2021 Kia Seltos Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

205Engine complaints

60.3%Of all 340 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE205 · 60.3%

POWER TRAIN61 · 17.9%

Unspecified / other44 · 12.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM42 · 12.4%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING38 · 11.2%

Share of the 340 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Kia Seltos overview page.

What owners report

“Bought vehicle new. At 30,000 miles, oil change came up off the stick. KIA did oil consumption test. Said it was within industry standard. Just…”NHTSA complaint 11517186 — filed 04/15/2023

“RECALL INFO: 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…”NHTSA complaint 11512000 — filed 03/15/2023

“Our 2021 Kia Seltos with 19K miles, stopped running at 55 mph. The engine also started producing a slight knocking noise. The dealer asked for…”NHTSA complaint 11510509 — filed 03/06/2023

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Kia Seltos have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2021 Kia Seltos: 205 of 340 complaints on file (60.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Kia Seltos have in total?

340 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 12 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 8 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.