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Kia Seltos and Soul engines may stall or catch fire

NHTSA campaign 25V099000 · Reported 2025-02-17 · Kia America, Inc.

critical How serious is it? About this label

Very serious — engine damage can cause a stall or a fire, raising the risk of a crash or injury, so get your car to a dealer right away and stop driving it if you notice knocking noises, warning lights, smoke or a burning smell.

What's wrong, in plain English

Small rings inside the engine that control oil around the pistons may have been made incorrectly on these Seltos and Soul models. Over time that can damage the engine. A damaged engine can stall while you are driving, and in some cases it can catch fire. Kia will check the engine and replace it if needed, and also add software that listens for the noise a failing piston ring makes.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is covered. 2. Contact your Kia dealer about recall SC336 (Kia customer service: 800-333-4542). 3. Have the dealer inspect the engine, replace it if needed, and install the monitoring software — free of charge.

Affected vehicles (6)

2021 Kia Seltos
2021 Kia Soul
2022 Kia Seltos
2022 Kia Soul
2023 Kia Seltos
2023 Kia Soul

Who to contact

Kia — official Kia recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-333-4542

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Why do Kia engines catch fire or lose power? · all 6 Kia recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Summary: 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.
Safety risk: 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.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.