Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 15.3% land after the 5-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine, with 294 complaints, typically at 3.2 years.
Kia Seltos years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 3 | too new | |
| 2025 | 13 | 12 | too new | |
| 2024 | 44 | 33 | too new | |
| 2023 | 46 | 26 | too new | |
| 2022 | 73 | 40 | too new | |
| 2021 | 369 | 61 | too new |
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 15.5% | covered | |
| 1 year | 30% | covered | |
| 2 years | 42.9% | covered | |
| 3 years | 58.7% | covered | |
| 4 years | 84.7% | covered | |
| 5 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 5 years / 60,000 miles. Only 84.7% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 15.3% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (10 years / 100,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 79% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Kia Seltos, the early trouble is Engine and Unknown Or Other — reported at around 3.2 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.2 yrs | 5 | 5 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 2.1 yrs | 9 | 2 | |
| Electrical System | 2.1 yrs | 3 | 3 | |
| Power Train | 2.9 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3.6 yrs | — | 2 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3.1 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1.5 yrs | 6 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2.9 yrs | 2 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Seltos's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota RAV4 draws 2.31, the Jeep Wrangler 4.69 and the Honda CR-V 3.7, against 3.14 for the Seltos.
| Same class as the Seltos | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 | 168 | 1996–2026 | |
| Jeep Wrangler | 285 | 1986–2026 | |
| Honda CR-V | 207 | 1997–2026 | |
| Tesla Model Y | 100 | 2020–2026 | |
| Mazda CX-5 | 33 | 2013–2026 | |
| Nissan Rogue | 94 | 2008–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia Seltos reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.14 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
When do Seltos problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Engine, typically at 3.2 years, followed by Unknown Or Other.
Will the warranty cover Seltos problems?
Mostly yes: basic cover is 5 years / 60,000 miles, and 84.7% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 79% of the complaints here.
Is the Seltos more reliable than the Toyota RAV4?
No: 3.14 complaints per production run for the Seltos against 2.31 for the Toyota RAV4.
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