The 2022 Kia Seltos is an affordable, fun-to-drive small SUV with a lot to offer. The Kia Seltos has been recognized as the Best Affordable Small SUV because of its advanced safety technology, including automatic forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning.

Despite this, customers are complaining about the 2022 Kia Seltos defective engine, and transmission complaints.

Kia Seltos Engine Problems

NHTSA data shows that 2022 Kia Seltos has been the subject of 10 complaints.  Many Kia Seltos complaints relate to auto start and shut off problems with the engine resulting in a stalling condition.

According to Motor and Wheels,

A fuel-saving feature on the Kia Seltos that allows the vehicle to shut down at a stop sign or stop light to prevent it from using gas while idling has led to some vehicles not starting back up.  Cars that are using this feature should restart the engine as soon as the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal but in a small number of 2021 Kia Seltos, the engine does not fire back up like it is supposed to.

2022 Kia Seltos owners have reported engine problems online.  Read this complaint to NHTSA from a 2022 Kia Seltos in New York:

My engine is malfunctioning. My safety has been at risk when I am driving on the highway 50 miles per hour and it just shut off, when turning the steering wheel to make a turn, the car will shut off and it has shut off while waiting at a red light. However, It will start back up after I switch the gauge into park and restart the car. I have taken my vehicle in to the Kia dealership, and they have taken pictures of the engine, to have it evaluated by the KIA headquarters. I am currently waiting for approval to change the engine to a new one.

Another Kia Seltos owner reports to Edmunds:

have put less than 3500 miles on it. I have only taken it on one major drive, 140mi each way. On the way to my destination, about 10 minutes before arriving, my check engine light came on. The code pulled was P226100, and as soon as I got to my destination I called the Kia dealership to schedule an appointment. The soonest they had was over a month away, someone was supposed to call me but no one did. I called back a few days later and am told if the check engine light isn’t blinking it is safe to keep driving. 

Problems With Kia Seltos Transmission

In addition to engine problems, many 2022 Kia Seltos owners are complaining of transmission problems also.  Just read this transmission complaint to NHTSA by a 2022 Kia Seltos owner in Pennsylvania:

I bought a brand new 2022 Kia Seltos a month and a half ago at Monroeville Kia dealership. On December 11, the car started manifesting a transmission temperature overheating problem in the middle of traffic. Once the transmission overheated, the engine lost power. I was driving in busy traffic and had to pull the car over to allow the engine to cool down. The police came over and made me start driving my car again, indicating that I could not pull over in such busy traffic. This is a major risk to my safety and can potentially cause a car accident. I reported this case to Kia Manufacturer and I opened a case… The dealership evaluated the car and said “This is a known defect and, per Kia’s engineers, there is nothing they could do to fix the car.” 

The transmission complaints continue with an owner reporting to Edmunds:

The acceleration on this car (2022 Kia Seltos) is sluggish and unless you have a lead foot, you’ll have to get used to slowly accelerating.

Kia is aware of transmission problems with the 2022 Seltos and has issued a Technical Service Bulletin  SC242_TSB:

Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, repair the transfer case oil seal and to perform the All-Wheel Drive Electronic Control Unit (“AWD ECU”) software update on certain All-Wheel Drive (“AWD”) 2021-2023 MY Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The current AWD ECU software logic may not detect the spare tire when installed on the vehicle.

Transmission problems are not a new issue for Kia.  According to Kelly Blue Book Kia recently recalled 120,000 vehicles for transmission problems including the 2021-2023 Kia K5 and 2021-2022 Kia Sorento.

2022 Kia Seltos Engine or Transmission Problems – Getting Help

Engine Problems and or Transmission Problems with the 2022 Kia Seltos and other Kia models may allow you to get lemon law relief.  If you have purchased or leased a 2022 Kia Seltos, you may need to contact a  Lemon Law Attorney.

We know the engine and transmission problems with the 2022 Kia Seltos and can inform you of your lemon law rights. As one of the country’s largest and most successful lemon law firms, our attorneys can provide you with PA Lemon Law, NJ Lemon Law, NY Lemon Law and HI Lemon Law help at no cost to you.

Contact us today to discuss your case at no cost to you.