2022 Kia Seltos Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2022 Kia Seltos most often describe engine problems: stalling or shutting off while driving, excessive oil consumption, smoke from the exhaust and, in some cases, engine seizure. Many of these complaints reference the piston oil ring recall (25V099000) and describe difficulty getting the recall inspection completed or accepted, or being told their vehicle is not covered. A smaller but consistent group covers transmission overheating in traffic, electrical and infotainment glitches, and the engine shutting off at stops.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalling or shutting off while driving

   • 24 complaints (32%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out at speed, at intersections or while accelerating, sometimes restarting after the vehicle is put in park. Several owners link the stalling to the piston oil ring recall and report that dealers tested the vehicle, sometimes first failing it and later passing it under revised procedures. Others say the dealer found no fault codes or could not duplicate the problem. Reports span from low mileage to well past 80,000 miles, with many clustered between roughly 35,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 25V0990003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 25V099000 was performed and request the inspection result in writing; a test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic can reveal hesitation or stalling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2022 Kia Seltos repeatedly stalls and shuts off while driving, including in traffic and at stop signs. The vehicle has also had multiple electrical failures and an emergency brake malfunction. A few weeks ago, October 26th, while going through a Starbucks drive-through, My car completely stopped. I got stuck in the Starbucks line and multiple people had to help me push my car out of the drive through. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11702868, filed 2025-12

   “While I was driving off the freeway, my vehicle suddenly stalled while I was in motion. The vehicle restarted, but shortly afterward it stalled again. Due to the repeated stalling and the safety concern, the vehicle had to be towed to a Kia dealership for inspection. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle as having an engine failure. After researching the issue, I found that my vehicle’s make/model and engine are associated with NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign 25V-099 / Kia Recall SC336. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11769754, filed 2026-10
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption and engine noise

   • 24 complaints (32%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report the oil level dropping sharply between changes, sometimes needing several quarts added, along with ticking or knocking noises, white or black smoke from the exhaust, and sluggish acceleration. Complaints describe dealers diagnosing failed piston rings or cylinder damage and recommending engine replacement, while some owners say the dealer called the oil use normal or declined coverage after the recall inspection. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with some owners noticing oil loss much earlier.

   Recall 25V0990003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick level and look for a burnt smell in the oil, ask for oil-change records, and ask whether the piston ring recall inspection was done and what it found.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2022 Kia Seltos is burning through oil at a very high rate. I was reading that there is a recall for 2021-2023 Kia Seltos for this exact issue with the engine, but my vin from my vehicle is not listed on the recall. I spoke with Naperville, IL Kia and they advised I would have to buy a new engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11749709, filed 2026-07

   “My Kia Seltos has a recall on the engine because the piston rings leak oil. My car is now losing massive amounts of oil and has damaged my engine. I brought car to dealership and they wanted me to go through my warranty and refused to honor the recall and kicked me out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11651451, filed 2025-03
3. 3
   Engine

   Recall repair delays and inconsistent inspection results

   • 29 complaints (38%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Many complaints focus on the recall process rather than a new failure: owners say parts were unavailable, the recall was placed on hold, or the inspection protocol changed mid-repair so a vehicle that first failed later passed. Others report being told their vehicle identification number is not covered even though the symptoms match the recalled condition. Reports cluster in 2025, around the time the recall and its revisions were announced.

   Recall 25V0990003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Before purchase, confirm recall status for the specific vehicle with a dealer and get the completed inspection documented; keep copies of any recall paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle went into dealer for safety recall on 4/15. I was notified on 4/16 that my vehicle failed the test and would need a new engine. I was given a rental car. They were unsure of time frame. Later found out that recall had been placed on hold. 5/13 contacted that new test protocol had been released and my car passed under new testing. No engine would be needed. I asked for documentation of both tests the fail and the pass. I was told they are unable to print this out for me as it all goes into the Kia database. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11661196, filed 2025-05

   “I have called 2 dealers to schedule an appointment to get this major safety recall completed. Neither one is responsive. 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. This is my ONLY vehicle that I am paying a car note on. I HAVE to drive it while thinking about and risking it bursting into flames or causing me to crash. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11659415, filed 2025-05
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical glitches and infotainment problems

   • 8 complaints (11%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints include instrument panel warning lights flashing and the display failing to show vehicle information, wireless phone projection dropping out mid-drive, the horn working intermittently, a vehicle left running moving on a sloped driveway, and the engine shutting off unexpectedly at stops. Reported across a wide mileage range, from vehicles with very low mileage to ones past 50,000 miles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the horn, infotainment, phone pairing and auto stop-start during a test drive, and ask whether the related software updates and horn warranty extension work were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I pulled into the drive and put the car in park I left it running for the air conditioner.I got out opened back door to adjust the babies car seat shut the door and went into the house. My in-law told me my car was moving so I ran outside and the car had run into the garage door.The drive has a upward slope so the car was going uphill and seemed to be picking up speed”

   NHTSA complaint #11748057, filed 2026-07

   “My 2022 Kia Seltos is equipped with Idle Stop & Go (ISG), which shuts the engine off when stopped and restarts it when the driver releases the brake/presses the accelerator. ISG stopped functioning about a year ago (the engine stayed running at stops). I didn't think anything of it because the ISG had worked sporadically from the day I bought the car. (I purchased it new.) It began working again, sporadically, about a week ago. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11746914, filed 2026-06

Buying note. The 2022 Seltos complaints centre on engine oil consumption and stalling that owners associate with the piston oil ring recall, so confirming that recall was inspected and documented for the specific vehicle matters more than usual. Also check transmission behaviour in slow traffic and test the electronics, since those complaints are less likely to show up in a short drive on open roads.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.