Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

2026 Kia SeltosRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints for the 2026 Kia Seltos. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (2). The EPA rates it 25–29 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
25–29mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
0campaigns
NHTSA
Owner complaints
4
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$2,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

NHTSA campaigns for this model year
0 recalls found in NHTSA data for the 2026 Kia Seltos as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

4 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2026 – Aug 2026
  1. Vehicle speed control2
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  3. Engine1
  4. Fuel/propulsion system1
  5. Air bags1

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
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

2 reports
“I purchased this new 2026 Kia Seltos with approximately 32 miles. The vehicle now has fewer than 600 miles and has experienced two incidents of sudden, intermittent, complete loss of accelerator response. During one incident in highway traffic, the vehicle unexpectedly began decelerating and pressing the accelerator pedal produced no acceleration or meaningful propulsion. I could not maintain speed or accelerate to move out of surrounding traffic. The vehicle became unable to move normally until it was turned off and restarted. An oil-pressure warning light illuminated during the failure. There was no meaningful warning before the loss of acceleration. After the first incident, an authorized Kia dealer found diagnostic code U200300 only in the vehicle’s history. The dealer attributed the condition to a loose right battery cable, repaired or tightened the connection, and returned the vehicle as fixed. The same loss-of-acceleration condition occurred again after that repair. On July 13, 2026, an authorized Kia dealership technician personally reproduced the failure during a 30-mile test drive. The technician documented that the vehicle felt as though it died…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2026Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11755262

Service brakes, hydraulic

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2026 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to make a right turn, the brake pedal went to the floorboard and the vehicle accelerated independently. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the brake line needed to be tightened and the brake fluid reservoir needed to be topped off. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that there was no warranty for the repair. The manufacturer denied the buyback request. The approximate failure mileage was 1,322.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2026Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlODI 11731946

Engine

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S8) · Automatic (S8)
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 AWD
Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
273129$2,200309
Seltos AWD
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
242725$2,550350
  • Seltos AWD
    Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    27 city · 31 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Seltos AWD
    Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo
    24 city · 27 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    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
5/ 5
5 of 5
KIA SELTOS SUV N/A AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.1%
Overall
5 / 5
KIA SELTOS SUV N/A FWD
Frontal crash
5 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 21180Vehicle 21179
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

2026 Seltos questions

How many recalls does the 2026 Kia Seltos have?

0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Oct 30, 2026.

What are the most common 2026 Kia Seltos problems?

Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (2), service brakes, hydraulic (2), engine (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2026 Kia Seltos get?

The EPA rates the 2026 Kia Seltos at 25–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2026 Kia Seltos?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2026 Kia Seltos 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026