Kia · Seltos · 2023
2023 Kia Seltos
2
Recalls
42
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2023 Kia Seltos has 2 recalls and 42 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (6 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2023 Kia Seltos page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine with 6 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2023 Kia Seltos currently shows 2 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 42 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 4/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are engine (6), unknown or other (4), electrical system (3).
- Vehicle
- 2023 Kia Seltos
- Recalls
- 2
- Complaints
- 42
- Safety Rating
- 4/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
16.9% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: Standard & OptionalLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 25V099000February 17, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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.
Remedy Status
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.
NHTSA ID: 23V531000July 31, 2023
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
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.
Remedy Status
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.
Owner Complaints
42 totalELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Mar 16, 2026
The gages fall all the way down, I’m not able to accelerate, engine light, traction light, tire pressure light, crash detection light, and other lights come on and prevents me from being able to drive. This happened on the interstate and almost caused an accident.
LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Mar 13, 2026
Driving 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 ho...
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ENGINE
Mar 13, 2026
Car burns/ consumes oil constantly having to top off 2-3 quarts every 1,000 miles maybe even less I do my oil change every 3,000 miles Kia auto contract state I need to do oil change every 5,000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Feb 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the tachometer went to zero and remained at zero while the vehicle was still accelerating. The contact stated that the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into a lo...
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ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jan 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped, and the contact became aware of smoke coming from the engine compartment. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle wa...
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POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Dec 8, 2025
In April 2025 my vehicle had a recall (1: SC336 or 25V099), I brought it into a Kia dealership, they said it failed the test, and needed a new engine (i was without a vehicle for weeks, dealership said they did not have any loaners until after 14 days). They then call back weeks ...
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POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Nov 1, 2025
Vehicle acts like it’s going to die. No maintenance lights well maintained. Rattle noise and acts like it’s misfiring. Went to turn at traffic light and almost got into a wreck due to no horse power. This has been happening since less than 40,000 miles but car dealership keeps sa...
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STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 26, 2025
Incident 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 (ph...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 12, 2025
One night I started my car and my screen on my Kia seltos had a bunch of gibberish on the screen and then I went to power off the radio and tried to power back on and screen wouldn’t turn on and one usb won’t work. Tried to hard reset and check fuses and still no luck. I keep ...
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ENGINE
Aug 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was while smoke coming from the exhaust, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the v...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 42 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2023 Kia models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Seltos have?
The 2023 Kia Seltos has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2023 Kia Seltos?
NHTSA has received 42 owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Kia Seltos.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2023 Kia Seltos?
The 2023 Kia Seltos received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Seltos?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2023 Kia Seltos are engine (6 reports), unknown or other (4 reports), electrical system (3 reports).
Does the 2023 Kia Seltos have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2023 Kia Seltos. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.