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 41 complaints against the 2023 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 2023 Kia Seltos complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2023 Kia Seltos has generated 82 NHTSA complaints and has 2 active recalls. If your 2023 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 2023 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: “Car burns/ consumes oil constantly having to top off 2-3 quarts every 1,000 miles maybe even less I do my oil change every 3,000 miles Kia auto contract state I need to do oil change every 5,000” (NHTSA Complaint #11724333)
The 2023 Kia Seltos has generated 8 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: “The vehicle acts like it is trying to change gears when I am driving. This is the third time I have noticed this on the last few weeks. Maybe power train ?” (NHTSA Complaint #11624388)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 Kia Seltos include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 6 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2023 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the tachometer went to zero and remained at zero while the vehicle was still accelerating. The contact stated that the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into a lower gear. There was an unknown message displayed. The contact stated that the screen was black while operating, and the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,313.” (NHTSA Complaint #11720924)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 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: “The contact owns a 2023 Kia Seltos. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped, and the contact became aware of smoke coming from the engine compartment. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the catalytic converter, turbo, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 62,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11721825)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2023 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: “Vehicle acts like it’s going to die. No maintenance lights well maintained. Rattle noise and acts like it’s misfiring. Went to turn at traffic light and almost got into a wreck due to no horse power. This has been happening since less than 40,000 miles but car dealership keeps saying “nothing is wrong” because there isn’t a warning light on! It’s getting worse!” (NHTSA Complaint #11697067)
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2023 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: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia custome
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 2023 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 2023 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 2023 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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