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Kia Seltos VIN Check

NHTSA holds 549 owner complaints on the Kia Seltos from 175 production runs; the worst run has 19, the typical one 3.1.

NHTSA complaint records · 549 complaints · 175 runs · 2021–2026 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Seltos run is KNDERCAA4M7 (2021 builds) with 19 complaints, 6.1× the typical run. Engine problems make up 43% of reports; NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for Seltos model years 2021–2024.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Kia Seltos has 175 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 12% of every Seltos complaint on file.

FIG.01·Kia Seltos — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
KNDERCAA4M7••••••2021192—
KNDERCAA9M7••••••202113——
KNDERCAA3M7••••••2021131—
KNDERCAA1M7••••••202111——
KNDEU2AA8M7••••••202110——
KNDEPCAAXM7••••••202110——
KNDEUCAA4M7••••••202110——
KNDERCAA8M7••••••202110—1
KNDEUCAA6M7••••••20219——
KNDETCA28M7••••••20219——
KNDEUCAA7M7••••••20219——
KNDEPCAA3M7••••••202191—
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 163 Seltos runs has 9 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 71 Seltos VINs so far, most often 2021, 2027, 2024 builds; 4 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list.

FIG.02·Kia Seltos — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20261.3431
20251.113121
20241.344334
20231.846264
20221.873406
202163696113
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2021 at 6 complaints per run; lightest is 2025 at 1.1. The 2026 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 43% of everything Kia Seltos owners report: Engine, 294 of 549 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Kia Seltos — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Engine29455
Unknown Or Other9192
Electrical System8933
Power Train882—
Engine And Engine Cooling53—2
Fuel/propulsion System31—1
Forward Collision Avoidance2061
Vehicle Speed Control162—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 4 recall campaigns on the Kia Seltos; the 4 below cover build years 2021 to 2024. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Kia Seltos — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
25V099000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical2021–2023
23V531000Power Train:automatic Transmission:fluid/lubricant:pump2023–2024
23V830000Air Bags2024
21V259000Engine2021
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

25V099000 was opened in 2025 on cars built from 2021: 4 years on the road before the recall.

The Seltos against its rivals

The Seltos draws 3.1 complaints per production run; the Toyota RAV4 2.3, the Subaru Crosstrek 1.8 and the GMC Terrain 2.4. That is the highest rate of the 4.

FIG.05·Kia Seltos VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Kia Seltos5491753.15.3%
Toyota RAV48,4533,6612.38.5%
Subaru Crosstrek1,1306371.85.1%
GMC Terrain2,9871,2242.43.8%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 549 reports on the Kia Seltos, 5.3% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Kia Seltos — complaint severity
OutcomeKia SeltosAll vehicles
Complaints filed5491,115,966
Involved a crash29 (5.3%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire9 (1.6%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported1758,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Kia Seltos share of that is 549 complaints over 175 runs, 0.05% of everything on record.

Everything on the Kia Seltos
Recalls12 campaignsFuel economy31 mpg bestReliability4.5/5Common problems555 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices316 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2021–2026

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Kia Seltos VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 549 NHTSA complaints from 175 Seltos runs and 4 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Seltos production run has the most complaints?

KNDERCAA4M7, a 2021 build, with 19 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Seltos run has 3.1.

Which Seltos years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2021 is heaviest at 6 complaints per run and 2025 lightest at 1.1.

Does the Seltos get more complaints than the Toyota RAV4?

Yes: 3.1 complaints per production run for the Seltos against 2.3 for the Toyota RAV4.

How many Seltos complaints involve a crash?

5.3% of 549 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 9 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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