The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into the effectiveness of a recall involving 137,256 Kia Seltos and Soul vehicles. According to Automotive News, in a report dated August 8, the agency stated that it had received 47 complaints regarding the recall solution.
The review focuses on concerns that the initial recall fix intended to address defective piston oil rings may be either ineffective or not yet available to affected owners. The complaints, submitted to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, suggest that some vehicles continue to experience issues despite undergoing repairs. The defect affects certain 2021 to 2023 models equipped with 2.0-liter Nu MPI engines and could result in engine failure or an elevated risk of fire.
Kia stated that the oil rings might have been improperly manufactured, causing damage to the cylinder wall.
The brand suggested solution involves software updates and engine inspections; however, NHTSA’s assessment indicates these measures might not completely resolve the problem. If the fix falls short, Kia may be required to issue further recalls or implement additional corrective actions.
As reported by Carbuzz, NHTSA documents show that Kia began rolling out the recall fix on April 4. The initial remedy involved a non-invasive engine inspection using a specialized Engine Vibration Inspection Test Harness, which allowed dealers to detect internal issues without dismantling the engine. If the vibration levels were too high, the vehicle may have received an engine replacement. Regardless of the test outcome, all affected vehicles received a software update that enabled continuous vibration monitoring to alert drivers of potential future engine problems.
Following the launch of the recall fix in April, Kia made several updates to the procedure. The latest update came on June 9, when the company instructed dealers to avoid using USB-C headphone adapters if their diagnostic tablets had a 3.5 mm audio jack. However, NHTSA is most concerned about a previous update issued on May 7—revision 3, which invalidated all earlier engine replacement approvals and mandated re-inspections.
The Recall Management Division of the safety agency has only recently initiated its investigation and has not yet reached any conclusions or issued any official findings regarding the matter.
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