2021 Kia Seltos engine problems

What owners report

• “The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that on March 13, 2026, the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V259000 (Engine); however; the spark plugs were not replaced when the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a…”

  filed Jul 30, 2026

• “Purchased new, Feb, 2020. Received piston ring defect recall notice (SC209). Serviced by dealer July, 2021. In 2025, noticed engine knocking noise. Car stalling out. No warning lights. Car 3 quarts low on oil. Consumption tests proved excessive oil used. Piston ring soak (Kia's "solution") did…”

  filed Jul 29, 2026

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.

Related recalls

• Piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage
  Campaign 25V099000 · Feb 17, 2025
• Piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine…
  Campaign 21V259000 · Apr 13, 2021

Related service bulletins

• This bulletin provides instructions to perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles. The piston oil ring(s) in certain Kia engines may, over…

  SST082_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 4, 2025

• This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published under SC336 titled “Engine Inspection/Replacement and ECM Logic Improvement”.

  SC336YZ_TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 4, 2025

Engine problems in other Seltos years

Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Kia Seltos