Model year 2022 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2022 Kia Seltos: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2022 Kia Seltos at 27–31 mpg combined across 3 versions. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 76 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

1

EPA combined mpg

27–31

NHTSA overall rating

4/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Kia dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2022 Kia Seltos recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 1 safety recall for the 2022 Kia Seltos, newest first.

Engine and engine cooling: Engine: Hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA 25V099000 Reported Feb 17, 2025
Filed by
Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC336)
Units affected
137,256 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Remedy
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 mailed April 4, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC336.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2022 Kia Seltos fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2022 Kia Seltos EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
Seltos AWD1.6L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 7-speedAll-Wheel DriveRegular25/30/27 mpg$2,500331
Seltos AWD2.0L 4-cylCVT (8 modes)All-Wheel DriveRegular27/31/29 mpg$2,300314
Seltos FWD2.0L 4-cylCVT (8 modes)Front-Wheel DriveRegular29/35/31 mpg$2,150283

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2022 Kia Seltos crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2022 Kia Seltos NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2022 Kia Seltos SUV AWD4 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars15.1%Standard
2022 Kia Seltos SUV FWD4 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars16.9%Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2022 Kia Seltos owner complaints

Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Seltos, most recently on Oct 20, 2026. 6 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2022 Kia Seltos complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Engine40
Unknown or other17
Power train10
Engine and engine cooling9
Electrical system7
Air bags3
Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking2
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings2
Wheels2
Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Kia Seltos model years

Kia Seltos by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2027 Seltos26–30 mpg02—
2026 Seltos25–29 mpg045/5
2025 Seltos25–31 mpg0135/5
2024 Seltos26–31 mpg2475/5
2023 Seltos27–31 mpg2474/5
2021 Seltos27–31 mpg23784/5

All Kia Seltos years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2022 Kia models

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Kia.