2021 Kia Seltos: engine stalls while driving

Filed Oct 29, 2026 · Engine · TX

The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power and triggered diagnostic trouble code P1327, which indicates severe internal engine damage and bearing failure monitored by the Piston-ring Noise Sensing System. This vehicle is subject to active Safety Recalls SC209 (the federal safety agency Campaign 21V259000) and SC336 (the federal safety agency Campaign 25V099) for manufacturing defects in the 2.0L Nu MPI engine piston oil rings. The vehicle is currently grounded at an authorized dealership, Kia of North Austin. The Service Manager initially provided an out-of-pocket engine replacement quote exceeding $8,000 instead of processing it as a $0 safety recall claim. Furthermore, the dealership is currently attempting a diagnostic bypass maneuver to attribute the P1327 recall engine code to a "faulty knock sensor" in order to issue a paid out-of-pocket bill. The manufacturer and dealership have failed to provide a mandated loaner or alternative transportation, causing a severe and ongoing family transportation hardship while the safety recall verification stalls.

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine · 70,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Number 21V259000 (Engine) and 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact requested that the manufacturer and selling dealer buy back the vehicle due to recurring issues. While driving, the check engine warning light illuminated and started flashing. The contact pulled over and took the vehicle to a local dealer, where the engine was replaced. However, the failure reoccurred. While driving to the dealer, the vehicle stalled while entering the dealer. The contact stated that even though the engine had been replaced, the recurring failure raised concerns about the safety and reliability of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Oct 8, 2026 · Engine · 107,000 miles · IN

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine, oil pressure, and charging system warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that after waiting several minutes, the vehicle returned to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the exhaust camshaft and alternator needed to be replaced. The contact stated that in July 2025, the vehicle was taken to a dealer and was inspected under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the vehicle had passed inspection and was not repaired. The contact believed that the failure was associated with the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Engine · NY

As I was driving my 2021 KIA SELTOS LX AWD, at approximately 45 mph, my car had stalled causing an injury to my facial area, specifically my nose.

Filed Sep 27, 2026 · Engine · IN

I am writing to file a formal safety complaint against Kia America and Rohrman Fort Wayne Kia regarding a failure to remedy a safety defect under federally mandated Recall SC336 (the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V259000 / Piston Oil Ring Defect) for my 2021 Kia Seltos.Current Mileage: 83,740 miles Active Kia Corporate Case Number: XXX Statement of Safety Risk and Incident Timeline:My vehicle recently exhibited severe symptoms identical to the documented manufacturing defect: aggressive, premature engine oil consumption resulting in a severe drop in oil pressure, loss of motive power, and random engine stalling while driving.On XXX, due to the extreme danger of operating a vehicle that stalls randomly in traffic, the vehicle was towed directly to Fort Wayne Kia (Repair Order #XXX).Failure of Recall Remedy and Dealership Misconduct:The dealership service department completed a software update tied to the recall (Piston Ring Noise Sensing System / PNSS) and claimed the vehicle "passed" their computer sensor threshold. However, the physical reality is that the internal mechanical damage from the factory defect had already occurred. Upon attempting to retrieve the vehicle on their lot, the engine failed to maintain a baseline idle and died immediately upon startup.The dealership’s Service Manager, [XXX], has refused to perform the necessary physical diagnostic engine inspections or a mechanical teardown under the recall campaign framework. Instead, the dealership attempted to charge me an out-of-pocket, customer-pay diagnostic fee of $190.00 to read the ensuing engine fault codes (P001700 and P000B00).As a professional automotive technician, I recognize these codes (Crankshaft/Camshaft Correlation and Camshaft Position Slow Response) as the direct, downstream hydraulic consequence of the top-end INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 17, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · CT

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 mechanic thought this may be consistent with other engine issues Kia's had around the year of my car's make. While waiting for an appointment with a dealership, my car stalled out while I was driving it on Aug 5, 2026 and wouldn't turn back on. Luckily I was not on a busy road or a highway when this happened and was able to pull over without injury or damage to the vehicle. I got it towed to a Kia dealership and they took the engine apart and found that a camshaft dowel backed out causing separation inside of the engine. They had to then replace the exhaust cam, phaser, timing chain tensioner and all seals and gaskets needed for the repair. The dealership seemed to know this was a common issue and a quick search on the internet confirms that many other people with Kia engines (particularly Kia Seltos) around 2019-2021 have also had this problem. The car is 6 years old and only has about 85,000 miles on it. It has had all the required maintenance up to this point. The engine disassembling itself on its own does not seem like typical wear and tear to me.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Transmission · CO

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact became aware several years ago that the transmission was not shifting properly and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the technicians found no failure. The contact stated that on another occasion while in traffic, the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the brakes locked up while the vehicle was on a hill, forcing the contact to steer to the side of the road and turn the vehicle off. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence, but the following day the vehicle stalled. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and requested that the contact return the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was returned to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced 3 times within 3 years. The contact was informed by the service manager that the dual clutch was not ideal for driving in the mountains. The contact stated that during the first failure, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated with audible alerts to exit the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure continued with reduced power.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Engine · MI

My 2021 Kia Seltos 2.0L is experiencing excessive engine oil consumption between regularly scheduled oil changes. There is no visible external oil leak or oil accumulating underneath the vehicle, but the oil level becomes extremely low before the next scheduled oil change, requiring me to add oil myself. I am concerned that continued excessive oil consumption could result in inadequate engine lubrication, engine damage, engine seizure/stalling, or loss of power while driving. I took the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership on September 1, 2026 and reported the excessive oil consumption. The dealership did not inspect the vehicle, perform diagnostic testing, or provide a repair order. I was told that because the vehicle has approximately 138,000 miles and is outside the warranty period, there was nothing the dealership or Kia would do and that diagnosis could be expensive. I subsequently contacted Kia Consumer Assistance. Kia confirmed that safety recall SC209 was completed on this vehicle in 2021. Kia advised that this vehicle is not currently included in SC336/the federal safety agency 25V099. Kia has opened a dealer complaint and advised that the matter will be brought to the attention of a District Manager. I am concerned because Kia has identified piston oil-ring-related problems involving increased oil consumption in certain Kia Seltos vehicles. Although my vehicle has not yet been diagnosed and Kia states that it is not included in SC336, I am reporting the excessive oil consumption and potential resulting engine failure as a safety concern. The vehicle is available for inspection.

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Engine · AZ

Acceleration is sluggish and vehicle struggles to maintain freeway speeds. Engine stalls (engine turns off, ACC still on) during normal operation. When reducing speed approaching a stop and for making a right angle turn, only the engine shuts off, all accessories (i.e. lights, climate control, radio and navigation screen) remain on. Tachometer intermittently indicates significant increase in RPM not comparable to vehicle speed. With IGS deactivated and AC off there is no change in engine stall occurrence; gasoline level is sufficient enough to not be a contributing factor and nominal amounts of engine oil is verified, yet an engine ticking is definitely audible. Oil changes (including oil filter replacement) completed every 5,000 miles, along with other milestone services in accordance with Kia preventative maintenance schedule. *there is oil burning somewhere, as the recommended amount only lasts approximately 1,000 miles; however, no noticeable traces of oil are observed in the same spot where vehicle is regularly parked. ***Three occurrences w/similar symptoms, CEL and P001700 via OBDII diagnostic scanner (attached history of dealer service and diagnostics): 1. 2024-10-11 @ 56,990 miles 2. 2025-02-26 @ 61,732 miles 3. 2026-05-01 @ 74,839 miles Each time the following parts were removed and replaced: -24370 2E020 (FP): CVVT ASSY-EXHAUST -24200 2E074 : CAMSHAFT ASSY-EXHAUS -22441 2700 : GASKET-ROCKER COVER -22443 2000 : SEAL-OIL On average, this issue occurs at 14,000 mile intervals (57k, 62k, 75k) which, with diagnostics, parts (12,000 mile part warranty), and labor adds a $2,000 cost to own annually. **Symptoms closely resemble Class Vehicle defects outlined in both: -the federal safety agency Campaign Number 25V099000 -the federal safety agency Campaign Number 21V259000 When my VIN is submitted for recall inquiry, neither campaign applies. In the meantime, it's a pain doing so, but I've discovered a delicate temporary workaround: shift to Neutral, press start until engine runs, shift to drive

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · WI

My 2021 Kia Seltos SX Turbo (1.6L Turbo engine) is experiencing severe, excessive oil consumption, burning (and heavy smoke ) approximately 1 to 2 quarts, (Kia dealer oil change standard amount) of oil every 1,000 miles without any external visual leaks. A formal diagnosis by a certified Kia dealership confirms that heavy carbon buildup has accumulated around the piston rings, causing severe ring distortion. Because the oil rings are stuck and distorted, the engine is bypassing oil directly into the combustion chamber and burning it. This exact physical failure mode—carbon buildup causing piston oil ring failure—is identical to the defect described in the federal safety agency Recall 25V099 (Kia Campaign SC336) for the 2.0L Seltos models. However, my vehicle is currently excluded from safety remedies due to its 1.6L Turbo engine variant. This vehicle presents a severe safety hazard, including sudden engine knocking, very heavy smoke from the exhaust, power loss, stalling at highway speeds, or potential engine fire due to running dry on oil. Regulators must expand the scope of the piston ring investigation to include the 1.6L Turbo engine footprint. There were no engine lights, oil lights, or any warning codes. I was told by Kia repair service department that although the car was smoking heavy and smelled like it was burning that I should continue to drive it and then I wasn’t in danger. Please help

Filed Aug 29, 2026 · Engine · AZ

My 2021 Kia Seltos stalled twice while driving and failed to restart, creating a severe safety hazard. The vehicle was previously inspected twice at a Kia dealer for the Piston Ring Recall (SC209). The dealer diagnosis now shows timing failure codes P0014 and P0017 with misfires. The technician notes that the engine oil is entirely 'metalized' and the oil control valves are contaminated with metal debris. Kia is attempting to charge me $7,182 to fix a failure caused by the exact oil starvation symptoms of their active federal safety defect.

Filed Aug 20, 2026 · Engine · 71,707 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning into the driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and there was no oil in the engine, and metal flakes were found in the camshaft. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with camshaft failure, timing failure and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,707.