MODEL
Kia Seltos
NHTSA safety across every Kia Seltos model year we cover.
Across the 6 model years of the Kia Seltos we cover (2021 to 2026), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2025 at 91 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2023 at 79. 7 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Kia Seltos is a subcompact crossover SUV that slots below the Sportage in Kia's lineup, targeting younger buyers and urban drivers who want a stylish, right-sized vehicle without sacrificing practicality. Now in its second generation for the US market, the Seltos competes directly against the Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Chevrolet Trailblazer in one of the most contested segments in American showrooms.
The Kia Seltos presents a genuinely encouraging safety picture when you dig into the federal data, though shoppers should go in with eyes open about a few concerns. At its best, the 2025 model earns a MotorCaliber Safety Index of 91 out of 100, placing it in our Exceptional band and representing the high-water mark across the 2021 to 2025 model years we cover. NHTSA crash-test results reinforce that optimism: the Seltos has achieved five stars in both frontal and side crash evaluations, with a solid four stars in rollover resistance, a reasonable result for a tall subcompact crossover. That frontal and side performance is the kind of result that should give shoppers real confidence. The recall picture is more sobering. Seven recalls across five model years is above average for this segment, and critically, two of those campaigns carried park-outside or do-not-drive designations, meaning federal regulators judged the risk serious enough to advise owners to stop using the vehicle entirely until repairs were completed. That is not a number to brush past. Owner complaints total 500 across covered years, with 25 reported crashes, 9 fire allegations, and 15 injury claims. These are unverified allegations, but the fire-related complaints in particular warrant attention given the severity of that failure mode. Bottom line: the Seltos earns its strong crash-test marks, but the recall history demands that any owner stay current with NHTSA notices.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally find the Seltos to be an appealing and well-rounded subcompact SUV, praising its distinctive styling, feature content relative to its price point, and composed driving manners for the class. Most consider it a competitive choice in the segment, though some note that cargo space and rear-seat room fall short of class leaders.
- Two of the seven recalls covering 2021 to 2025 Seltos models carried park-outside or do-not-drive advisories, indicating serious enough risk that owners were told not to use the vehicle until the remedy was applied. Check NHTSA.gov with your VIN before purchase and immediately if you already own one.
- The 2025 Seltos earns a 91 out of 100 MotorCaliber Safety Index in our Exceptional band, and NHTSA crash testing shows five stars in both frontal and side impacts, making the newest models among the stronger performers in the subcompact crossover class.
- Owner complaints across the covered model years include 9 unverified fire-related allegations. While these are not confirmed defects, fire complaints carry inherently high consequence and are worth monitoring as NHTSA investigates or closes any related inquiries.
- Rollover resistance is rated four out of five stars, which is typical for this class of tall, narrow subcompact crossover. Buyers who frequently carry a full load of passengers or cargo at highway speeds should be aware that rollover risk is modestly higher than in lower-slung vehicles.
Most-recalled year on record: 2024 Kia Seltos with 2 recalls.