE STOPPED AT THE LIGHT/ STOP SIGN. APPROACHING A LIGHT AND OR STOP SIGN WHILE SLOWING TO STOP. IT APPEARS TO BE THAT PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT SHUTS DOWN OR OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO CONSERVE GAS IS MALFUNCTIONING THIS CLEARLY BECOMES A SAFETY RISK DEPENDING ON WHERE THE CAR IS POSITIONED AT THE TIME OF THE SHUT DOWN, SLOWING TO MAKE TURN OR STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. AT THIS TIME I WILL BE REPORTING THIS ISSUE TO THE DESALERSHIP, THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY ANYONE AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT HERE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LAMPS ACTIVATED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. At the time I did not think to copy the dates, times, mph or mileage of the vehicle but the information on the screen instructed me to put the vehicle in park to restart. this a very scary situation in traffic.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #19

Nov 262022

Seltos

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car door flew open while I was driving. Car did not recognize that my door was open. The locking mechanism on the driver side of the vehicle seems to have given out. Cannot close driver side door.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #18

Apr 242022

Seltos

  • miles
When driving long distance, (over 5 hours) all of the emergency lights and collision warnings appear on the dashboard. The traction control begins to activate on its own. In dry, good conditions with no rain, I believe it-??s the drivers side front wheel that-??s engaging traction control while at high speeds of 60-70 miles per hour. The vehicle was dropped off at the dealership and they attempted to replicate the issues but could not, they mentioned that another customer had the same issue, we left it with the dealership for about a week. Our safety was at risk due to the fact that the brakes are engaging sporadically at high speeds.

- Pensacola , FL, USA

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problem #17

Jan 132022

Seltos

  • miles
This car was recalled for issues with oil piston rings receiving incorrect "coating" when made. Our car passed inspection to verify the recall issue didn't exist however the car was two quarts of oil LOW. After going through Kia's required oil consumption testing (no oil on ground by the way), we await Kia's decision on a full engine replacement on our 2021 car. Before bringing the car in it stalled unexpectedly in various scenarios, on freeway, going up hills, parking, and coming to a stop. Also the engine was making major noises, clicking, sounds like a diesel, and screeching noises when stopping. The safety issue of stopping was explained by service manager as due to lack of oil.

- Evanston, IL, USA

problem #16

Jan 212022

Seltos

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I pulled up to a busy intersection which had a stoplight that had just turned red. As I was waiting there, all of a sudden my car just died. The engine stopped and no electrical was working either. There were no warning lights or messages at all. I tried to start it, but to no avail. The cars shifter was also locked in the drive position. I turned the hazard lights on as I was trying to figure out what was going on. My safety and the safety of my children, who were in the car at the time, was put at risk as drivers behind me were growing impatient as light turned green and I couldn-??t move.There were no warning lights that went on prior to the car failing, or after i got the car started again. On about my fifth try of trying to start it, the car slowly started up again and I was able to pull into a nearby parking lot.

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #15

Jan 112022

Seltos

  • miles
Along with hundreds of others who have had their KIAS stolen, my 2021 Kia Seltos S was stolen on January 11th at approximately 3:30 p.m. from a busy Walgreens parking lot in Milwaukee Wisconsin. In under 5 minutes of being in the store, the back passenger small window was smashed and the car was accessed. My two kids backpacks and school laptops and my son's cell phone were in the vehicle as well when it was stolen.

- Wauwatosa, WI, USA

problem #14

Dec 152021

Seltos

  • miles
I took my car 4 times to the dealer telling them it shut off. N they refused to do more work on the car due to they could not recreate the incident. Means they went ahead and put me in danger.

- Buena Park, CA, USA

problem #13

Dec 112021

Seltos

  • miles
My car Cutts off while driving especially when I-??m Turning happening more frequently now it-??s shuts off all dash lights come on and I have to put it back in park and start it up agian

- North Highlands, CA, USA

problem #12

Oct 282021

Seltos

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car was stolen. No alarm sounded when window broken in front-passenger side. Car was locked and alarm set. It has come to my attention through various news outlets and via class-action lawsuit filed in Milwaukee, WI that there is a security flaw in Kia-??s vehicles dating 2011-present.

- Brookfield , WI, USA

problem #11

Aug 182021

Seltos

  • miles
21V-259 recall for inconsistent heat treating process for piston oil rings. The dates for use of the recalled piston rings Nov 20,1019 -Oct 15, 2020. My Seltos was in production at the time the damaged oil rings were used. I took my Seltos in for the repair, MY VEHICLE WAS NOT repaired. A vibration test was done and a program update was installed to detect vibration. The vehicle still has the recalled damaged oil rings. The vehicle stalls out, runs rough and continues to worsen. The first engine start up is the worst for engine noise and running rough. I expressed my concerns to the dealership, a vibration test with program software uploaded isn't a repair. Asked when will then piston rings be replaced? They stated they didn't know of that any such repair and my car is repaired. Yet it still stalls, continues to runs rough and worsening, oil check has grit feelin it. So I guess I wait till the engine stalls causing a wreck or the vehicle ignites into flames. I'm scared to drive the car and financially stuck with it because no one is willing to do anything more than what's been done. This is not fair and shouldn't be an acceptable outcome for a safety recall, as the issue of safety has not been addressed.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

problem #10

Jun 112021

Seltos

  • 7,350 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where the vehicle was inspected. The contact was informed that the vehicle was okay to drive. The contact stated on 9/26/2021 while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The dealer informed the contact not to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was unable to reach a representative with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 7,350.

- Winthrop, MA, USA

problem #9

Aug 102021

Seltos

  • miles
My vehicle was stolen by the Milwaukee KiA Boyz. Found damaged and will take up to 3 months to get parts due to number of KIAs being stolen. My car was taken at 915 am in my employee parking lot which is an assisted living and memory care community. We have kids scoping our parking lot and targeting cars. This has become a bigger issue than just a car being stolen. This is a personal safety issue as well as a community safety and risk issue

- Hartland, WI, USA

problem #8

Mar 222021

Seltos

  • miles
I purchased the vehicle in March 2021. Within a week I heard a tapping or vibrating noise from rear seat. Most recently while driving less than 10 mph over a speed bump or moving in line at a gas station I hear a grinding crunching kind of sound from the front of the vehicle. While driving on the interstate there's a weird vibration feeling on the gas pedal.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #7

Jul 202021

Seltos

  • miles
Extreme design flaw, and security subpar security measures on this vehicle. My car was stolen last night because Kia's have been easy to steal. These design flaws are posing significant safety measures. Not to mention inconvenience to myself and others who have to deal with contacting insurance, getting a rental, and or finding a new car. This needs to be fixed asap. Vehicle theft for Kia and Hyundai have been up over 2500% since this time last year! Recall your cars and fix it!!!! Because of this I will never lease another Kia again.

- Wauwatosa, WI, USA

problem #6

Jul 182021

Seltos

  • miles
Spontaneously Burst into flames. Was completely destroyed. I-??ll have to send pics if car tomorrow when I can get into the impound.

- Oklahoma City , OK, USA

problem #5

May 222021

Seltos

  • miles
I-??m making a complaint because a Driver hit the front side of my vehicle on the drivers side, and gave me all there information. No police was called because the damage to my vehicle wasn-??t bad. So the driver knew it was their fault and gave there information. When it was time to call there insurance company, the driver of the other vehicle change their story and said that my car hit there vehicle and now the insurance company is saying that they are not allowable for the damages. They also noted that since there were no witnesses and no cameras or police report, then it-??s just -??he-?? says -??she-?? says kind of issue. If this driver knew it wasn-??t their fault then why did they give all their private information to a total stranger if they didn-??t cause the accident.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #4

Feb 092021

Seltos

  • 41 miles
The driver side mirror is distorted. I drove it home from the dealership after having the dealer replace the mirror before we left the lot (we noticed it when before drove off the lot) then just drove and it was still warped. I was scared to switch lanes. The distortion happens when the car is both stationary and in motion, on highway and on the streets.

- Cairo, NY, USA

problem #3

Dec 182020

Seltos

  • miles
No matter what speed, car will randomly jerk from left to right, feeling like death wobble. At higher speeds more than 45mph the car will violently jerk from left to right, feeling out of control. Kia dealership on central ave in albany NY usa notified, said the alignment was off and pass rear camber bolt is bent. Stated they did an alignment for the front two and the left rear but not the right rear, problem is not fixed.

- Albany, NY, USA

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