2023 KIA SELTOS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
59
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
16
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2023 KIA SELTOS
The 2023 KIA SELTOS has received a total of 59 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP. 16 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (12 complaints), Unknown Or Other (12 complaints), and Electrical System (11 complaints).
Recalls for the 2023 KIA SELTOS
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2023 KIA SELTOS, potentially affecting up to 216,786 vehicles.
Recall 25V099000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
| 137,256 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 23V531000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
| 39,765 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Recall 23V531000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
| 39,765 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2023 KIA SELTOS
59 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2023 KIA SELTOS. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Warnings | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilityglass Siderear | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention Sensing System Camera | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane Departure Blind Spot Detection | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structureinterior Panelsdashboard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
Vehicle acts like it’s going to die. No maintenance lights well maintained. Rattle noise and acts like it’s misfiring. Went to turn at traffic light and almost got into a wreck due to no horse power. This has been happening since less than 40,000 miles but car dealership keeps saying “nothing is wrong” because there isn’t a warning light on! It’s getting worse!
Vehicle acts like it’s going to die. No maintenance lights well maintained. Rattle noise and acts like it’s misfiring. Went to turn at traffic light and almost got into a wreck due to no horse power. This has been happening since less than 40,000 miles but car dealership keeps saying “nothing is wrong” because there isn’t a warning light on! It’s getting worse!
Vehicle acts like it’s going to die. No maintenance lights well maintained. Rattle noise and acts like it’s misfiring. Went to turn at traffic light and almost got into a wreck due to no horse power. This has been happening since less than 40,000 miles but car dealership keeps saying “nothing is wrong” because there isn’t a warning light on! It’s getting worse!
One night I started my car and my screen on my Kia seltos had a bunch of gibberish on the screen and then I went to power off the radio and tried to power back on and screen wouldn’t turn on and one usb won’t work. Tried to hard reset and check fuses and still no luck. I keep reading a bunch of people saying how they had same issues as I did on my radio . My friend is sales guy at car dealer and he told me not first time a radio on a Kia took a poop. So how comes there is no recall yet on this part of the car. It’s crappy because warranty on radio is only up to 36,000 . And my car I have only had for 3 years almost and I have 50,000 miles on it now . After disconnecting the battery and plugging back in like the dealer told me to do and now I have a loading symbol behind my wheel on the dash
One night I started my car and my screen on my Kia seltos had a bunch of gibberish on the screen and then I went to power off the radio and tried to power back on and screen wouldn’t turn on and one usb won’t work. Tried to hard reset and check fuses and still no luck. I keep reading a bunch of people saying how they had same issues as I did on my radio . My friend is sales guy at car dealer and he told me not first time a radio on a Kia took a poop. So how comes there is no recall yet on this part of the car. It’s crappy because warranty on radio is only up to 36,000 . And my car I have only had for 3 years almost and I have 50,000 miles on it now . After disconnecting the battery and plugging back in like the dealer told me to do and now I have a loading symbol behind my wheel on the dash
Safety Rating for the 2023 KIA SELTOS
The 2023 KIA SELTOS received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2023 KIA SELTOS
Kia America, Inc. has issued 16 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2023 KIA SELTOS. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
TSB_ELE382_R1 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: IBU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT: This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) software on some 2021-2025MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles produced...
WTY038_DPSM — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY038) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the horn assembly in 2021-2024 MY Seltos vehicles from 5...
WTY038_QA — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY038) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Warranty Extension Campaign WTY038.
TSB_ELE325 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CLUSTER UPGRADE FOR INTERMITTENT DISPLAY RESTARTING - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Cluster (CLU) software logic on certain 2021-2023MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles equipped with a 7 in. TFT display instrument cluster, produced from November 20, 2019 through March 2, 2023. The affected vehicles may exhibit...
TSB_ELE325 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CLUSTER UPGRADE FOR INTERMITTENT DISPLAY RESTARTING - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Cluster (CLU) software logic on certain 2021-2023MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles equipped with a 7 in. TFT display instrument cluster, produced from November 20, 2019 through March 2, 2023. The affected vehicles may exhibit...
TSB_ELE287 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: ICU-D CONNECTOR INSTALLATION (SA529) - This bulletin provides information to inspect and re-connect the Integrated Control Unit (ICU)-D connector on certain 2023MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles, produced from November 22, 2022 through December 7, 2022, due to the ICU-D connector not installed fully seated during assembly...
CS2201_OWNR — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that the second Smart Key fob is now available for 2023MY Kia Seltos customers.
TSB_ENG242 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SERVICE ACTION: COOLANT RESERVOIR CAP INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT (SA527) - This bulletin provides information to inspect and if necessary, replace the coolant reservoir cap on some 2023MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles produced from October 26, 2022 through November 11, 2022 which may have the incorrect coolant reservoir cap...
TSB_CHA117 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ABS/ESC LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR DTC C1626 - This bulletin provides the procedure to update the software logic of the Anti-Lock Brakes/Electronic Stability Control (ABS/ESC) systems on some 2021-2023MY Seltos vehicles, which may experience multiple dash warning lights illuminated and DTC C1626, due to a possible yaw rate...
SC242_DP — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain All-Wheel Drive 2021-2023 MY Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines manufactured from November 20, 2019 through May 18, 2022. The current All-Wheel Drive Electronic...
Showing 10 of 16 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2023 KIA SELTOS
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2023 KIA SELTOS.
Investigation AQ25001 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL Closed
Opened:
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
Other Model Years of the KIA SELTOS
- 2021 KIA SELTOS — 415 complaints
- 2022 KIA SELTOS — 83 complaints
- 2023 KIA SELTOS (current)
- 2024 KIA SELTOS — 56 complaints
- 2025 KIA SELTOS — 14 complaints
- 2026 KIA SELTOS — 0 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA SORENTO — 13,451 total complaints
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SOUL — 7,147 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA FORTE — 3,450 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints