118 Federal Complaints and One Injury: The 2021 Kia Seltos Engine Problem
If you purchased or leased a 2021 Kia Seltos in California and you've experienced engine trouble, you are far from alone. Federal data shows that 118 consumers have filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the 2021 Kia Seltos engine — and at least one person has been injured. These are not minor rattles or warning lights. Owners are describing serious, sudden engine failures that put drivers and passengers at real risk.
What Is Going Wrong With the 2021 Kia Seltos Engine
The core issue involves the 2.0L Nu MPI engine's piston oil rings. When these fail, the engine can lose power suddenly — including at highway speeds. Owners have reported the vehicle shutting down without warning during normal highway driving, leaving them stranded and in potentially dangerous situations. The problem has been significant enough that NHTSA issued recall 25V-099 (also identified as Kia service campaign SC336, with a subsequent repair action SC336YZ) specifically targeting this defect.
The troubling reality for many owners is this: a recall notice does not guarantee a fix. Some owners report returning to the dealership under the recall only to continue experiencing the same engine problems afterward. When a recall repair does not resolve the underlying defect, California lemon law may give you a powerful remedy.
What California Lemon Law Says About Situations Like This
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act is one of the most protective consumer warranty laws in the United States. Under this law, if a manufacturer or its authorized dealers are unable to repair a defect within a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer may be required to provide you with a replacement vehicle or a full refund — including your down payment, monthly payments made, and registration fees.
The law establishes a rebuttable presumption that your vehicle is a lemon if any of the following apply:
- The same defect has required two or more repair attempts for a problem that could cause death or serious bodily injury
- The same defect has required four or more repair attempts for any other warranty defect
- Your vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days due to warranty repairs
Once that presumption is established, the burden shifts to the manufacturer to prove your car is not a lemon. Critically, if your claim is successful, the manufacturer is required by law to pay your attorney fees. This means pursuing a lemon law claim costs you nothing out of pocket.
How to Know If You Qualify
To pursue a lemon law claim for your 2021 Kia Seltos, you will generally need to show the following:
- You purchased or leased the vehicle in California, or you are a California resident
- The vehicle was covered by the manufacturer's warranty when the defect first appeared
- You brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership for repairs on at least one occasion (multiple visits strengthen your case significantly)
- The defect substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety
Documentation matters. Hold onto every repair order, every recall notice, every loaner car receipt, and every communication with Kia or the dealership. These records are the foundation of your claim.
It is also important to know that California's lemon law has a four-year statute of limitations. That clock starts running from the date you first experienced or reported the defect. Waiting too long can cost you your rights entirely.
Get a Free Case Review From Lucky Lemon Law
If you own a 2021 Kia Seltos and have experienced engine problems — whether before or after a recall repair — you may have a strong lemon law claim under California law. At Lucky Lemon Law, we offer a completely free case review with no obligation. If we take your case and win, Kia pays our fees. You pay nothing.
This resource is available to California residents only. The four-year deadline is real and it is running. Visit luckylemonlaw.com today to find out where you stand. You bought a car that was supposed to work — and California law may be on your side.