2025 Kia Seltos reliability
NHTSA's file on the 2025 Kia Seltos holds 13 complaints after 2 years, a rate of 7 per year. It is too early to rank against other Seltos years: a year is compared here only after 3 years on the road. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
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The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 13), then Exterior lighting (3) and Forward collision avoidance (3). The most filings arrived in 2026 (6 of 13). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.
The 2024 Seltos has 45 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.
The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2025 Kia Seltos. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (0)
No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.
Complaints by component (13 total)
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Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"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…"
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"The camber bolts in front struts moved from original location causing uneven tire wear and steering issues. When replacing tires mechanic showed me marks where bolts were originally and where they are now. Mechanic said…"
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"KiA started a system update while I was driving on a busy road which caused complete loss of engine power and all electrical. This is nuts. What if you’re on the highway driving 70 mph and this happens?"
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"While driving at night with the Headlights on Low Beam the light that is projected onto the road is a dull yellowish color, not a bright white color. When the High Beam Lights are turned on there is no difference of the…"
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"The contact owns a 2025 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving in snowy, inclement weather; the entire rear end of the vehicle would become covered in snow. The contact stated snow would become to heavy for…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kia Seltos SUV AWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2025 Kia Seltos SUV FWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.
Fuel economy
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seltos all-wheel drive | 2L, 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel drive | 27 | 31 | 29 MPG | $2250 |
| Seltos all-wheel drive | 1.6L, 4-cyl | Automatic (8-speed) | All-wheel drive | 24 | 27 | 25 MPG | $2600 |
| Seltos front-wheel drive | 2L, 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S8) | Front-wheel drive | 28 | 34 | 31 MPG | $2100 |
Specs and fitment
Known issues for this generation
First-generation US Seltos (2021-on) pair a 2.0L with IVT or a 1.6T with dual-clutch / conventional automatics depending on trim. Owner complaint themes center on CVT/IVT shudder on the naturally aspirated path and dual-clutch hesitation on turbo trims—both familiar Kia/Hyundai patterns rather than a single campaign. Confirm open NHTSA recalls on the VIN (including any dual-clutch software campaigns that apply to your transmission code) and keep oil at the 0W-20 grade on the filler cap; leave capacity null until verified against the exact US engine code in the owner’s manual.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2025 Kia Seltos reliable?
NHTSA's file on the 2025 Kia Seltos holds 13 complaints after 2 years, a rate of 7 per year. It is too early to rank against other Seltos years: a year is compared here only after 3 years on the road. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
What are common problems with a 2025 Kia Seltos?
The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 13), then Exterior lighting (3) and Forward collision avoidance (3). The most filings arrived in 2026 (6 of 13). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.
Is the 2025 Kia Seltos more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2024 Seltos has 45 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2026 has 0 complaints, 0 per year.
Has the 2025 Kia Seltos been recalled?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2025 Kia Seltos.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2025 Kia Seltos?
Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2025 Kia Seltos with NHTSA.
What mpg does a 2025 Kia Seltos get?
EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2025 Kia Seltos is 28.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.
What oil does a Kia Seltos take?
US 2021 owner’s manual lists SAE 5W-20 for the Nu 2.0 MPI and SAE 5W-30/5W-40 for the 1.6 T-GDI viscosity chart. Kia service campaign SC224 corrected some early filler caps that incorrectly said 5W-20 when the correct marking was SAE 0W-20. Confirm the filler-cap grade and manual for your VIN.
What tire sizes does the US Kia Seltos use?
US 2021 owner’s manual lists 215/55R17 and 235/45R18 depending on trim/wheel package.
What powertrains does the first-generation US Seltos offer?
A 2.0L with IVT or a 1.6T with dual-clutch / conventional automatics depending on trim. Owner complaint themes include CVT/IVT shudder on the NA path and dual-clutch hesitation on turbo trims.