# Used Kia Seltos: Common Problems and Which Years to Buy > What to check on a used Seltos, what a problem looks like, and when to walk away. Covers: SP2 (first generation) (2019–2023), SP2 (facelift) (2023 on). Last updated: 2 November 2026. Web page: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-kia-seltos-inspection-checklist. Printable PDF: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-kia-seltos-inspection-checklist.pdf. ## Common Problems on a Used Kia Seltos The most commonly reported problems on a used Kia Seltos are an engine that uses or burns oil, slipping, hesitation or jerking from the CVT automatic, and an infotainment screen that freezes or drops its phone connection. Check how much of the new-car warranty is left, and that the servicing has kept it valid. ### Oil Use Some Seltos engines are reported to burn oil, from piston rings that don't seal well. An engine that keeps running low on oil can be badly damaged, and some owners report engine failures ([AustralianCar.Reviews](https://www.australiancar.reviews/recalls-faults-kia-sp2-seltos-2019/)). Check the oil sits between the marks on the dipstick, and ask how often it needs topping up between services. Watch the exhaust for blue smoke at start-up and when accelerating after idling. Ask for the service history and whether any engine work was done under warranty. A car that needs regular top-ups may need major engine repairs, so have a mechanic check it or walk away. ### CVT Automatic Problems Many Seltos have a CVT automatic, which uses a belt between two pulleys instead of fixed gears. Owners report it slipping, hesitating when pulling away, and jerking at low speed. On the test drive, accelerate gently and firmly from a stop, and creep along in slow traffic. It should pull smoothly, with no hesitation, surging revs, judder or whine. Ask when the gearbox fluid was last changed and whether it's had any repairs, with receipts. CVT repairs are expensive, so if it misbehaves, have a mechanic check it or price it in. ### Infotainment Glitches Owners report the Seltos's touchscreen freezing, rebooting and dropping Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The same screen shows the reversing camera. Connect your phone, make a call, play some audio and use the menus for a few minutes. Put the car in reverse and check the camera picture comes up straight away. A software update often fixes it, so ask whether the car's software is up to date. If the screen still plays up, price in a dealer visit. ## Which Kia Seltos Years to Avoid? No single Kia Seltos year stands out as one to avoid. Newer ones usually have fewer kilometres and less wear, and the newest may still have some new-car warranty left. Whatever the year, a car's condition, service history and recalls tell you more than its build date, and Shufti looks up the reported faults and recalls for the exact car from its listing. - **SP2 (first generation) (2019–2023).** 3 to 7 years old, typically about 40,000–90,000 km. ANCAP ratings: [5 stars (2019) for cars built to October 2022](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/kia/seltos/ad39fa); [5 stars (2019) for cars built from November 2022](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/kia/seltos/9cd5bf). Stability control and AEB are standard. Most have done enough kilometres for wear items to come due: check the service history for regular servicing, and whether tyres, brakes and the battery need replacing. Kia's new-car warranty is 7 years with unlimited kilometres for cars sold from October 2014, so any may still be covered. - **SP2 (facelift) (2023 on).** Up to 3 years old, typically up to about 40,000 km. ANCAP rating: [5 stars (2019) for cars built to December 2025, when it expired; later cars are unrated](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/kia/seltos/9cd5bf). Stability control and AEB are standard. The current model. Kia's new-car warranty is 7 years with unlimited kilometres for cars sold from October 2014, so any may still be covered. Check how much is left and that servicing has kept it valid. Kilometres are at the Australian average of about 12,600 km a year. Well above that means harder use; well below, ask why. Warranty terms are from [Kia's warranty page](https://www.kia.com/au/owners/warranty.html), as at November 2026, for private buyers. The warranty runs from when the car was first sold or registered, which the service book shows. ## Kia Seltos General Inspection Guide A guide to checking for Kia Seltos problems, built on the [used car buying checklist](https://shufti.com.au/checklists/australian-used-car-inspection-checklist) for any car. It can't cover every problem reported across its years in one viewing. Tick it if it's fine. Cross it if it isn't, and note what you found so you can price it into your offer. - Safety critical: Affects how safely it drives or protects you in a crash. Best to have a mechanic check it before you buy. - Negotiate: Costs money to fix, from wear to major repairs. Get a quote and take it off the price. ### Exterior - [ ] **Panel gaps.** Walk around the body checking panel gaps and paint colour match, including door and bonnet seals. Uneven gaps or overspray on trim point to earlier crash repair. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Wheels.** Look over the bumpers and alloy wheels for scrapes, cracked trim and kerb damage. A badly kerbed wheel can be bent and need replacing. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Lights.** Test that every light works and check the windscreen for chips and the lenses for fogging inside. Moisture trapped inside a light means a failed seal. (Negotiate) ### Under the Bonnet - [ ] **Engine oil.** Pull the dipstick and check the oil sits between the marks and looks brown, not black or gritty. Ask how often it needs topping up between services. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Coolant.** Check the coolant reservoir is at the mark and the fluid is brightly coloured, not rusty or oily. Frequent top-ups point to a hidden coolant leak. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Belts.** Check the drive belts for cracking or fraying and the hoses for bulges or soft, spongy spots. A perished belt or hose can fail with little warning. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Leaks.** Look over the engine bay and surrounding pipes for wet oil or fluid. Any wetness underneath means an active leak worth quoting to fix. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Cold start.** Ask the seller to start the engine from cold and watch the exhaust; it should settle to a smooth idle with no smoke or knocking. Blue smoke on startup means the engine is burning oil. (Negotiate) ### Underbody and Wheels - [ ] **Tyres.** Check all four tyres for even wear above the wear bars and look for a date code under six years old. AWD models need four matching tyres as mismatched ones strain the system. (Negotiate) - [ ] **AWD leak.** AWD models: look underneath the rear axle and driveshaft area for oil leaks. A leak here signals an expensive drivetrain repair. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Rust.** Look under the car for rust on the floor and around suspension mounts, and check for bent metal or fresh welds. Fresh underseal in one spot can hide a crash repair. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Brakes.** Check the brake discs through the wheel spokes for deep grooves, a raised lip or blue discolouration. A blue tinge means the disc has been overheated from hard driving. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Towbar.** If a towbar is fitted, check it and the wiring plug for rust or damage and that the mounting bolts are tight. A loose towbar mount is unsafe when towing. (Negotiate) ### Interior and Electrics - [ ] **Warning lights.** Turn the key to "on" without starting; every dash light should come on then clear once the engine is running. An airbag, brake or engine light that stays on needs explaining before you buy. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Seatbelts.** Pull each seatbelt out fully and let it retract, checking the webbing for fraying and the buckle for a solid click. A belt that doesn't retract smoothly may not hold properly in a crash. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Infotainment.** Turn on the touchscreen and connect a phone, checking Bluetooth or CarPlay works and the screen responds smoothly. A screen that lags or won't connect may need resetting repeatedly. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Cargo area.** Check the spare wheel or repair kit and jack are present, then lift the cargo floor and check underneath for water. Water staining under the floor can mean a boot seal leak. (Negotiate) ### Test Drive - [ ] **Manual clutch.** Manual: feel the clutch bite smoothly at a normal pedal height and check it doesn't slip under hard acceleration. A clutch that bites very high or slips means it's worn. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Automatic gearbox.** Automatic: accelerate firmly from a stop and check the car picks up power smoothly without flaring, droning or hesitation. Shuddering or jerking under load points to a failing automatic transmission. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Suspension.** Drive over bumps and listen for knocks or clunks coming through the body or steering wheel. Clunking over bumps often means worn suspension bushes or links. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brakes.** Brake firmly from speed on a quiet road and check the car stops straight without pulling, pulsing or grinding. Grinding or pulling to one side means the brakes need attention soon. (Safety critical) ### Documentation - [ ] **Service history.** Check the logbook is stamped on schedule and matches any receipts, and ask about timing or drivetrain work done. Gaps in servicing can mean deferred maintenance. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Registration.** Check the registration is current online and a roadworthy certificate is supplied if your state requires one for sale. ## Stay Safe Never go under a car held up only by a jack, and never open the radiator or coolant cap on a hot engine. Keep hands, hair and loose clothing clear of fans and belts when the engine is running, and do checks under the bonnet with it switched off where you can. On the test drive, hold a current licence, confirm the car is registered and insured, obey road rules, and only brake hard when the road behind is clear. Meet in a safe, public-facing place, take someone with you, and don't carry large amounts of cash to a viewing. ## Disclaimer Shufti is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kia; Kia and Seltos are trademarks of Kia Corporation. Figures are counts from Shufti's analysis of official records and published reports, not a statement that any particular vehicle is affected. This checklist is general information only and is not professional, mechanical, legal or financial advice. It covers common checks, not every possible fault, and a car can pass every item here and still have problems. It is not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic, which is worth considering before you buy, especially if anything tagged Safety critical turns up. Repair costs vary widely; get your own quotes. Roadworthy, registration and transfer rules differ by state, so check with your state road authority. Private sales generally don't come with the consumer guarantees that apply when you buy from a dealer. You use this checklist at your own risk and, to the extent permitted by law, Shufti accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from its use. ## Buying a Used Kia Seltos: Questions Answered ### Is a used Kia Seltos reliable? It depends more on the particular car than the badge: how it was driven, loaded and serviced. Work through the commonly reported problems above, read the service history for servicing done on time, and run a PPSR check. ### Which Kia Seltos years should I avoid? No single Kia Seltos year stands out as one to avoid. Newer ones usually have fewer kilometres and less wear, and the newest may still have some new-car warranty left. Whatever the year, a car's condition, service history and recalls tell you more than its build date, and Shufti looks up the reported faults and recalls for the exact car from its listing. This checklist covers the SP2 (first generation) (2019–2023) and SP2 (facelift) (2023 on) Kia Seltos. Problems reported across them include oil use, CVT slipping and hesitation and infotainment glitches. ### How many kilometres is too many for a used Kia Seltos? Kilometres matter less than how the car was driven and serviced. A high-kilometre SUV with a full service history can be a better buy than a low-kilometre one that's missed services, done short trips or been used for rideshare. Check the history for regular servicing, and on a hybrid ask for a battery health check. ### Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a used Kia Seltos? It's most worth it on a car where a hidden fault could be costly. All-wheel-drive and hybrid systems can hide faults a visual check won't show, so ask for the service records for them and watch for warning lights on the test drive. Either way, start by checking the car yourself with this checklist, so you know what to look for and whether it's worth paying a mechanic to see. See Pre-purchase car inspection: what it checks and costs (https://shufti.com.au/guides/used-car-inspection-options) ### How do I check a used Kia Seltos for money owing or a write-off? Run a PPSR check with the car's VIN on ppsr.gov.au (https://www.ppsr.gov.au/). It shows whether there's finance owing and whether the car has been reported stolen or written off. Run it on the day you pay. See What a PPSR check covers and what it doesn't (https://shufti.com.au/guides/what-is-a-ppsr-check) ### How do I check recalls on a used Kia Seltos? Search the government's Vehicle Recalls site for the Kia Seltos (https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/browse-all-recalls?search=Kia%20Seltos). Each notice says which models and build dates it covers and what the fault is. A recall on record doesn't tell you whether the work was done on a particular car, so ask the seller for proof, or ask a Kia dealer to check the VIN. --- Shufti is an Australian used car inspection app for iPhone and Android that tailors the inspection to the exact car you're looking at. It is not affiliated with Shufti Pro, the identity verification (KYC) company. From the listing link, it builds every check around that car's make, model and year, odometer reading and the seller's description. It runs PPSR and government recall checks, crosschecks a database of more than 3 million recalls and owner complaints, flags problems from your photos and audio, plans a test drive, produces a shareable report with repair cost estimates, and coaches you through the negotiation. A Tailored check costs $24.99, or $49.99 for three, including PPSR and recall checks. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection costs $250–350. To start, Shufti's General inspection guide is free: pick the car's make and model, and it takes you through the checks that matter for that model, on your phone. There's a guide for popular models, and one for every type of car. Made by Frontpoint Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 23 669 870 366), Melbourne, Australia. Contact: hello@shufti.com.au. Download: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/shufti-used-car-inspection/id6795718336?pt=129235165&ct=Website%20guide&mt=8), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.shufti.shufti_app&referrer=utm_source%3Dshufti.com.au%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite%26utm_campaign%3DWebsite%2520guide%26utm_content%3Dllms%26utm_term%3D%252Fllms.txt).