2021 Kia Seltos Reliability
The 2021 Kia Seltos has 381 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Seltos model years (2021–2023), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Seltos's typical year, while the 2023 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
381
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
13
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2021 Kia Seltos complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 model year, filed between 2020 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 235 | 62% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 68 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 48 | 13% |
| Engine & cooling | 46 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 46 | 12% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 26 | 7% |
| Speed control / throttle | 11 | 3% |
| Visibility / wipers | 6 | 2% |
2021 Kia Seltos recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2021 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V259000 | Apr 13, 2021 | Engine | 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. |
| 25V099000 | Feb 18, 2025 | 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. |
How the 2021 compares with nearby Seltos years
Verdicts compare these Seltos model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (this page) | 381 | 2 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2022 | 76 | 1 | Engine | Caution |
| 2023 | 47 | 2 | Engine | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2021 Kia Seltos on the used market
- Median asking price $16,334 at a median 71,419 miles, across 743 live US dealer listings in CarWhere's depreciation study.
What to check on a used 2021 Kia Seltos
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2021 Kia Seltos can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2021 Kia Seltos reliability FAQ
Is the 2021 Kia Seltos reliable?
The 2021 Kia Seltos has 381 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Seltos model years (2021–2023), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Seltos's typical year, while the 2023 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2021 Kia Seltos problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Kia Seltos are engine (235), powertrain / transmission (68), electrical system (48), engine & cooling (46). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2021 Kia Seltos have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia Seltos, including 21V259000 (engine) and 25V099000 (engine & cooling — engine / hard parts internal/mechanical). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2021 Kia Seltos compare with the 2020 and 2022 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2022 has 76 complaints and 1 recall (caution). The 2021 has 381 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2021 Kia Seltos?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Seltos research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2021 Seltos, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.