NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 61 complaints against the 2022 Kia Seltos. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2022 Kia Seltos complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2022 Kia Seltos has generated 122 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2022 Kia Seltos has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Kia pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Kia Seltos have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 38 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “Car is throwing a P1327 error code which aligns with this recall: 25V099. However, my VIN is not included in the recall despite being a 2022 Kia Seltos.” (NHTSA Complaint #11719612)
The 2022 Kia Seltos has generated 18 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “I was driving and my car halted to a complete stop.” (NHTSA Complaint #11722175)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Kia Seltos have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 16 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2022 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the contact had scheduled a recall appointment and was advised by the dealer that the recall had been placed on hold. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and advised the contact that the recall was on hold. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and ascending a hill, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, and failed to respond as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that vehicle was making abnormal knocking sounds while the vehicle was stopped and idling. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed by the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000. Parts distribution disconnect.” (NHTSA Complaint #11663619)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Kia Seltos have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 12 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “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 part of piston ring recall. Dealership stated my car is not affected however the issues the shop found most certainly confirm my issue which is going to cost over $2k to fix is associated with this. Dealership not only says my car passed piston ring recall but wanted $175 to diagnose what has already been diagnosed and then another $175 on top of that to “dig into the engine”. Check engine light came on and car began making noise and not running properly on 2/7/2026 on 2/9/2026 called independent service center and car was checked out and diagnosed on 2/11/2026. Found out this is likely recall related 2/12/2026. Car was looked at by dealership on 2/17/2026 and I was told the aforementioned. However magically the two other recalls on this vehicle were remedied but not this one.” (NHTSA Complaint #11718581)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Kia Seltos have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 4 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “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 change….This incident has occurred more than 10 x since then. My vehicle have over a 100,000 miles on it which does not qualify for Kia yo check it out. I will be taking my vehicle to get a service check. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11711057)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2022 Kia Seltos by the NHTSA or Kia. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Engine damage can cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: 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 th
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Kia Seltos:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Kia to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Kia must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2022 Kia Seltos qualifies as a lemon under California law, Kia may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Kia a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Kia dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Kia pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Kia a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Kia is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2022 Kia Seltos has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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