2021 Hyundai Santa FE vs 2021 Kia Seltos
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Hyundai Santa FE | 2021 Kia Seltos |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 163 | 354 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 98 | 134 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–32 | 27–31 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 20,500 mi | 43,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Santa FE | Kia Seltos |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 214 |
| Power Train | 50 | 64 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 46 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 0 | 42 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 23 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 18 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 16 | 90 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 51 |
| Loss of power | 14 | 19 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 27 |
| Oil consumption | 0 | 50 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 17 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 14 |
2021 Hyundai Santa FE
2021 Kia Seltos
Compare all Hyundai Santa FE vs Kia Seltos years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.