2023 Kia SELTOS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
50,657 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 46 complaints (37.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 17.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 10.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
Engine: 17; Unknown Or Other: 17; Electrical System: 14; Power Train: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2022: 3; 2023: 11; 2024: 10; 2025: 11; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11507650 · 2023-02-16 (February 16, 2023)
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle independently lunged forward without warning. The contact also stated that while the vehicle was parked, the engine revved uncontrollably without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 300.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11507650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11646115 · 2025-03-03 (March 3, 2025)
I purchased my vehicle in mid June 2024 used from the dealership. I purchased extended warranty although my vehicle still had original warranty. On [XXX], my parents 50th anniversary party. I packed my car and left my house. Vehicle drove fine, but my husband called me worried stated that after I left our driveway that there was an oil puddle on the drive that concerned him. He took my vehicle down the road to a service place. They don’t want to touch my vehicle saying it was low on oil and needed towed. We were in Missouri and had to have…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11646115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11536432 · 2023-08-04 (August 4, 2023)
When the stop/ go is on .. it some times stalls and will not move when pressing petal.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11536432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11554519 · 2023-11-10 (November 10, 2023)
Issues with idle stop and go. On 11/8/23 was at a light and stop and go was on. Light turned green took my foot off of the break and nothing happened then engine staled. Check engine light came on and then all other panel lights. Took two tries to get engine started again. I was in a busy intersection at rush hour. This is a huge safety issue. It has clitched at other times where took foot off break and engine took a moment to restart, but this is first stall. I now have a note in car to turn off every time I drive. I live in a high density are…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11554519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11504398 · 2023-01-30 (January 30, 2023)
My car sensors go off when they aren’t supposed to. My front collision sensor goes off when cars are 2 cars in front of me. My side sensors will go off when I’m im the only one on a street. My console has electrical issues… internal issues. This car qualifies for Lemon Law. That’s how many times I sent it in and they were unable to repair it. Please investigate Kia 2023 seltos. Thanks
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11504398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11694349 · 2025-10-19 (October 19, 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 reading a bunch of people saying how they had same issues as I did on my radio . My friend is sales guy at car dealer and he told me not first time a radio on a Kia took a poop. So how comes there is no recall yet on this part of the car. It’s crappy because warranty…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11694349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11720924 · 2026-02-27 (February 27, 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 lower gear. There was an unknown message displayed. The contact stated that the screen was black while operating, and the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,313 miles reported. Look up ODI 11720924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11746839 · 2026-06-26 (June 26, 2026)
To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am writing to formally submit a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Seltos, which exhibits a recurring, dangerous defect involving the engine stalling without warning. This defect results in a total loss of power while the vehicle is in operation or attempting to accelerate, posing a critical safety risk. The failure manifests in two primary scenarios: * **Remote Start Failure:** The vehicle frequently stalls immediately after utilizing the remote start feature when shifting …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11746839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11498111 · 2022-12-19 (December 19, 2022)
Areas of the console, mainly the frame around the gps/media display, as well as the interior doors are highly reflective. At certain times of the day, the sun reflects off them and causes extreme visibility problems. I actually had to pull off the road one day because I got a bright light in the eyes that produced an effect similar to a camera flash, and I was unable to see. I really scared me, as I almost ran off the road when it happened. During daytime driving, I'm often driving with one hand trying to shelter my eyes, and the other on the s…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11498111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11720048 · 2026-02-23 (February 23, 2026)
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 (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 c…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11720048 at NHTSA ↗