Kia Recalls Seltos and Soul Models for Fires

Kia America is recalling more than 137,000 model year 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul vehicles. The piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in engine damage, causing  a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

“Due to a quality deviation by the piston oil ring supplier, Dongsuh Federal-Mogul, the piston ring may, over time, damage the surface of the cylinder wall. This may lead to increased oil consumption which will eventually result in abnormal noise from the engine and/or illumination of the oil pressure warning light. If the vehicle is continually operated in this condition, engine damage and/or seizure can occur, resulting in loss of motive power. In limited cases, a fire may occur from engine oil leaking onto a hot exhaust component due to a hole in the engine block,” Kia said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is apparently still operating with hard-working people in spite of the Trump Administration.

Dealers will inspect and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Dealers will also install piston-ring noise sensing system (PNSS) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed 4 April  2025.

Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC336. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov. about NHTSA recall 25V099 or 25V-099. No crashes or injuries  have been identified – dates of receipt for all field data 3/3/2021—2/1/2025.