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  • Updated for 2026
Car Paperwork

Kia Seltos Recalls

NHTSA has issued 4 safety recalls for the Kia Seltos, covering model years 2021 through 2024. The 2024 model year has the most, with 2 separate campaigns against it. The largest single recall covered 147,249 vehicles. The most recent was reported to NHTSA on February 17, 2025.

Urgent safety advisory on the Kia Seltos

One recall below tells owners to park outside and away from buildings, because the vehicle can catch fire while parked and switched off.

Check your own VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether these apply to your car.

Total recalls
4
Model years affected
4
Most recalled part
No repeat
Latest recall
2025

Kia Seltos recalls by model year

How many campaigns were issued against each model year. One recall often covers several years at once, so these add up to more than the 4 total.

20242 recalls20232 recalls20221 recall20212 recalls

All Kia Seltos recalls

Each entry is an official NHTSA campaign, shown with the defect, consequence, and remedy exactly as the manufacturer reported them, newest first.

25V099000Engine and coolingReported February 17, 2025

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Model years affected: 2021–2023

The problem

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.

What can happen

Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

The fix

Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.

Vehicles affected
137,256
Maker's recall no.
SC336
Owners notified
April 4, 2025
Read campaign 25V099000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
23V830000AirbagReported December 22, 2023

AIR BAGS

Model years affected: 2024

The problem

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul and 2024 Seltos vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the side curtain air bags may deploy unexpectedly.

What can happen

An air bag that deploys unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury or crash.

The fix

Dealers will inspect and replace both side curtain air bag modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 31, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC289.

Vehicles affected
2,967
Maker's recall no.
SC289
Owners notified
January 31, 2024
Read campaign 23V830000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
23V531000Power trainReported July 31, 2023
NHTSA advises: park outside, away from buildingsAffected vehicles can catch fire even when parked and switched off. Keep the vehicle away from structures until it is repaired.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP

Model years affected: 2023–2024

The problem

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.

What can happen

An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.

The fix

Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC275.

Vehicles affected
39,765
Maker's recall no.
SC275
Owners notified
September 28, 2023
Read campaign 23V531000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
21V259000Reported April 13, 2021

ENGINE

Model years affected: 2021

The problem

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage.

What can happen

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.

The fix

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC209.

Vehicles affected
147,249
Maker's recall no.
SC209
Owners notified
June 11, 2021
Read campaign 21V259000 on NHTSA.gov ↗

What to do if your Kia Seltos is on this list

A recall listed here applies to a range of vehicles, not to every car of that model year. Manufacturers narrow it down by build date and VIN, so the only way to know whether yours is included is to check the VIN. You can do that free on NHTSA's recall lookup, or by calling any franchised dealer for that brand with your VIN in hand.

Recall repairs are free. Under federal law the manufacturer has to fix a safety defect at no charge, and there is no mileage limit and no expiry on that obligation for vehicles under 15 years old. A dealer cannot charge you for the parts, the labour, or the diagnosis on a recall repair, and you do not need to have bought the car there. If a dealer asks you to pay, that is worth escalating to the manufacturer's customer line, which is listed in the remedy text of each recall above.

Recalls do not block a title transfer or registration in any state. You can legally buy, sell, or register a car with an open recall, and sellers are generally not required to fix one first. That said, an open recall is worth raising before money changes hands, especially one with a do-not-drive advisory. If you are buying, run the VIN before you hand over the payment; if you are selling, telling the buyer about an open recall costs you nothing and avoids a dispute later.

Kia Seltos recall questions

How many recalls does the Kia Seltos have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the Kia Seltos across model years 2021 to 2024. That count covers recalls filed from 2010 onward. Not every campaign applies to every car of that model year, because manufacturers limit recalls by build date and VIN.

Which Kia Seltos model year has the most recalls?

The 2024 Kia Seltos carries the most, with 2 recall campaigns. A high count does not automatically mean a worse car: a single supplier fault can trigger a recall across an entire production run, and manufacturers that report problems quickly tend to show more campaigns.

Are Kia Seltos recall repairs free?

Yes. Federal law requires the manufacturer to repair a safety recall at no cost, including parts and labour, on vehicles under 15 years old. There is no mileage limit, and you do not have to be the original owner or have bought the car from that dealer.

Can I sell or register a Kia Seltos with an open recall?

Yes. An open recall does not stop a title transfer or registration in any state, and private sellers are generally not required to repair one first. Dealers face stricter rules on some safety recalls. If you are buying, check the VIN before you pay; the repair is free, but you want to know what you are taking on.

Other Kia recalls

Kia Sorento recalls38Kia Sportage recalls23Kia Telluride recalls19Kia Forte recalls18Kia Optima recalls18Kia Soul recalls15

Where this data comes from

Every recall on this page is published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency that oversees vehicle safety recalls in the United States. We pull the full recall file from NHTSA and reproduce the campaign number, defect description, consequence, and remedy exactly as the manufacturer reported them. NHTSA data is in the public domain.

Source:
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
NHTSA data as of:
July 18, 2026
Coverage:
Recalls from 2010 onward
Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov ↗

Buying or selling this car?

🔧All Kia recalls→🔑Paperwork for buying a used car→📝Paperwork for selling a car→📄Title transfer rules by state→📑Vehicle registration documents explained→🚗Recalls by make and model→

Last reviewed: 2026-07-18 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Independent resource · Not legal advice

⚠ Independent resource — check your VIN before actingCar Paperwork is not affiliated with NHTSA, any manufacturer, or any dealer. This page lists recalls issued for a model, which is not the same as a recall on your car: only a VIN check confirms that. Recall records are also updated by NHTSA continuously, so treat this as a starting point and confirm anything urgent with NHTSA or a franchised dealer. Nothing here is legal or repair advice.