2022 Kia Seltos User Complaints and Problems
The list of Kia Seltos’ common problems is restricted and bounded. Despite being based on a new platform and having entered the market in yesteryear, the subcompact SUV delivers first-grade performance. While it had 62 complaints in its debut iteration, the 2022 Seltos has only five user-grievances as of the date we write this article. Though most of them are a carry forward from 2021 MY only, some new issues have been reported by the buyers. Listed below are the most common complaints about the Kia Seltos SUV and their implications on the ownership experience.
Structural Complaints
- Explosion of the sunroof: Like some other vehicles from the brand, one unit of the 2022 Kia Seltos has experienced the explosion of the sunroof. The buyer had reported the glass pane of the sunroof shattering into pieces, without any impact or incidence. While no such complaint was recorded in the 2021 iteration, buyers of the debut model year were plagued by the cracking of the windshield, which again represents a substandard build quality.
Electric System Complaints
- Improper functioning of the Wireless Apple CarPlay: The 2022 Seltos wireless CarPlay problem is an all-new issue for the brand. Buyers have reported the Apple CarPlay functionality disabling without any prior symptoms. While there is only one registered complaint on the NHTSA website, the problem has become rather rampant as per trusted sources.
- Malfunctioning Forward Collision Avoidance System: Qualifying as a safety concern in the list of the Kia Seltos defects, some buyers have reported the forward collision avoidance system to function erratically. The functionality fails to identify a threat of crash and does not warn the driver or activate the emergency braking system. While there have been no injuries reported yet, Kia should aim at fixing the issue at the earliest.
- Improper functioning of theft alarm: Perhaps the most rampant and common complaint across all the vehicles from Kia relates to the theft alarm. In the past couple of years, buyers have reported the theft alarm to not alert the buyers when the vehicle is being broken into. As a result, there have been several vehicles that have been stolen, and though it is an electric system fault, buyers cannot hold the brand responsible for their vehicles.
Mechanical Complaints
- Overheating of the transmission unit: The Seltos transmission issues have spanned across both model years. Buyers have reported the transmission system to overheat, which hampers its performance. As a result, the transmission starts to slip and also experiences a delay in shifting.
- Stalling of the engine: The 2022 Kia Seltos engine problems are similar to the debut model year. Across both iterations, buyers of the SUV have reported the vehicle losing its motive power and stalling inadvertently. In most cases where an inspection was conducted, inadequate oil levels were attributed as the cause of failure. Considering its widespread impact, Kia introduced a recall, referenced by NHTSA ID 21V259000, to deal with the issue.
In the segment, each option scores a cent-percent rating in the safety tests conducted by NHTSA. However, the reliability quotients tend to differ. While the 2022 Chevrolet Trax is scot-free with no complaints to its name, the 2022 Hyundai Kona and 2022 Honda HR-V have 11 and 5 complaints, respectively.
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Category
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Number of complaints
|
|
Fuel and Propulsion System
|
3
|
|
Service Brakes
|
2
|
|
Vehicle Speed Control
|
4
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
19
|
2022 Kia Seltos Recalls
The issues with Kia Seltos are not immensely concerning and widespread. Yet, the problem with the inadequate oil levels had plagued the debut iteration of the SUV. So, in its two years on the market, the Seltos has had one recall.
Referenced by NHTSA ID 21V529000, the only recall of the Kia Seltos SUV relates to its piston oil rings. Due to improper heat treatment, the piston oil rings might not perform their intended function, damaging the engine. As a result, the vehicle might stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the piston oil rings might allow oil to leak onto the exhaust components, increasing the risk of a crash. 147,249 units of the Kia Seltos and Kia Soul vehicles are said to have been affected by the recall.
Compared to the 2022 Kia Seltos, even the rivals deliver class-competing performances. In the current iteration, each SUV from rival brands like Honda, Chevrolet, and even its sister brand Hyundai, has had no recalls. Even in the previous iterations, it was only the Kona and Seltos that had been called back by their respective brands, with the HR-V and Trax remaining unscratched.
|
Component Affected
|
2022
|
2021
|
|
Safety
|
0
|
0
|
|
Exterior
|
0
|
0
|
|
Electric
|
0
|
0
|
|
Interior
|
0
|
0
|
|
Drive System
|
0
|
0
|
|
Fuel System
|
0
|
0
|
|
Engine
|
0
|
1
|
Which Kia Seltos model year should you avoid?
With its aesthetic appeal, affordable price tag, and impressive performance, the Kia Seltos SUV has carved a niche for itself in the market. Though it has been on the market for a little over a year now, the SUV’s popularity is only on the upward. Consequently, choosing between its model years is not a cinch. Nonetheless, statistically, the 2022 iteration is the better performer. Not only does it come with a better set of standard features, but the SUV also filters out some recurring problems from its debut iteration. So, if you are in the market for a Korean SUV, we would suggest prioritizing the latest model year of the Kia Seltos.
Should you buy a used Kia Seltos?
Scoring 80 points on the J.D. Power value scale, the Kia Seltos is an investment for the ages. While it is versatile and comes with two engine options, Kia’s SUV is a bona fide offering that proves its versatility with its configuration choices. It performs impressively in all departments and though its ride quality could have been improved, the SUV finds itself ranking highly as a reliable proposition. So, whether you opt for a new model or drive a used Seltos out of a dealership, chances are you would not regret your decision.
