Kia Seltos and Soul Engine Piston Rings Defective
critical How serious is it? About this label
Engine damage from this problem can cause a stall or a fire while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V099000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Feb 17, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Part affected | Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical |
| Vehicles covered | 6 model/year combinations, model years 2021–2023 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
Certain Kia Seltos and Soul vehicles may have piston oil rings that weren't manufactured correctly. Over time, this can cause damage inside the engine. If the engine is damaged, it may stall unexpectedly while you're driving, or in some cases catch fire. Either of these increases the chance of a crash or of someone being injured.
What you should do
2. Contact a Kia dealer for an engine inspection and repair; Kia customer service is at 800-333-4542.
3. The engine inspection, any needed replacement, and the software update are free.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 25V099000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (6)
Who to contact
Kia — official Kia recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-333-4542
The bigger picture
- Kia Engine Recalls Address Oil Leaks, Damage, and Power Loss · all 6 Kia recalls in this area
Other Kia Soul recalls
- Dec 22, 2023Kia Soul and Seltos Side Airbags May Deploy Unexpectedlyhigh
- Jul 31, 2023Kia Seltos, Soul, Sportage: Oil Pump Fire Riskcritical
- Apr 26, 2023Kia SUVs and cars: dashboard display may go blankmedium
- Jan 25, 2022Kia Air Bags May Fail to Deploy in Crashhigh
- Apr 13, 2021Kia Soul and Seltos Engine Damage Riskhigh
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.