Your vehicle report
2023 Kia Seltos
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 47
- Received Sep 2022 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine suddenly shuts off while driving5 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic emergency braking applies without reason4 complaints · 8.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Side mirrors give poor rear visibility3 complaints · 6.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #23V531000Park outsideKia 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.
- Recall #25V099000Kia 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine suddenly shuts off while drivingFirst signal: Jan 2025
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 4 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Month | Complaints |
|---|---|
| September 2022 | 1 |
| October 2022 | 0 |
| November 2022 | 1 |
| December 2022 | 1 |
| January 2023 | 3 |
| February 2023 | 2 |
| March 2023 | 1 |
| April 2023 | 0 |
| May 2023 | 3 |
| June 2023 | 0 |
| July 2023 | 0 |
| August 2023 | 1 |
| September 2023 | 0 |
| October 2023 | 0 |
| November 2023 | 1 |
| December 2023 | 0 |
| January 2024 | 1 |
| February 2024 | 0 |
| March 2024 | 0 |
| April 2024 | 1 |
| May 2024 | 0 |
| June 2024 | 2 |
| July 2024 | 0 |
| August 2024 | 1 |
| September 2024 | 2 |
| October 2024 | 1 |
| November 2024 | 2 |
| December 2024 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 1 |
| February 2025 | 0 |
| March 2025 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 1 |
| June 2025 | 0 |
| July 2025 | 0 |
| August 2025 | 4 |
| September 2025 | 1 |
| October 2025 | 1 |
| November 2025 | 1 |
| December 2025 | 0 |
| January 2026 | 0 |
| February 2026 | 3 |
| March 2026 | 4 |
| April 2026 | 0 |
| May 2026 | 0 |
| June 2026 | 2 |
| July 2026 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 1 |
| September 2026 | 1 |
| October 2026 | 1 |
| Total | 47 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 11% | 5.4× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2025 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 4.0% |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 4 | 8.5% | 9.2× | |
| Side mirrors give poor rear visibility | 3 | 6.4% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 3 | 6.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #23V531000July 31, 202339,765 vehicles affected
Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.
power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump
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.
An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #25V099000February 17, 2025137,256 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
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.
Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2023 Kia Seltos.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN