Kia issued a recall for 137,256 Seltos and Soul subcompact SUVs from the 2021-2023 model years because their engines can fail.
Kia tells the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Due to a quality deviation by the piston oil ring supplier, the piston ring may, over time, damage the surface of the cylinder wall.” At first, this could cause an engine to consume more oil than normal. Owners might notice “abnormal noise from the engine and/or illumination of the oil pressure warning light.”
Left untreated, the engine could seize, resulting in a complete loss of 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 says.
Dealers will inspect engines for damage and, if necessary, replace them entirely. Even if no damage is found, they’ll “install a Piston-ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software to provide an early warning light to the driver of potential damage to the engine.” If the software flags a problem in the future, dealers may replace the engine.
Recall repairs are always free. Manufacturers attempt to contact every owner, but they don’t always get to reach them all. Find out if your car needs any recall repairs at our recall center.
