Electrical system, visibility, and cracking window and windshield issues are the main cause of complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Originally released in the U.S. in February 2020, the Kia Seltos was heralded as an SUV “built for modern adventure.” But complaints have been mounting up, and there are some major issues with the 2023 model. Consumers are complaining about highly reflective surfaces that cause extreme visibility problems. They also say that windshields and windows randomly explode or crack, and there are electrical issues that cause the console to malfunction.
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Visibility issues are paramount with the 2023 Kia Seltos. They come in various forms, specifically, surfaces that are so reflective they become a safety risk or crack so that drivers can’t see.
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Seltos also indicate that there are big problems with the electrical system. The main issue seems to relate to the console that doesn’t work because of electrical problems.
There are other problems too that owners report as being related to back-over prevention, the engine, forward collision avoidance, and lane departure.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Power Train | |
| Visibility:glass, Side/rear | |
| Air Bags | |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection |
Visibility issues are cited as being structure, visibility/wiper, and relatively straightforward visibility problems. Owners complain that visibility is impaired by highly reflective surfaces as well as windshields and windows that shatter for no reason.
When the sun reflects on any surface it can have a negative effect on visibility. An owner from Illinois states that when driving in sunny conditions or lighted areas the dashboard reflects off the window glass visibility of the driver. His impression is that the dashboard and window glass have not been properly installed.
A complaint from an owner in Florida states that the interior door as well as areas of the console, mainly the frame around the GPS/media display, are highly reflective. “At certain times of the day, the sun reflects off them and causes extreme visibility problems. I actually had to pull off the road one day because I got a bright light in my eyes that produced an effect similar to a camera flash, and I was unable to see. It really scared me, as I almost ran off the road when it happened.”
He finds that during the day, he often drives with one hand on the steering wheel, trying to shelter his eyes with the other. “Even when wearing sunglasses, the reflection is blinding.” Because of the angle, he believes these surfaces should be more textured or muted. “Although it may sound trivial, to me it is a true safety concern.”
At Lemberg Law, we are aware of a large number of vehicles that have issues with windshields that shatter. But, it’s not only the windshield of 2023 Seltos that are reported to shatter. Owners also complain that their windows shatter too.
An owner from Utah states that the driver-side rear door glass of a 2023 Kia Seltos “exploded spontaneously” on February 13, 2023, while the SUV was traveling at 65 mph. This set all the shattered glass inside the SUV. The incident happened on a two-lane highway in a remote area where there wasn’t any other traffic and the temperature was about 15 degrees. But Kia denied the owner’s warranty claim!
A 2023 Seltos windshield cracked spontaneously in Minnesota, early one morning. Again, there were no other vehicles nearby at the time. “The crack started at the upper edge of the windshield and it is expanding. An internet search indicates this is a problem experienced by many other KIA owners.”
An owner from Maryland had a window on the right-hand side of the SUV that randomly shattered. At the time of the complaint, “the shattered glass is being held together by the tint that was on the window.” Additionally, the owner, who uses the vehicle as a primary means of transportation to get to work and get children to school, said the Seltos was “inoperable.”
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A common complaints amount Seltos owners is regarding its idle stop-and-go feature and unintended acceleration. Both issues significantly impact the vehicle’s safety and the driver’s confidence on the road.
Owners have reported that the idle stop-and-go system doesn’t always function as intended. One driver recounted: “On 11/8/23, I was at a light and stop and go was on. The light turned green, I took my foot off the brake, and nothing happened—then the engine stalled.”
Another owner mentioned that the issue isn’t a one-off occurrence: “When the stop/go is on, it sometimes stalls and will not move when pressing the pedal.” This kind of unpredictability is troubling, especially in high-traffic areas where quick responses are crucial. The stalling problem has led some drivers to manually disable the idle stop-and-go feature every time they drive, just to avoid the risk of getting stuck.
Futhermore, one owner described how their Seltos suddenly lunged forward while at a complete stop, with the engine revving uncontrollably: The owners stated “that while at a complete stop with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle independently lunged forward without warning.”
Whether your 2023 Kia Seltos has visibility, stop-and-go idle, or any other recurring problems, if you believe it may be a lemon, you can do something about it without risking enormous legal costs.
If your Seltos malfunctions and you are adversely affected, a lemon law firm like Lemberg Law can help you. We have many years of experience handling lemon law cases and will assess your case free of charge. If we believe your claim has merit, we can negotiate a settlement on your behalf. The law says that Kia must pay your legal fees for lemon law cases, so it’s not going to cost you anything.
Call our Helpline now or fill out a contact form and we’ll get back to you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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The camera staying on after moving it out of reverse is a feature of the car and can be turned off in the settings… That’s a user error, not a problem with the car. Learn how to use your car properly before you complain something doesn’t work and it must be a LEMON
Anyone who owns a new car should know to maintain their vehicle according to manufacturer requirements and KEEP all records, especially if you’re not taking it to a Kia dealership.
This whole article is based on a few people and not nationwide. Not an accurate article.
By the way, I don’t own a Seltos, but I would if I was in a position to.
Thank you for sharing your insights. We appreciate feedback from our readers. This article is based on our research and is intended to provide helpful information for vehicle owners who may be facing issues. Of course, we fully recognize that not all cars are “lemons.” However, given the nature of mass production, some vehicles may unfortunately come with defects. Our aim is to inform and support those who find themselves in such situations.
I have problems in kia seltos uvo for a long time, your management will know that, but the dealership won’t solve it (Estan kia service center). They are taking money, they are not at all solving the problem. I am from Kolkata.
That manager name is Abhra.
The car security is very very bad so please tell me what can I do?
2021 Kia Seltos at dealership since May 22, 2023 and the replaced transmission and just last week July 7 they said the transmission is finally finished but it has a Bad engine with oil sludge and it’s not covered under warranty. But the engine has the same problems as other Kia Seltos. They say since I can’t prove my oil changes were done the mfg warranty doesn’t cover it.