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2022 Kia Seltos

Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

68 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 12, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Engine problems dominate (51% of complaints, typically reported near 26k miles).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)86
Severity (30%)70
Recall load (20%)97
Trend (10%)43

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20212026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2022 Kia Seltos, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~26k mi · 35 reportsTransmission & drivetrain~60k mi · 10 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (8) · Engine & cooling (8)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

51%

35 complaints · typically near 26k mi · 30 in the last 2 years

My 2022 Kia Seltos out of nowhere started smoking, losing power, total control and braking. There were no lights on the dashboard warning of any kind complete stall th…

Transmission & drivetrain

15%

10 complaints · typically near 60k mi · 8 in the last 2 years

Certified shop said my timing chain was going as well as other associated components. My car is always low on oil even when mileage has not been met. Found my car is p…

Electrical system

12%

8 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years

I purchased this 2022 Kia Seltos on [XXX] from Serra Nissan Volkswagen Inc, Birmingham. One week afterwards my vehicle cut off at the light while waiting for light to …

Engine & cooling

12%

8 complaints · 8 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the contact had schedul…

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Engine And Engine Cooling · 25V099000

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.

Fix: 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.

Before you hand over money

Check the VIN for open recalls

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2022 Kia SELTOS beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2022? See how every Seltos model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2022 Kia Seltos against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2022 Kia Seltos as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.