2022 Kia SELTOS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2022 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 72 complaints (51.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 13 | 18.1% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.2% |
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 | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 2 |
Engine: 37; Unknown Or Other: 17; Power Train: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Electrical System: 7; Air Bags: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 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 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 63 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 33 |
| 2026 | 16 |
2021: 3; 2022: 7; 2023: 6; 2024: 7; 2025: 33; 2026: 16
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11443949 · 2021-12-15 (December 15, 2021)
I bought a brand new 2022 Kia Seltos a month and a half ago at Monroeville Kia dealership. On December 11, the car started manifesting a transmission temperature overheating problem in the middle of traffic. Once the transmission overheated, the engine lost power. I was driving in busy traffic and had to pull the car over to allow the engine to cool down. The police came over and made me start driving my car again, indicating that I could not pull over in such busy traffic. This is a major risk to my safety and can potentially cause a car accid…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444786 · 2021-12-23 (December 23, 2021)
wireless CarPlay suddenly disconnects leaving drivers unable to use the navigation system and audio including music, call, navigation instructions, maps, and other features. This is a potential hazard for drivers who depend of navigation systems in an unfamiliar environment. Also, propose a potential risk because the driver may be distracted trying to fix the connectivity issue while driving exposing them and other drivers near to a car crash. Software version affected SP2_22MY.USA.D2V.[phone removed]15
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11444786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444893 · 2021-12-24 (December 24, 2021)
Sunroof exploded while driving for no apparent reason. Shade was open but the actual sunroof was in closed position. Car has less than 3,000 Miles. Its brand new. I heard a terrible explosion suddenly and was startled. I was driving alone in the car. At first I thoght it was something near by. Then I looked up and saw that the entire sunroof was shattered, glass all over the passenger seat and flying into the rear seat. Part of the sunroof glass was still in tack, bowing outward. I was able to drive to the Auto Body Shop that KIA dealersh…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11444893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11461606 · 2022-04-21 (April 21, 2022)
I would like to express that in December 11 they gave me the vehicle at the car dealer and I had not been driving for even 20 minutes, when I heard a noise and looked and my glass had shattered. I turned to the dealer and they replaced him on March 11. Today April 21st I am driving on the highway with no car near me and I come back I hear a noise and I look and again my glass is broken. It is incredible that it is already twice in less than 5 months that in different scenarios that the glass shatters. I am very worried and I fear that in an…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11461606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465086 · 2022-05-18 (May 18, 2022)
The backup camera has failed twice in two months. When vehicle was put in reverse the camera would flash off and on and stated no signal for the backup camera. The problem clears when next trip is made. Dealer said they are not aware of this problem and cannot diagnose unless it is happening. This is a fairly common problem as a number of others have reported this on the Facebook Seltos owner's page. This creates a hazard when in reverse.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11470238 · 2022-06-21 (June 21, 2022)
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. Upon restart of the vehicle, the vehicle would enter into limp mode as the vehicle would fail to accelerate above 40 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the manufacturer; however, each attempt was unsuccessful. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage wa…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11470238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11475957 · 2022-07-26 (July 26, 2022)
I purchased the vehicle for my daughter. Two times now she has had the power (to the steering, brakes...) and the engine fully shut off when she stopped at a traffic light. A message popped up on her screen that said "battery discharge warning." She was not able to get the car to restart for 20 min. A dangerous situation at a busy intersection. The first time she took the car into the dealer and they could not find any problems. The second time the dealer didn't ever call her back, so I though I would share the problem with the NHTSA. The probl…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11475957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11478006 · 2022-08-07 (August 7, 2022)
Car is giving codes C162604/ C164202 stating there is an issue with the electric stability control as well as lane keeping assistance. Emergency break lines came on (abs) as well. There was no incidents before this happened. This was a previous issue with the 2021 Kia Seltos that may have not been addressed properly while making the 2022. I am unsure if I am able to drive the vehicle safely to the dealership due to the stability control issue.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11478006 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
25V099000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Reported: 2025-02-17 (February 17, 2025)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗