YearToAvoid

2025 Kia Seltos Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#5 most-complained of 5 Seltos years

The 2025 Kia Seltos ranks Best among its 5 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and just 13 complaints logged. No recalls have been filed against this year, and its top reported issue is the electrical system at 38% of complaints.

Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
27 city / 31 hwy

Top 2025 Kia Seltos problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System5 (38%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (23%)
  3. Other3 (23%)
  4. Lane Departure2 (15%)
  5. Brakes1 (8%)
  6. Engine1 (8%)
  7. Steering1 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (8%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Instrument cluster and gauges fail to illuminate on startup, sometimes requiring a full vehicle restart to restore the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge.
  • Dash lights and headlights dim or go dark intermittently while driving, especially at night.
  • Low beam headlights appear misaimed, angled too far down so they fail to light the road or nearby signs.
  • Lane assist has disengaged without warning while approaching a slower vehicle, without automatic braking kicking in.
  • Heavy snow buildup on the rear of the vehicle has obstructed the rear wiper and covered the tail lights during winter driving.
  • Camber bolts in the front struts have shifted from their original position, leading to uneven tire wear.
2025 Kia Seltos complaints: complaints filed per month4Nov 2024Feb 2025Jun 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026Sep 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2024 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2026 (4).

2025 Kia Seltos recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2025 Kia Seltos fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other Seltos years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2023Good2546229
2024Avoid7545229
2025Best013029

All Kia Seltos years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Kia Seltos reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Seltos is rated Best among its 5 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and only 13 complaints reported.
What is the biggest problem with the 2025 Kia Seltos?
Electrical system issues are the top reported problem area, making up 38% of complaints, mainly involving the instrument cluster and headlights.
Does the 2025 Kia Seltos have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2025 Seltos, compared to 2 recalls each for the 2021 and 2023 model years.
How does the 2025 Seltos compare to other Seltos years?
The 2025 Seltos has the lowest complaint index (0) of the 5 model years tracked, well below the 2021 model's index of 100 and the 2024 model's index of 75.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia Seltos?
The 2025 Seltos gets 29 mpg combined (27 city / 31 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.