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2023 Kia Seltos problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 Kia Seltos are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2023 Kia Seltos have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 20 of 46 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Seltos concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under engine (17). For comparison, the 2022 scores 70%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2023 compares with other Kia Seltos years
Of the 3 Kia Seltos years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the best on engine and transmission share (45%). The worst is the 2021 (86%). By volume, the 2023 drew 46 complaints (20 drivetrain), against 73 for the 2022.
Kia Seltos years to avoid and best years →
2021 Seltos problems · 2022 Seltos problems · 2023
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Kia Seltos
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 20 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2023 Kia Seltos engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 Kia Seltos involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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,…
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2023 Kia Seltos? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2023 Kia Seltos
Does the 2023 Kia Seltos have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 20 of 46 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Seltos concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Seltos?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Kia Seltos is engine: 17 of 46 complaints (37%) name it, followed by electrical system (15) and forward collision avoidance (4). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2023 Kia Seltos reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 45% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 3 Kia Seltos years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Kia Seltos?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 Kia Seltos involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 25V099000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 23V531000 (power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Seltos years are better?
The 2023 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Kia Seltos years we track (45%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-seltos
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.