2021 Kia Seltos engine problems

What owners report

• “My check engine light went on and the vehicle was driving sluggish, was louder at higher rpms and had a rough idle. The light went on around Aug 1st, 2026 and that's when I noticed the strange driving. Brought it to my mechanic that week and they got the following codes: p0017, p0014 and p0013. My…”

  filed Sep 17, 2026

• “My 2021 Kia Seltos is experiencing engine sputtering/hesitation at approximately 3,000 RPM and the low oil pressure warning light illuminates while the vehicle is stopped or idling. The vehicle has been taken to an authorized Kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealership opened a Kia Techline case…”

  filed Sep 10, 2026

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.

Related recalls

• Piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage
  Campaign 25V099000 · Feb 17, 2025
• Piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine…
  Campaign 21V259000 · Apr 13, 2021

Related service bulletins

• This bulletin provides instructions to perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles. The piston oil ring(s) in certain Kia engines may, over…

  SST082_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 4, 2025

• This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published under SC336 titled “Engine Inspection/Replacement and ECM Logic Improvement”.

  SC336YZ_TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 4, 2025

Engine problems in other Seltos years

Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Kia Seltos