The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·21V259000·Announced 2021-04-13

2021 KIA SELTOS Engine Defect May Cause Stall or Fire

Kia is recalling 2021 Seltos and 2020-2021 Soul vehicles due to improperly heat-treated piston rings that may cause engine damage, stalling, and crash risk, or oil leaks that may cause fires.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: This is a structural engine defect with potential for serious harm including engine stalling and fire risk. However, no injuries, deaths, or actual incidents have been reported in the source. Per the rubric, risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported score at most 3.

Plain-English summary

Kia Motors America is recalling certain 2021 Seltos and 2020-2021 Soul vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings in these engines may not have been properly heat-treated during manufacturing.

Improperly heat-treated piston rings can result in engine damage. If the engine becomes damaged, it may stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, engine damage can cause oil to leak onto hot exhaust components, which increases the risk of a fire.

Kia will notify owners and arrange for dealers to inspect the engines. If necessary, dealers will replace the engine at no cost. Kia is also deploying software called the Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) to address the issue. The recall began June 11, 2021. Owners can contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.

The recalled product

Product
KIA SOUL, SELTOS
Brand
KIA
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Category
Vehicle — Engine
Hazard
Affected units
147,249

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • SOUL
  • SELTOS

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · KIA

Same manufacturer · Kia Motors America

See all →

Same hazard · engine damage

See all →