2022 Kia Seltos Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2022 Kia Seltos carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering hard parts internal/mechanical. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Piston ring oil consumption and engine failure.” Kia uses Hyundai Motor Group's powertrains, so service intervals mirror Hyundai's. Kia Promise covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. Kia owners with the Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Optima, Sorento, Sportage 2011-2019) should adhere strictly to oil intervals due to known oil-consumption issues in Kia TSBs.

1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Campaign #25V099000 · Feb 17, 2025

Issue: 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.

Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2022 Kia Seltos.

Reported to NHTSA

Piston ring oil consumption and engine failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

35 NHTSA complaints · 2022-09 → 2026-08

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…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11753088
ENGINE FAILED, PISTON SCORING, PISTON OIL RING FAILED, OIL BURNING, KNOCKING IN ENGINE. THIS KIA'S VIN NUMBER IS PART OF THE KIA RECALL THAT WAS PUBLISHED 2/17/25 AND ANNOUNCED TO CONSUMERS VIA MAIL ON 4/4/25
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11658589
This vehicle passed the piston oil ring recall in September 2025, by November 2025 the vehicle was burning through a quart of oil a week. Two different dealerships advised that this wouldn't be covered under the recall, stating the recall was for engine noise
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11700512
When driving it in January 2025, I experienced loss of power when accelerating and an engine stall. Took it to the dealer the same day and was told the vehicle was out of oil, and this caused engine damage that would not be covered by my warranty (I have approximately 44,000…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11711691

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Recall 25V099 remedy delay and parts unavailability

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

10 NHTSA complaints · 2025-03 → 2025-05

The contact informed the dealer of the recall, and the dealer acknowledged the recall and that the piston oil rings had failed; however, the dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had ordered the dealer not to perform the recall repair
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11661306
TODAY 5/1/25 I AM BEING TOLD THE RECALL IS ON HOLD EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED THE INSPECTION THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE REPLACING THE ENGINE RIGHT NOW AND I AM BEING TOLD TO PICK IT BACK UP DESPITE IT NOT BEING FIXED
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11658180
I called another and they told me that Kia put out a remedy, but that remedy was unsuccessful, so there is NO fix at the current time and KIA will notify me at a later time when another remedy is put out, then I'll have to call and schedule an appointment
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11659415

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Engine stall and loss of power while driving

ENGINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2022-05 → 2026-07

My 2022 KIA Seltos with 52000 miles shut down on me completely in the middle of a road while I was going full speed limit causing the car behind me promptly to change lanes to avoid the collision. It happened 2 more times until I got to my destination
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11707764
on 3 occasions, when stopped at a red light with the engine auto-shut-off via ISG, pressing the accelerator to proceed causes the engine to fail to restart as I accelerate, and the vehicle stalls. The dashboard displays a "Press Ignition Button" message
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11746914
My safety has been at risk when I am driving on the highway 50 miles per hour and it just shut off, when turning the steering wheel to make a turn, the car will shut off and it has shut off while waiting at a red light
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11485347

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Engine fire and smoke while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2024-02 → 2026-05

My 2022 Kia Seltos out of nowhere started smoking, losing power, total control and braking. There were no lights on the dashboard warning of any kind complete stall than a little bit of power hesitation stall no brakes. I managed to coast it into a parking space at a hotel with…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11740429
A flapping sound started in the engine, then no acceleration when I used the gas pedal. Pulled to the side of the road and black smoke and sparks began coming from the engine. I exited the car and it burst into flames. The was no warning icons that appeared to alert me to any…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11571607

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Airbag non-deployment in frontal crash

AIR BAGS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2023-01 → 2025-10

Our child was in a vehicle accident on Black Friday were he hit his head and suffered a severe head concussion. It was a frontal crash and none of the airbags deployed. Because of this our son could not complete his Firsts Semester of College and had to take an “Incomplete”
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11502075
The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 55 MPH, they crashed into a buck. The hood came ajar and shattered the front windshield. The front end was smashed, and the radiator was leaking. The airbags did not deploy
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11695999

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Forward collision avoidance and vision system failure

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

2 NHTSA complaints · 2023-01 → 2024-08

Failure of Vision system causes unpredictable computer behavior, and such failure may not be known by vehicle operator. 3 Separate Incidents on same car . Occurance 1, 10/22: Brakes locked (with smoke) and stalled in heavy traffic…
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11503833
While driving all of a sudden all the warning lights from every safety related item come on and at the same time the power steering goes off as well as the air conditioner. Sometimes if you stop the car and restart the engine everything returns to normal other times it does not
Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11608514

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Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L on Optima, Sorento, Sportage (2011-2019): full synthetic only, never extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Telluride and Sorento AWD owners benefit from rotation every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads and rotors every 7,500 miles. Forte and Soul front pads typically last 40,000-55,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required for ABS and ESC pump longevity.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Kia SP-IV — same as Hyundai.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped plugs rated 105,000 miles on most Kia engines. 1.6T (Forte GT, Soul Turbo): 60,000 miles. 3.5L Lambda II V6 (Telluride, Sorento): 105,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Kia Long-Life Coolant (pink, same as Hyundai): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not mix with green or orange coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD)

Every 60,000 mi

Sportage AWD, Sorento AWD, Telluride AWD: replace transfer case fluid and rear diff fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Optima, Forte, and Sportage; behind the dashboard panel on Telluride.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

7 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

6

complaints mentioning a crash

3

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2022 Kia Seltos reflects Kia's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.