Kia Seltos stalling problems

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 19, 2026 · Engine · FL

The car stalls for no reason at various speeds. So far, the car will restart but I’m obviously concerned about damage to the engine and the safety of passengers when this happens at high speeds. The symptoms appear consistent with the engine recall for faulty piston rings but my vin # is not listed in the recall. I believe the recall should be extended to other vin #’s as others are reporting similar issues and their vin is also not in the recall list. It is available for inspection by Kia.

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 Oct 7, 2026 · Engine · CA

While I was driving off the freeway, my vehicle suddenly stalled while I was in motion. The vehicle restarted, but shortly afterward it stalled again. Due to the repeated stalling and the safety concern, the vehicle had to be towed to a Kia dealership for inspection. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle as having an engine failure. After researching the issue, I found that my vehicle’s make/model and engine are associated with the federal safety agency Safety Recall Campaign 25V‑099 / Kia Recall SC336. The recall describes a potential engine defect that can result in engine damage or seizure and specifically identifies loss of motive power/stalling as a potential consequence. The recall remedy includes engine inspection and, when necessary, engine replacement. (the federal safety agency⁠) Although this recall is not currently showing as attached to my specific VIN, the symptoms I experienced and the dealership’s diagnosis appear consistent with the issue described in the recall. I am requesting that the cause of my engine failure be thoroughly investigated and that Kia consider whether this failure is related to the defect identified in the federal safety agency Campaign 25V‑099 / Kia SC336.

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 10, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · DE

The vehicle has experienced two separate episodes of severe engine/propulsion malfunction approximately two months apart. During the first incident, the vehicle began shaking and idling roughly and had very little acceleration. Pressing the accelerator caused the engine to rev, but the vehicle would barely move. A diagnostic scan performed afterward showed DTC P0171 (System Too Lean), but the code was subsequently cleared. The vehicle later returned to normal operation and a Kia dealer was unable to reproduce the condition. During the most recent incident, the vehicle again began idling very roughly and then stalled while being driven. The engine was restarted but stalled again. After another restart, shifting the vehicle into Drive caused the engine to stall again. A tractor-trailer was traveling behind the vehicle during the incident, creating a serious risk of a rear-end collision. The truck driver was able to recognize that the vehicle was having a problem and avoided a collision. There were no warning lights or messages on the instrument panel during the most recent incident. The vehicle is currently at a Kia dealership for inspection. The dealer has not identified the cause and is retaining and road-testing the vehicle in an attempt to reproduce the intermittent failure. The vehicle is available for inspection. Two incidents in less than two months.

Filed Sep 3, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

I need to open a formal safety and warranty complaint regarding my 2024 Kia Seltos. I originally reported an acceleration problem to the dealership when the vehicle was purchased and they said they couldn’t duplicate the issue but they did not resolve it.The vehicle shuts off while I was driving, and afterward would not accelerate beyond approximately 15 mph. I believe the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and I want this documented as an unresolved recurring defect. I did make complaints to Rick case Kia of sunrise and at the time took it back up there three times in the month I purchased it. I’ve been dealing with this randomly since I got the car it shuts off while in motion.