Kia Seltos: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Kia Seltos problems by model year, from 491 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2021 (86%, 313 drivetrain complaints), 2022 (70%, 49 drivetrain complaints) and 2023 (45%, 20 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 3 Kia Seltos years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Kia Seltos year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2023 (45%).
By raw volume, the 2021 drew the most drivetrain complaints (313 of 382 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Kia Seltos year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Seltos | very high | 86% | 313 | 372 | 1/3 | 2 |
| 2022 Seltos | very high | 70% | 49 | 73 | 2/3 | 1 |
| 2023 Seltos | high | 45% | 20 | 46 | 3/3 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Kia Seltos years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Kia Seltos engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Kia Seltos involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | 21V259000 | engine | 2021 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V531000 | power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump | 2023 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V099000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2021–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Kia Seltos
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Kia Seltos
What are the worst years for the Kia Seltos?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Kia Seltos years are the 2021 (86% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2022 (70% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2023 (45% of relevant complaints, high). 3 of 3 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Kia Seltos?
No Kia Seltos year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2023 (45%).
Does the Kia Seltos have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 3 scored years, 382 of 479 relevant NHTSA complaints (80%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Kia Seltos reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 3 Kia Seltos years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 80% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Kia Seltos?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Kia Seltos years we track, out of 3 in total: 21V259000 (Apr 2021, 2021), 23V531000 (Jul 2023, 2023), 25V099000 (Feb 2025, 2021–2023). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.