Last updated: 2026-10-10
2023 Kia Seltos Reliability Report
The 2023 KIA Seltos has good reliability, but stalling from auto start/stop and oil-burning engines are the problems to check before you buy.
Recalls
2
Complaints
44
Complaint Rate
7.3per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
N/A
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
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.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)
- ENGINE (6)
- POWER TRAIN (4)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2023 is 1 year after the first facelift refresh.
- Year 3 in the First generation (SP2) (2021–2026).
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 1st generation Seltos (US).
What this means for buyers
Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.
2021: First generation (SP2) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2022: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2023: This Model Year
2023 is 1 year after the first facelift refresh.
2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2023 Kia Seltos?
Reliability is good, but this year is not a pick of the litter. It rates close to average against other 2023 SUVs and sits among the weaker of the six scored Seltos years. The 2022 and 2024 rate about the same, so no neighboring year clearly beats it. Federal crash testing gave it 4 of 5 stars.
Electrical faults lead the complaints. Owners report the engine stalling without warning, mostly when auto start/stop tries to restart at a light or after a remote start. Some cars roll backward on hills. Others describe gauges dropping to zero and a touchscreen that goes black. Engine complaints are fewer but more serious: oil burning, white or gray smoke, and failed piston rings or engines between 58,000 and 80,000 miles. Some owners say warranty coverage was denied. Federal records list 2 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling and the power train. One is a park-outside fire risk recall.
Ask for service records and proof of oil changes. Confirm both recalls were completed. On a test drive, try a sunny stretch to see how bad the dashboard glare is.
Compared to the 2024 Kia Seltos, which scored 1 points higher. See also the 2022 Kia Seltos for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Low recall count
- +Below-average complaint rate for SUV
Cons
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issues reported (11 complaints)
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Engine stalls in traffic (9 complaints)
Compare 2023 Kia Seltos With
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (9)
Recall Overview
2
recalls on record
The 2023 Kia Seltos carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
7.3
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 11.3
Safety Incidents
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2023 Kia Seltos Recall Details
2 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Kia Seltos. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.
POWER TRAIN
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 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC275.
Buying a used 2023 Kia Seltos? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2023 Kia Seltos, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2023 Kia Seltos NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 16.9%
Safety Technologies
Kia SeltosRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2023 Kia Seltos.
Sit through several red lights with auto start/stop on and confirm the engine restarts cleanly every time.
Watch the tailpipe for white or gray smoke during hard acceleration and when resuming cruise control.
Check the dipstick and ask for oil change records; low oil between changes points to oil burning.
Shift into reverse and then drive, and confirm the backup camera turns off and the touchscreen works normally.
Drive at highway speed and watch for false collision warnings, sudden braking, or gauges dropping to zero.
Press the horn several times and confirm it works every time.
Drive toward the sun and check how much dashboard glare shows up in the windshield.
Run the VIN through federal recall records and get proof that every open recall has been completed.
2023 Kia Seltos Common Problems by Component
44 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11 complaintsSafety-relatedThe engine stalls without warning, most often when auto start/stop tries to restart at a light or right after a remote start, and some cars roll backward on hills. Other reports describe the gauges dropping to zero with a string of warning lights and lost acceleration on the interstate, plus false forward-collision braking at highway speed. The touchscreen shows gibberish, goes black, or keeps the backup camera on in drive. One crash involved the car accelerating backward while parking. Dealer delays on recall parts also come up.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
9 complaintsThe engine stalls in traffic. Sometimes it happens at a light when idle stop and go fails to restart, and sometimes the car simply shuts off while moving, including on the highway. Dealers often call the car safe to drive because no check engine light is on. Other reports describe jerking or lurching at low speed, a feeling that the car is hunting for gears, and a horn that glitches and then quits. Single reports cover an oil leak that required a tow and a side window that shattered while parked. Long waits for recall parts also appear.
ENGINE
6 complaintsOil burning and white or gray exhaust smoke lead these reports. Dealers diagnose failing piston rings or a failed engine, and some blame maintenance and deny warranty coverage. These failures appear between 58,000 and 80,000 miles. Some come with sputtering, jerking under acceleration, or a sudden loss of power on the road. Heavy oil consumption is also reported, with 2 to 3 quarts needed every 1,000 miles. Separate reports describe the car lunging forward at a stop, the engine revving while parked, and shutdowns when auto stop tries to restart.
POWER TRAIN (4 complaints)
POWER TRAIN
4 complaintsPower drops out while driving. The engine shakes, feels like it is misfiring, and will not accelerate, which leads to near-collisions while turning at intersections. Dealers often find nothing because no warning light is on, even though symptoms can begin before 40,000 miles and get worse over time. Other reports describe a check engine light that comes and goes, a shifter that sticks between drive and park, and an engine that failed a recall inspection before the dealer said the test itself was faulty.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (3 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3 complaintsThe dashboard reflects into the windshield in direct sunlight. The large glare makes it hard to see the road when driving toward the sun. Dealers tell owners this is how all of them are, and the problem can go unnoticed on an overcast test drive. Separately, the windshield can crack on its own from the upper edge on the driver's side with no impact, and the crack keeps spreading.
STRUCTURE (2 complaints)
STRUCTURE
2 complaintsGlossy interior trim reflects sunlight into the driver's eyes. Glare off the frame around the media display and off the door panels can flash bright enough to blind the driver for a moment, even through sunglasses. In one case the glare forced the driver to pull off the road. The other report describes exterior paint that bubbles, chips off, and leaves dull blotches.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (2 complaints)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2 complaintsSmoke from the exhaust or engine bay signals serious engine trouble. Reports describe a fuel smell followed by smoke under the hood, and gray exhaust smoke along with stalling, swinging RPM, and lost acceleration at 70 mph. Dealer findings range from no cause found to an engine, turbo, and catalytic converter replacement needed at 62,000 miles. In one case the manufacturer offered no assistance, and the car went unrepaired.
VISIBILITY (2 complaints)
VISIBILITY
2 complaintsSide glass can shatter on its own. A rear door window burst at 65 mph in 15-degree weather and sprayed glass through the cabin, and the warranty claim was denied. The other report repeats the dashboard reflection problem. In sun or bright light, the dash shows up in the window glass and blocks part of the driver's view.
LANE DEPARTURE (1 complaints)
LANE DEPARTURE
1 complaintDriving 65mph on [XXX] and all the lights came on flashing and alerting me causing the emergency braking to occur while driving causing me to swerve on the road and lucky I didn’t crash but i had my [XXX] old in the car and it scared the hell out of me, on top of all that my horn gave out and hasn’t worked since that incident and now all the lights are off and I don’t even get the beeping for coming to close to another car anymore it’s like I lost all safety features plan to sell the car because I’m not dealing with this and Kia’s dealer services are horrible followed along by thee corporate being terrible too INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintIncident Date: October 26, 2025 Summary: On October 26, 2025, while merging onto a highway at high speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total electronic safety system failure. Without driver input, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system engaged the brakes (phantom braking), causing a dangerous, unprompted deceleration in active traffic. Simultaneously, the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist failed, making the steering wheel extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver while trying to merge. Dashboard Alerts: The instrument cluster displayed a "Check Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system" message, and the following warning lights illuminated: Master Warning, ABS, Traction Control (ESC), and Forward Safety. Attempted Remediation: I pulled the vehicle over and let it cool down for over an hour, but the warning lights and system failures persisted upon restarting. Per manufacturer-recommended troubleshooting found online, I thoroughly cleaned all exterior sensors and was forced to manually disable the collision-avoidance and alert systems via the vehicle's computer settings just to be able to drive the car home safely. Current Safety Concern: Since this event, the vehicle has exhibited increased skidding and inconsistent traction during normal driving conditions. This instability occurs on any road at any time, specifically when performing routine turning maneuvers, and is not limited to winter conditions. This suggests a deeper mechanical or software failure within the ABS/ESC/AWD control modules that cannot be resolved by the driver. This VIN currently shows no active recalls, but the symptoms match the known defects in the SC275 and SC336 campaigns exactly.
Best & Worst Kia Seltos Years
Best Kia Seltos Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
2023
(Current Model)
2022
Kia Seltos Years to Avoid
Kia Seltos Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| 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 |
Kia Seltos Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2023 KIA Seltos reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2023 KIA Seltos?
Does the 2023 KIA Seltos burn oil?
Does the 2023 KIA Seltos have recalls?
Is the 2023 KIA Seltos better than the 2022 or 2024?
Don’t buy a 2023 Kia Seltos without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2023 Kia Seltos
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2023 Kia Seltos does best on how many systems draw complaints (85/100) and worst on complaint severity (69/100). 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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