What the source says
The documented condition
NHTSA campaign 21V259000 includes certain 2021 Kia Seltos vehicles. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Soul, and 2021 Seltos vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which may result in engine damage. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Source component: ENGINE
Compare the pattern
Symptoms and vehicle scope
Words owners may use
- car shuts off while driving
- engine suddenly loses power
- car stalls at traffic lights
- engine dies without warning
- vehicle will not accelerate
- power disappears while driving
Symptoms in the record
- The engine may stall, fail to restart or lose propulsion, sometimes without advance warning
- An open campaign appears when the complete VIN is checked
- Some recalled vehicles may show no advance warning before the component fails
Vehicles and limits
- 2021 Kia Seltos
- NHTSA campaign 21V259000
- The manufacturer filing lists 147,249 potentially affected units across the complete campaign.
- VIN eligibility determines whether this recall applies to an individual vehicle
Manufacturer position
What the official procedure directs
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021.
Mileage context
Safety recall eligibility is based on the VIN and campaign scope, not ordinary warranty mileage. Check the complete VIN even when the vehicle is outside its original warranty.
Original evidence
Open the documents behind this record.
NHTSA safety recall · 21V259000 · Apr 13, 2021
Official campaign record for Kia Seltos
NHTSA campaign data lists the defect, safety consequence and manufacturer remedy. The manufacturer filing lists 147,249 potentially affected units across the complete campaign.
Repair paths and safe checks
Match the action to the evidence.
Use the official recall remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Kia will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. The recall began June 11, 2021.
Do not buy parts from the campaign description alone. VIN scope, superseded remedies and parts availability can change.
Check the complete VIN before arranging work
Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup and ask the manufacturer or an authorised dealer to confirm whether the campaign is open for this vehicle.
A year, make and model match does not prove that every vehicle is included. The VIN result controls eligibility.
Record reviewed in the source on August 3, 2026. Confirm the current document and VIN instructions before arranging work.
How we check a problem · All records for the 2021 Kia Seltos