Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a bad year?
384 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 279.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 279 complaints, but the 2021 is still young: half of its engine complaints so far came in by 57k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Seltos owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 57,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 279 (73%) | 27k–86k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 68 (18%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 48 (13%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 28 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 57,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 384 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 35 say the car was towed.
120 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Kia Seltos: 2
The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage. Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 81
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Kia Seltos. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles
Piston noise sensing system (Pnss) inspection
Precautions for transmissions with isg/eop
Ivt oil pressure sensor replacement
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
Neighbouring years
2022 Seltos: 76 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Kia Seltos year
2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Seltos years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 Kia Seltos a bad year?
384 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 279. At 57,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 279 complaints, but the 2021 is still young: half of its engine complaints so far came in by 57k miles, and that mark will move as owners add miles. Check your powertrain warranty first.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Seltos?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (279), transmission and drivetrain (68), electrical system (48), fuel system (28), speed control (11). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 27k–86k miles.
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Seltos have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 25V-099), Engine (NHTSA 21V-259). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.