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Kia SeltosModel year report

2025 Kia Seltos Problems

Compared with other Kia Seltos years

Too new to compare

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2022, 2023

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
13filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
8,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
31 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 28 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2025 Kia Seltos (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2025 Kia Seltos. The part named most often is electrical system, with 3 complaints (23% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (3) and forward collision avoidance (3). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 8,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 11 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The main instrument cluster will not illuminate on initial start ups. The screen will not illuminate on it's own, a vehicle restart is required after a extended period of driving/engine running. Speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge are not visible. It is a recurring problem. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the service department said it is a known problem with the Seltos and other models. They said Kia hasn't identified the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #11635043, filed 2025-01

Exterior lighting: “When I drive this vehicle at night it seems like the low beam headlights are not aimed correctly. It seems like they are angled too far down on the road as I feel like I could not see more than 15-20 feet in front of the vehicle without my high beams on, also the low beams are angled so far down towards the road that it did not illuminate any traffic signs on the side of the road so I could not make them out either. It was scary not being able to see far out as I’m used to.”

NHTSA complaint #11627634, filed 2024-11

Forward collision avoidance: “i get my lane assist and almost wrecked bc it defaulted without warning. when i came up on a car to fast. it didn’t slow down and try to automatically brake.”

NHTSA complaint #11668451, filed 2025-06

Other or unknown: “I am reporting multiple safety concerns involving my leased 2025 Kia Seltos, which currently has approximately 22,000 miles. I first reported an unusual smell coming from the vehicle in June 2025. The vehicle has been taken in for service multiple times, most recently on September 5, 2026, but the concern has not been satisfactorily resolved. During the September 5 service visit, I also informed the dealership that I had experienced an acceleration problem. The vehicle felt as though cruise control had been activated even though I had not intentionally activated it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11765477, filed 2026-09

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,000 and 8,000 miles.

100%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 8,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

2024202520266
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2025 Kia Seltos. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Seltos · SUV AWD★★★★★5 / 4554 · 15.1% risk
Seltos · SUV FWD★★★★★5 / 4554 · 16.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2025 model year: forward collision warning standard on some versions, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard on some versions.

Neighbouring years: 2024: same overall rating; 2026: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2025 Kia Seltos version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Seltos AWD1.6L 4-cyl8-speed automatic242725$2,700
Seltos AWD2.0L 4-cylCVT273129$2,300
Seltos FWD2.0L 4-cylCVT283431$2,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2025 Kia Seltos in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 11 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 11 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Seltos

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025138,0000531—Too new
2024473002531Too new to compareToo new
20234750,656243150 · TypicalToo new
20227644,170143145 · TypicalRising
202137742,0002431100 · MoreRising

All Kia Seltos model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2025 Kia Seltos have?

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 2025 Kia Seltos as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2025 Kia Seltos is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 3 complaints (23% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 3.

Has the 2025 Kia Seltos been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2025 Kia Seltos do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 Kia Seltos 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2025 Kia Seltos get?

The EPA rates the 2025 Kia Seltos (Seltos FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 31 mpg combined, 28 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2025 Kia Seltos reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 8,000 miles and the middle half falls between 8,000 and 8,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.