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NHTSA is reviewing how effectively Kia carried out an existing engine recall—not announcing a new recall. The agency’s August 6, 2025 audit query, AQ25001, followed its review of 47 complaints alleging problems with the remedy, including inconsistent inspection results and unavailable repairs. The recall itself, NHTSA 25V099 (Kia campaign SC336), covers certain 2021–2023 Kia Soul and Seltos vehicles with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. Check your vehicle by VIN and contact an authorized Kia dealer if it is included.
What NHTSA is investigating
AQ25001 is an audit query into the effectiveness of Kia’s remedy for Safety Recall 25V099. It is distinct from the original recall and does not, by itself, establish a new defect finding or mean that every Soul or Seltos from the affected model years is recalled.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation says its Recall Management Division reviewed 47 complaints received from April 29 through June 27, 2025. The complaints alleged that the remedy was ineffective, inspection results were inconsistent, or remedies were unavailable. That figure is the subset cited in the opening resume, not a total count of every complaint about Kia engines.
The investigation opening resume lists 137,256 potentially involved vehicles. Official materials establish that NHTSA opened the query and requested information; they do not establish its later final status here. Do not assume it remains open or has closed without checking the current NHTSA record.
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Which Kia vehicles are covered by the original recall?
The recall applies to certain 2021–2023 Kia Soul and Seltos vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Model year and model alone do not establish eligibility: the population is limited, and owners should check the vehicle identification number (VIN).
Kia identified a supplier quality deviation in the piston oil ring. Kia’s filing says the condition can damage the cylinder wall and engine over time, potentially resulting in loss of drive power and, in limited cases, a fire risk. Kia estimated that 1 percent of the 137,256 potentially involved vehicles had the defect; that is the manufacturer’s estimate, not a confirmed failure rate.
How to check your vehicle and get the remedy
- Check the VIN. Use NHTSA’s recall lookup to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall. NHTSA says there is no fixed number of complaints required to open an investigation; it reviews complaints alongside other available data.
- Arrange the campaign with Kia. If the vehicle is included, contact an authorized Kia dealer and ask about Safety Recall 25V099 or campaign SC336. Kia’s owner guidance directs affected owners to an authorized dealer for the campaign at no cost.
- Ask what the inspection found. Kia’s remedy calls for a dealer inspection, engine replacement if needed, and installation of Piston-ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Kia’s March 31, 2025 campaign Q&A summarizes the repair: “Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the engine.”
The dealer performs the manufacturer’s recall campaign; the VIN lookup is for checking vehicle-specific recall status. An owner inspection with an OBD-II scanner or an aftermarket repair is not a substitute for Kia’s stated remedy.
How the recall and audit query unfolded
- September 27, 2024: Kia’s safety office identified a potential engine-replacement warranty-claim trend involving 2021 Soul and Seltos vehicles with the relevant engine.
- December 2024: Kia’s teardown review found damaged oil rings and cylinder-wall scoring in some engines it evaluated. One had a hole in the engine block. Kia’s filing said it found no evidence of smoke or fire in those evaluated engines.
- February 17, 2025: Kia notified NHTSA of Safety Recall 25V099 for certain 2021–2023 Soul and Seltos vehicles.
- April 4, 2025: Kia’s remedy became available, including an inspection to determine whether an engine replacement was needed.
- May 7, 2025: Kia changed its inspection procedures.
- August 6, 2025: NHTSA opened audit query AQ25001 to assess the remedy after complaints. Its opening resume lists 137,256 potentially involved vehicles.
What Kia reported about stalls and fires
In its February 2025 defect-determination filing, Kia reported 409 potentially related stall-while-driving allegations for Seltos and 400 for Soul. It also reported four potentially related fires, all involving Soul. Kia’s analysis used data received through February 1, 2025, and identified no crashes or injuries in that analysis.
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These are Kia’s dated field-data allegations, not confirmed events caused by the recall defect and not a current NHTSA complaint count. They are separate from the 47 complaints NHTSA’s audit-query opening resume says its Recall Management Division reviewed.
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Official information
- NHTSA AQ25001 investigation record and opening resume
- NHTSA VIN recall lookup and investigation FAQ
- Kia’s Safety Recall 25V099 filing
- Kia’s defect-determination filing and field-data analysis
- Kia’s March 31, 2025 SC336 campaign Q&A
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