The oil pan is consistently out of oil. It burns up. Causing the engine to stall, shake or grind at times. We have been having this problem for 2 years now. Taken it to 2 different dealerships. They confirmed it needs a new engine however Kia will not replace it for us. It is a known problem with these vehicles and there is a lawsuit currently going on. We have receipts from dealerships, we have been stranded on the side of the road many times and can not drive it due to risk of fire or engine seizing. We used to keep oil in the car at all times and check it frequently. Now we are afraid to drive it and damage it any more. We have done all the recalls and because the one recall was a piston ring system update, we aren't covered under the recall then. The system must be faulty. We do get a check engine light or oil light on when the car stalls, otherwise we just have to keep watching the oil that keeps disappearing. Kia has denied us the new engine after asking for an Out-of-Warranty Goodwill Breakdown for the car. The first owner went 10,000 miles without seeing a dealership and we did as well when we first bought it. The problems started at 57,700 miles. The car is junk and they wanted to give us a deal on the new engine $7,750 out the door. WOW, it's not our fault the engine or the piston rings burn the oil and are burning the engine up. Kia is at fault, their cars are crappy.
Kia Seltos grinding brakes problems
14 of the 576 owner complaints about the Kia Seltos describe grinding or squealing brakes, most of them for the 2021 model year.
- owner complaints
- 14
- worst model year
- 2021
By model year
- 20242
- 20221
- 202111
Often reported together
Engine failure 5Stalling 3Jerking 2Check engine light 2Transmission failure 1Oil consumption 1Loss of power 1
What owners say
Since November 2025, this vehicle has experienced repeated loss of power, severe shaking during acceleration, jerking between gear shifts, abnormal humming/grinding noises, and multiple check engine light events. The condition is most noticeable between approximately 40-70 mph and has repeatedly occurred while driving on highways. On multiple occasions, the vehicle struggled to accelerate properly and would not respond normally to throttle input. During one occurrence, the vehicle had difficulty accelerating beyond approximately 55 mph while on the expressway. The shaking became severe enough that I feared mechanical failure could occur while driving. I was forced to pull off to the shoulder of the highway because I no longer felt it was safe. The inability to maintain speed and accelerate normally created a safety risk for both myself and surrounding traffic. The vehicle has been returned to the dealership six times for the same recurring issue. Repairs have included replacement of the ECU, catalytic converter, ignition components, fuel injectors, and other engine related components. Despite these repairs, the problem continues to return. The condition has been repoduced and documented by the dealership, and a manufacturer field technician was involved in the most recent diagnosis process. Most recently, after the vehicle was inspected and believed to be repaired, the check engine light illuminated again while the service manager was moving my vehicle to be washed inside of their garage, as I waited (today, June 11th 2026). The recurring loss of power, repeated check engine light events, and inability to permanently correct the defect raise significant safety concerns while operating the vehicle. I have all documentation in my notes, as well as the dealership repair documents.
*The end of March, my car suddenly started making an awful grinding noise, jerking, slowing down even with foot on excellerator. Towed to nearest Lia in Leesburg. Couldn't find anything wrong. Happened two more times didn't take in. Next time it happened in April towed in. *My engine was replaced in April of 2025. *Was fine until 12/10/25. Same grinding, etc. Was worse than before. Found out my 5 yr. warranty ended on 12/09/2025. Had it towed to Ocala Kia where I bought car. Updated software to what it was before replaced engine. Found out engine only had warranty for 1 year. That has expired. I thought I had purchased 5 year extended warranty when I bought out lease but I don't. So I don't know what I paid for. I do not feel confident that it is fixed nor do I trust dealer. *I have asked both dealerships to give me a written explanation on what they have tested for and dates and serial # on parts. I was told that info was only for dealer and won't let me know. I want to know if any damage to parts that were source of grinding. I have all or most of paperwork for service. I am taking car to another reputable auto repair to check it over for so I can decide to get rid of it. *I want to make sure it is on record that I have let you know that fixes haven't worked. Problem is sporadic and unpredictable. I cannot find out what they have checked. This was my last car. I like it but no longer trust it. [XXX] [XXX] CP [XXX] . I have sent in complaint before but never heard back. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have a Kia Seltos 2021 AWD EX 24,700 mi. that was recalled and new engine put in on April 12th 2025 to fix grinding noise that occurred 4 times the end of March starting on the 17th 2025. On Dec. 12th 2025 Grinding noise started again. Couldn't find anything wrong and told them to try harder. Said needed software update back to what it was before engine put in. My problem: I don't have the 5 year extended warranty that I thought I had. Never got papers about warranty of new engine which I don't think it is. No papers saying if they ever checked to see if parts affected by grinding had shown wear. Neither dealer where it was serviced had done this to my knowledge and won't give written proof. I never had a copy of any of the paper work I signed in front of me the 3 ½ hours in office. He would go over and tell me to initial or sign. Then didn't want to give me a paper copy but put on zip drive. I insisted on paper and about a ½ hour late he came with 28 pages of mostly size 6 font. I just wanted out. They have known this car has had issues since the day I bought it. I have called customer service dealer and corporate. According to paperwork Im not allowed to ask for a jury trial, go to arbitration or join a class action suit nor get reimbursed for repairs caused by defects. I went to Sr. vs. Crime and they tried to call to get paperwork and they didn't return calls. What options do I have left as the ods of needing repairs seem obvious. My car is worth nothing - bad reputation, and I don't feel safe driving it.
My engine was replaced April 9. 2025 because of piston issues. I had taken it in a few weeks prior for terrible grinding noise, shaking, and slowing down. They didn't find anything wrong. It happened for a short time twice after and didn't take in as sporadic and would stop. Then it happened again for longer time. I had it towed to Kia again. During time in shop, I received a recall letter. Shop kept saying it would be done next day. After a few days I called and they said they were putting in an engine. I Picked it up and then two weeks before Christmas It started grinding sound and shaking etc. It was towed into Kia I bought from as my Kia roadside had expired a few days before. They ran diagnostic test and said they found nothing. I told they to try harder. Ran another test and supposedly according to some bulletin they upgraded some software back to what it was before engine replaced and the problem should be fixed. Only drove car 1 mile according to service papers I have. I have a 5 year old car with 24,000-25,000 mi. on and I am afraid to drive it. So far it has only happened when driving 45 mph or less. I will not drive it on turnpike or interstate. I want this recorded someplace so it is on the record for other with this issue.
The car was making a grinding sound, vibrates, slows down. Grinding sound is like grinding gears or a snowplow scraping pavement. The engine was replaced in april because of recall. I only have 23765 miles on it but original 5 year warranty expired on 12/09/2025. The same noise started again on 12/10/2025 and it was towed to dealer I bought from on 12/10/25. The master warning light came on 12/10/25 incident and some text. There was traffic so unable to read it and light went off.
Issue started to occur around 40,000 miles, when excellerating from a stop to about 30mph and when turning vehicle will feel as if it’s grinding or clunking in the front power train area. As miles increase on vehicle issue seems to happen more frequent.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine keeps stalling and there’s a recall on the engines and I had to wait a month for dealership to say the recall isn’t the problem! How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I drive on the highway and busy street and my car will just stop or make smoke for oil reserve. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes the number Ted that they hear the noises on my car. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? 2 months ago I started hearing a grinding noise, oil light came on irregular from oil consumption and metal shards in oil.
The front brakes prematurely failed at 5,000 miles and this is a brand new vehicle. We had 3 miles or so at purchase (purchase date: August 7, 2024). By January 4, 2025 or so, the front brakes began making grinding noises. We had a licensed, independent shop inspect this and then replace the worn brakes on January 6, 2025. We have driven the vehicle as we have driven other vehicles and we have never seen brand new brakes wear out after 5,000 miles with standard driving. We believe it could be due to the driver assistance technology and would like this to be thoroughly reviewed. Hopefully, Kia can reimburse us with some discount on other routine maintenance as this is a cost we did not expect so soon with a brand new vehicle.
This happens everyday while I’m driving. The vehicle hesitates and grinds when you try to accelerate and prevents you from going forward. It pulls the car back in yanking motion. Which is extremely dangerous.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Kia Seltos grinding brakes
Which Kia Seltos years have grinding or squealing brakes problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2021 (11 complaints), 2024 (2 complaints) and 2022 (1 complaints).
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