Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2022 Kia SeltosRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 76 owner complaints for the 2022 Kia Seltos. Most complaints involve engine (40) and power train (10). The EPA rates it 27–31 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Combined MPG
27–31mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Feb 2025
Owner complaints
76
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$2,050est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Engine and engine cooling: hard parts internal

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Feb 18, 2025NHTSA 25V099000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

76 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2021 – Oct 2026
  1. Engine40
  2. Power train10
  3. Engine and engine cooling9
  4. Electrical system8
  5. Air bags3
  6. Forward collision avoidance3
  7. Structure2
  8. Wheels2
  9. Lane departure2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Seltos model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2021377
202276
202347
202447
202513
20264
20273
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

40 reports2 crashes1 fire
“The car stalls for no reason at various speeds. So far, the car will restart but I’m obviously concerned about damage to the engine and the safety of passengers when this happens at high speeds. The symptoms appear consistent with the engine recall for faulty piston rings but my vin # is not listed in the recall. I believe the recall should be extended to other vin #’s as others are reporting similar issues and their vin is also not in the recall list. It is available for inspection by Kia.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2026EngineODI 11772131

Power train

10 reports1 crash
“Certified shop said my timing chain was going as well as other associated components. My car is always low on oil even when mileage has not been met. Found my car is part of piston ring recall. Dealership stated my car is not affected however the issues the shop found most certainly confirm my issue which is going to cost over $2k to fix is associated with this. Dealership not only says my car passed piston ring recall but wanted $175 to diagnose what has already been diagnosed and then another $175 on top of that to "dig into the engine". Check engine light came on and car began making noise and not running properly on 2/7/2026 on 2/9/2026 called independent service center and car was checked out and diagnosed on 2/11/2026. Found out this is likely recall related 2/12/2026. Car was looked at by dealership on 2/17/2026 and I was told the aforementioned. However magically the two other recalls on this vehicle were remedied but not this one.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11718581

Engine and engine cooling

9 reports
“The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated and stalled while driving at various speeds with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was provided information associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer for service. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that a software update needed to be performed; however, no additional repairs were performed on the vehicle. The contact was also informed by the dealer that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact linked the oil consumption failure with the recall. The mechanic at the dealer failed to perform any further testing or repairs on the vehicle. The failure persisted once the vehicle was returned to the contact. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who replaced the PCV valve which showed excessive oil inside the valve. The mechanic also discovered blowby in the engine caused by leaking of combustion gases and air-fuel mixtures…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2026Engine and engine coolingODI 11753088
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S8) · Automatic (AM-S7)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Seltos FWD
Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293531$2,050283
Seltos AWD
Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
273129$2,200314
Seltos AWD
Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
253027$2,400331
  • Seltos FWD
    Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    29 city · 35 hwy · $2,050/yr
    31
    mpg comb.
  • Seltos AWD
    Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    27 city · 31 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Seltos AWD
    Auto (AM-S7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo
    25 city · 30 hwy · $2,400/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Kia Seltos SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.1%
Overall
4 / 5
Kia Seltos SUV FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 15956Vehicle 15953
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2022 Seltos questions

How many recalls does the 2022 Kia Seltos have?

1 safety recall as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2022 Kia Seltos problems?

Owners filed 76 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (40), power train (10), engine and engine cooling (9). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2022 Kia Seltos get?

The EPA rates the 2022 Kia Seltos at 27–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2022 Kia Seltos?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2022 Kia Seltos 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026