Problems · NHTSA complaints

2026 Kia Seltos problems

Owners filed 4 complaints about the 2026 Kia Seltos with NHTSA between Mar 2026 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (2).

Complaints
4
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

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

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report

Air bags

1 report1 crash
“The contact owns a 2026 Kia Seltos. While driving across an intersection, another vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with the contact's vehicle. The impact occurred on the driver-side door, causing extensive damage to the vehicle. No property damage reported. The vehicle came to a complete stop after being struck. The contact stated no air bags were deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard but was than brought to the residence. No warning lights were illuminated before the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle will be fixed. The contact stated she was the driver and had a passenger (son) in the front. The contact sustained a severe head impact and was knocked unconscious. The head trauma caused total numbness across the right side of her face and directly impaired her peripheral vision. Additionally, the contact sustained deep contusions to her neck and severe structural disc damage to her lower back. The contact's son, who was also an occupant in the vehicle, experienced acute head pain following the crash. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11740703
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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