Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: it scores well across the board with no single weak engine.
Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Seltos, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 24 | 33% |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 14% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 13% |
| Power train | 6 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Uneven wear 8/16 ones at 7/16 and one is 6/16 and the other is at 5/16 and has been riding ruff since we purchased them.
NHTSA complaint: Tires
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated and stalled while driving at various speeds with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
My 2022 Kia seltos with 47669 miles does while while driving. It DID NOT make a noise or shake. The engine light and oils light come on and the car dies. I have maintained regular oil changes and maintenance on the vehic
NHTSA complaint: Engine
My 2022 Kia Seltos is burning through oil at a very high rate. I was reading that there is a recall for 2021-2023 Kia Seltos for this exact issue with the engine, but my vin from my vehicle is not listed on the recall. I
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I pulled into the drive and put the car in park I left it running for the air conditioner.I got out opened back door to adjust the babies car seat shut the door and went into the house. My in-law told me my car was movin
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
My 2022 Kia Seltos is equipped with Idle Stop & Go (ISG), which shuts the engine off when stopped and restarts it when the driver releases the brake/presses the accelerator. ISG stopped functioning about a year ago (the
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
My 2022 Kia Seltos out of nowhere started smoking, losing power, total control and braking. There were no lights on the dashboard warning of any kind complete stall than a little bit of power hesitation stall no brakes.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The engine started to fail when I'm driving and on the highway it suddenly loses strength, the oil goes down and I don't know where it's going, the engine starts to make noises and burning smell, the ignition light turns
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2022 Kia Seltos. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage.
Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were
| Reliability raw | 96 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 86 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 78 | good |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 24 of them (33%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 96/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 86/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2022 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: buy, because it scores well across the board with no single weak engine. Its overall ownership score is 81/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.