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Buying a used 2021 Kia Seltos? Check these 2 recalls first
The 2021 Seltos has two critical recalls, both covering engines that may fail, stall, or catch fire; neither is flagged stop-driving or park-outside despite the fire language. The complaint record is the striking part: 367 unverified owner reports to NHTSA, 223 of them engine-related plus 67 powertrain, with 13 crashes, six fires, and eight injuries logged. Electrical reports follow at 47.
Before you buy
- Get the 17-character VIN from the seller and run it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows which recalls are still unrepaired on that exact car.
- Confirm by VIN that both engine recall remedies, including any software or engine replacement, were performed
- Ask for full oil change records and whether the engine was ever replaced
- Listen for knocking, stalling, or rough idle on a cold start and a longer test drive
- Open recalls are repaired free at any Kia dealer, whoever owns the car — an open recall is a to-do item, not a bill.
Recalls covering the 2021 Kia Seltos
| Recall | Area | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul and Seltos engines may fail or catch fire | Engine | critical |
| Kia Seltos and Soul engines may stall or catch fire | Engine And Engine Cooling | critical |
What owners have reported to NHTSA
367 complaints filed for this model year, including 13 mentioning a crash, 6 a fire and 8 injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and popular models collect more of them simply because more are on the road.
| Problem area | Complaints | Recall in this area? |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 266 | Yes |
| Power Train | 67 | None found |
| Electrical System | 47 | None found |
| Fuel System | 26 | None found |
| Speed Control | 10 | None found |
| AIR Bags | 6 | None found |