Model year guide

2022 Kia Seltos

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2022 Kia Seltos is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 5 on record.

2022 Kia Seltos — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2022 Kia Seltos at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints73
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined27–31 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2022 Kia Seltos recalls 1

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical NHTSA Campaign #25V099000 · manufacturer #SC336 · 17/02/2025

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.

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 …

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2022 Kia Seltos common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2022 Kia Seltos safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 15.1% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2022 Kia Seltos SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2022 Kia Seltos MPG & running costs

Combined27–31 mpg
City27 mpg
Highway32 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,317
EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7) or Automatic (AV-S8)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Engine start-stopYes
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$417 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2022 Kia Seltos costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,585
Fuel only$11,585
Per mile$0.15

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
172.0 in
Width
70.9 in
Height
63.8 in
Wheelbase
103.5 in
Curb weight
2,893–3,318 lb
Front track
61.4 in
Rear track
61.8 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2022 Kia Seltos — ranges cover the 3 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness Closed

On August 6, 2025, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened Audit Query (AQ) 25001 to assess the implementation of Kia America, Inc.’s (Kia) remedy program for Safety Recall 25V099, involving incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings which may damage the engine causing a loss of motive power or fire. This AQ was opened in response to consumer complaints alleging of an ineffective remedy, inconsistent inspectio…

NHTSA #AQ25001 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Aug 2025 · closed Dec 2025

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 82

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 82.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black ba…

Bulletin CS2312_TSB_R2 · Structure · Jun 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at upda…

Bulletin TSB_ELE422 · Electrical System · May 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles out…

Bulletin TSB_CS2312 · Structure · Dec 2025

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made available to own…

Bulletin CS2312_OWNR · Structure · Dec 2025

PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating dis…

Bulletin PS797 · Back Over Prevention · Dec 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: IBU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT: This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Integr…

Bulletin TSB_ELE382_R1 · Electrical System · Oct 2025

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HORN ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMEN (WTY038) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. Thi…

Bulletin WTY038_TSB_R1 · Electrical System · Oct 2025

This bulletin provides instructions to perform an engine vibration inspection using the Kia Diagnostic System (KDS) tablet on certain Kia engine/model vehicles. The piston oil ring(s) in certain Kia engines may, over time, damage the surface of the engine cyli…

Bulletin SST082_R1 · Engine, Electrical System · Sep 2025

This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published under SC336 titled “Engine Inspection/Replacement and ECM Logic Improvement”.

Bulletin SC336YZ_TSB · Engine · Sep 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: IBU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) software on some 2021-2025MY Seltos (SP2) vehicles produced from November 20, 2019 through January 13. 2025. When the key f…

Bulletin TSB_ELE382 · Electrical System · Aug 2025

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the SELTOS FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 3

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2022 Kia Seltos. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Engine

Issue: On certain vehicles, the piston oil rings may not have been manufactured properly and could damage the cylinder walls. As a result, the engine could make abnormal noises, and a warning light may turn on. If you continue to drive the vehicle with these symptoms, the engine could fail. Note: This recall only affects certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0L MPI engine. Safety…

Transport Canada #2025083 · Feb 2025

Label

Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safet…

Transport Canada #2024549 · Aug 2024

Electrical

Issue: On certain vehicles, the 4WD control unit under the driver's seat may become contaminated by a mixture of salt and moisture inside the vehicle. Over time, this can lead to corrosion that could cause a short circuit. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. Safety Risk: A short circuit can create a fire risk, even while the vehicle is parked…

Transport Canada #2024093 · Feb 2024

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos is a crossover SUV manufactured by Kia since 2019.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2022 Kia Seltos trims & engines on record

Trims
S FWD, S AWD, Nightfall Edition
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 147 hp

2022 Kia Seltos vehicles on record

Other Kia Seltos model years

2022 Kia Seltos — frequently asked questions

Does the 2022 Kia Seltos have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2022 Kia Seltos. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2022 Kia Seltos?

Across all 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, power train, engine and engine cooling.

What is the 2022 Kia Seltos safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2022 Kia Seltos an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2022 Kia Seltos get?

The 2022 Kia Seltos has U.S. EPA estimates of 27–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.