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Recalls happen for many reasons. Anything from faulty clear coats to spontaneous combustion can be grounds for a recall. As of now, 147,249 2021 Kia Seltos and 2020-2021 Kia Soul units were called back to the dealership to deal with an engine failure issue that can potentially lead to fires. These recalls are aimed at addressing a problem with the 2.0-liter engines.

Why is there a Kia Soul and Kia Seltos recall?

According to Consumer Reports, 147,249 2021 Kia Seltos and 2020-2021 Kia Souls are being recalled due to an intermittent problem with the heat-treating process for the piston oil rings. This issue can lead to engine damage, ultimately killing the engine and increasing danger for drivers.

1. 1 day ago  2021 Kia Seltos Kia. RELATED: What the 2021 Kia Soul Has in Common With the Porsche 911 For 2021 Kia Seltos made between Nov. 20, 2019, through Oct. 15, 2020, and 2020-2021 Kia Soul units made between Nov. 24, 2018, through Oct. 24, 2020, these models will most likely see damage from these improperly heat-treated engines.
2. 2020 Kia Seltos - Small, but Mighty is Kia's latest subcompact crossover named after the son of Hercules.

So far, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has filed paperwork on four separate fires potentially related to this oil ring issue. According to Consumer Reports, Kia has not linked this issue to fires as of now.

Consumer Reports says that by June 2021, owners of 2021 Kia Seltos and 2020-2021 Kia Souls will be told to bring their vehicles to the dealership to address the problem.

Kia says that dealers will attempt to fix the issue with the piston oil rings directly. However, the engine itself may be replaced if the damage has already been done. Although recalls are never fun, getting a new engine in your 2020 Kia Soul might not be such a bad thing.

Consumer Reports also mentions that dealers will also install software that will alert drivers of any potential piston oil ring failure in the future. For any owner that has already paid for work connected to this recall, reimbursements are available for such work.

2021 Kia Seltos and Kia Soul recall details

The 2021 Kia Seltos is a sub-compact SUV that follows a long line of wallet-friendly offerings from the Korean brand. The 2021 Kia Seltos comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the base power plant. The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder comes with the up-trim models. The 2.0-liter, which it shares with the 2020-2021 Kia Soul, is where the problem lies.

RELATED: What the 2021 Kia Soul Has in Common With the Porsche 911

For 2021 Kia Seltos made between Nov. 20, 2019, through Oct. 15, 2020, and 2020-2021 Kia Soul units made between Nov. 24, 2018, through Oct. 24, 2020, these models will most likely see damage from these improperly heat-treated engines.

Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542.

How to know if your car has an open recall?

Knowing exactly when your car was produced can be confusing. Luckily, there are some tools to help with this. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website has tools to help you figure out if your Kia Soul or any other car has an open recall.

If you plug your car’s 17-digit VIN code into the VIN tool, it will tell you if there is an issue with your specific model. This is useful for newer cars, of course, but even with older models. Recalls on older vehicles don’t always make the news, making it worthwhile to regularly check on your ride on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.

Two meaningful takeaways from Kia’s 2020 Seltos SX, an urbanely-styled compact SUV that looks like it’s simultaneously trying to give Land Rover’s new Defender and Subaru’s Forester a run for their money. First, the fairly-inexpensive Seltos is packed with technology in a fashion similar to which Japanese automakers became renowned in the 1980s. Second, nobody looking at it would believe how lovely this thing rides.

For a shade less than $30,000, the Seltos has a 1.6-L turbocharged and direct-injected 4-cylinder engine, a 7-speed (wet) dual-clutch automated-manual transmission, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, even LED headlights. Then there’s an expansive suite of advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) technology and top-line electronic and driver-interface features, including a vivid 10-inch central touchscreen. The cabin is the electronics match for vehicles costing twice as much. The only trade-off? Virtually all the touchable plastics are vividly low-rent.

2020 Kia Seltos Review

Equally amazing is that this small SUV, which Kia said is meant for the paper-thin white space between its funky Soul and the mainstream Sportage, has the supple and confident damping of a luxury sedan. There’s pothole-smothering absorbency – itself a rare attribute for anything “compact” – yet more-than-acceptable body control when you engage a backroads workout for the 175 hp the turbocharged 1.6-L manufactures. We were blown away time and again by the Seltos’ utter disregard for every kind of bad road surface.

We wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the off-road abilities of this decidedly car-like wagon-thing and after taking in the hard-plastic cabin fittings, you wouldn’t be wrong in suggesting the near-$30,000 price is pushing it, regardless of the Seltos SX’s extensive content. But the wide dynamic capabilities of the 2020 Seltos SX – particularly its creamy-but-capable ride – put it at the top of the segment.

2020 Kia Seltos SX Turbo AWD

2020 Kia Crossover Suv Seltos

Base price: $27,890
As tested: $29,485
Highs: High-quality ride; premium driveline and electronic tech
Lows: Downmarket cabin materials; small 1.6-L is soft at the upper end of the tach
Takeaway: Offbeat but enticing package reminiscent of 1980s Japanese cars.

Kia Suv 2020 Models Seltos

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