Last updated: 2026-10-10
Kia Seltos Reliability by Year
Used KIA Seltos buyers get good reliability by choosing a 2024 and skipping the 2021, whose engines burn oil and can stall at highway speed.
Kia Seltos Reliability Overview
Reliability is good, and the Seltos sits close to average among SUVs. Skip 2021, where owners report engines that burn oil until the dipstick reads dry, then stall, sometimes at highway speed. The 2024 is the safer buy, with complaints that lean toward electrical glitches such as an instrument cluster that goes dark in very cold weather.
Current generation: 2nd gen (2027–present).
Best & Worst Kia Seltos Years
Best Kia Seltos Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe 2024 has drawn far fewer complaints per car sold than the 2021, and it has been on the road long enough for that to mean something. Its complaints are mostly electrical, such as a dark instrument cluster in the cold, not the oil-burning engine failures that hit the 2021. The 2025 and 2026 look cleaner but have had less time to collect complaints.
Kia Seltos Years to Avoid
Engine trouble dominates. Owners describe oil vanishing between changes until the dipstick reads dry, then stalls, misfires, and lost power, often at highway speed. Failures cluster between about 38,967 and 94,000 miles. Five fire reports were filed, and some owners were refused coverage over missing oil change records or an expired warranty.
Kia Seltos Reliability Score Trend
Kia Seltos reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 78/100 compared to 68/100 for older years.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59/100 | Mixed |
| 2022 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 82/100 | Excellent |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Kia Seltos
0 recalls · 3 complaints
Final first-generation year with the strongest reliability standing of the six scored Seltos years, no recalls, and one serious early brake complaint.
2025 Kia Seltos
0 recalls · 12 complaints
Good reliability with no recalls and far fewer complaints than 2024, though owners report a blank instrument cluster at startup and dim headlights.
2024 Kia Seltos
2 recalls · 41 complaints
A middle-of-the-pack Seltos year with good reliability, dominated by cold-weather electrical faults and two recalls, one a park-outside fire risk.
2023 Kia Seltos
2 recalls · 44 complaints
Rated good but among the weaker Seltos years, with stalling and oil-burning complaints and two recalls, one of them a park-outside fire risk.
2022 Kia Seltos
1 recalls · 69 complaints
Middle of the pack among Seltos years: far fewer complaints than the 2021, but oil loss and engine stalls show up around 44,000 to 54,000 miles.
2021 Kia Seltos
2 recalls · 346 complaints
First year of the generation and the weakest Seltos, with engine oil loss and stalling behind most of its 346 owner complaints.
Found Your Kia Seltos? Check Its History
Service brakes, hydraulic (2) problems come up most in Kia Seltos owner complaints, and 7 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Kia Seltos Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
3.5/5
Kia Seltos Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
Most Reliable Kia Models
Compare all Kia models by reliability
Compare Kia Seltos With Similar SUVs
The Kia Seltos competes with other compact suvs such as Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota C-HR, and Ford EcoSport.
Seltos vs Mitsubishi Outlander
8 years tracked · 398 complaints
Seltos vs Toyota C-HR
5 years tracked · 486 complaints
Seltos vs Ford EcoSport
5 years tracked · 1826 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best year for the KIA Seltos?
- The 2024 is the best pick among years that have been on the road at least two years. It has far fewer complaints per car sold than the 2021 and 2022. The 2025 and 2026 show even fewer complaints, but they are newer and have had less time to collect them.
- Is the KIA Seltos reliable?
- Yes, reliability is good, and it lands close to average among SUVs on this site. The picture depends heavily on model year. Later years hold up well, while the 2021 is the problem year because of engine failures. Check which year you are buying before you trust the rating.
- What are the most common KIA Seltos problems?
- Engine trouble leads, with 177 owner complaints across all years. The typical story is oil disappearing between changes, then a stall, shaking, or power loss. Power train, electrical system, and engine cooling complaints follow. Electrical complaints include the car shutting off while driving and batteries that go dead from an untraced drain.
- Does the KIA Seltos burn oil?
- Many owners say so. Complaints describe oil dropping until the dipstick reads dry, followed by stalls, piston noise codes, and white smoke. Most failures land between about 38,967 and 94,000 miles. The reports are concentrated in early years, especially the 2021, though a few 2024 owners also report heavy oil consumption.
- What goes wrong with the electrical system on a KIA Seltos?
- Owners report the car shutting off while driving, often with the check engine, battery, and oil lights coming on together. Others describe dead batteries, a frozen infotainment screen, and a dead horn. On the 2024, the main complaint is an instrument cluster that goes dark in very cold weather.
How we score the Kia Seltos
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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