What are the most common Kia Seltos problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 447+ owner reports, the 2021 Kia Seltos has 16 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Missing Engine Immobilizer — "Kia Boys" USB Theft Vulnerability, Stalling and Fire Hazard on Unrepaired / Still-Symptomatic 2021-2023 2.0L Vehicles, Piston Oil Ring Defect and Engine Damage. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Kia Seltos reliable?
The 2021 Kia Seltos has 16 known issues documented across 447+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: Missing Engine Immobilizer — "Kia Boys" USB Theft Vulnerability and Stalling and Fire Hazard on Unrepaired / Still-Symptomatic 2021-2023 2.0L Vehicles and Piston Oil Ring Defect and Engine Damage. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Kia Seltos problems?
Repair costs for known Kia Seltos issues range from $0 to $4,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2021-2022 Kia Seltos Missing Engine Immobilizer — "Kia Boys" USB Theft Vulnerability?
Kia CS2309 applies to certain 2021-2022 Seltos vehicles produced from November 21, 2019 through February 28, 2022 that may not be equipped with an immobilizer. The dealer software upgrade adds anti-theft ignition-start logic that activates when the vehicle is locked. For eligible… Severity: high.
What is the 2021-2023 Kia Seltos Stalling and Fire Hazard on Unrepaired / Still-Symptomatic 2021-2023 2.0L Vehicles?
NHTSA opened Audit Query AQ25001 on August 6, 2025 to evaluate Kia's remedy for recall 25V099 after reviewing 47 complaints submitted from April 29 through June 27, 2025. Those complaints alleged an ineffective remedy, inconsistent engine-inspection results or unavailable remedie… Severity: high.
What is the 2021-2023 Kia Seltos Piston Oil Ring Defect and Engine Damage?
NHTSA recall 25V099000 (Kia SC336) covers 53,635 certain 2021-2023 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines and produced from July 2, 2020 through July 1, 2022. A supplier quality deviation can allow the piston oil ring to damage the cylinder wall, increasing oil consump… Severity: high.
What is the 2021-2025 Kia Seltos CVT Hesitation and Jerking Under Load?
The Seltos equipped with the 2.0L engine and CVT (IVT) exhibits hesitation, jerking, and poor acceleration response, particularly when merging or climbing hills. The CVT struggles under load and can enter limp mode. Owners report the transmission feels sluggish compared to tradit… Repairs typically run $0-$4,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2021-2024 Kia Seltos Instrument Cluster Goes Blank on Startup?
The Seltos instrument cluster intermittently fails to illuminate on initial startup, displaying a completely blank screen. Speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and warning lights are not visible. The issue typically resolves after turning the vehicle off and restarting, but can r… Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2021-2023 Kia Seltos AWD Transfer Case Oil Seal Leak and Overheating When the Compact Spare Is Fitted (SC242)?
On AWD 2.0L Seltos the AWD ECU software fails to recognize that the compact temporary spare tire has been installed. Because the spare is a significantly different rolling circumference from the three road tires, the coupling constantly slips to reconcile the speed difference. Wi… Repairs typically run $0-$1,600. Severity: medium.
What is the 2021 Kia Seltos EPS Warning Light with DTC C160404 — Electric Power Steering Control Unit Self-Test Fault?
On early-build 2021 Seltos (SP2) the Electric Power Steering module logs DTC C160404 during its start-up diagnostic self-check and illuminates the steering warning light. In most cases the hardware is fine — the module's judgment logic is over-sensitive during the power-up check,… Repairs typically run $0-$200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2021-2025 Kia Seltos 1.6L Turbo 7-Speed Dry DCT Overheating, Shudder and Hesitation?
The SX / GT-Line / X-Line turbo Seltos uses a 7-speed dry dual-clutch transmission (the base 2.0L uses an IVT/CVT). With no fluid bath to cool the clutch packs, the dry DCT can overheat in stop-and-go traffic, trigger a transmission-overheat warning, and enter a protect/limp mode… Severity: medium.
What is the 2021-2023 Kia Seltos 4WD ECU Water Intrusion Under Driver's Seat — AWD Warning Light and Loss of All-Wheel Drive?
On AWD Seltos (SP2) the 4WD Electronic Control Unit is mounted on the floor under the driver's seat. Snow and slush tracked in on boots melts in the driver's footwell and the meltwater migrates rearward into the ECU, corroding the circuit board. The unit then faults out, illumina… Repairs typically run $0-$1,400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2021-2023 Kia Seltos ABS/ESC Warning Lights with DTC C1626 — Over-Sensitive Yaw-Rate Plausibility Logic (TSB CHA117)?
On 2021-2023 Seltos (SP2), the ABS/ESC hydraulic control unit stores DTC C1626 (C162604 'Implausible Control') and illuminates several dash warning lights at once — ABS, ESC/traction, and often the hill-start and AWD lamps. The root cause is not a failed sensor: Kia's own bulleti… Repairs typically run $0-$220. Severity: medium.
What is the 2021-2025 Kia Seltos Thin Clear Coat and Premature Paint Chipping on Hood, Fenders and Roof?
Seltos owners report an unusual rate of paint chipping and clear-coat failure on low-mileage cars. Chips appear on the leading edge of the hood and the front fenders within weeks to a few thousand miles of delivery — one owner documented multiple hood and driver-fender chips at 5… Repairs typically run $150-$1,800. Severity: low.
What is the 2021-2023 Kia Seltos AVN 5.0 Wide Head Unit Freezing and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto Dropouts?
The 10.25-inch AVN 5.0 Wide navigation head unit fitted to SX/SX Turbo trims locks up: the screen freezes on the last image or the UVO/Kia splash logo, touch input is ignored, the map position stops updating, and radio and HVAC touch controls stop responding until the unit self-r… Repairs typically run $0-$250. Severity: low.
What is the 2021 Kia Seltos D-AUDIO 2.0 Head Unit — Radio and Control Buttons Intermittently Unresponsive (Service Action SA415)?
This is the base-trim head unit problem, distinct from the AVN 5.0 Wide navigation unit fitted to EX/SX trims. LX and S Seltos use the 8-inch D-AUDIO 2.0 (Display Audio 2.0) unit, and early 2021MY cars built 21 Nov 2019 through 21 Jan 2020 exhibit intermittent malfunction of the… Repairs typically run $0-$200. Severity: low.
What is the 2021-2025 Kia Seltos LED Headlight / DRL / Fog Lamp Internal Condensation?
Seltos owners across model years report moisture and water droplets forming inside the front LED headlight, DRL, and fog-lamp assemblies, often most visible after night driving when the lamps heat and then cool. Heavy fogging looks like a defect and is reported to reduce output a… Severity: low.
What is the 2021-2024 Kia Seltos Front Strut Bearing and Upper Spring Pad Failure — Creak/Pop When Turning the Wheel?
The upper strut bearing and the rubber upper spring pad on the front MacPherson struts wear and bind. As the strut assembly rotates with steering input, the bearing sticks and releases, transmitting an intermittent creak, pop, or clunk into the cabin. It is most obvious at parkin… Repairs typically run $0-$650. Severity: low.
What is the 2021-2023 Kia Seltos Rear Seat Latch and Folding-Seat Rattle — Knocking From the Cargo Area Over Bumps?
A hollow rattle or metallic knock comes from behind the rear seat when driving over broken pavement, expansion joints, or speed bumps. The cause is the folding rear seatback latches: the striker-to-latch tolerance is loose enough that the seatback rocks against its strikers, and… Repairs typically run $0-$180. Severity: low.
