2023 Kia Seltos: What to check before buying

The engine stalls without warning, most often when auto start/stop tries to restart at a light or right after a remote start, and some cars roll backward on hills. Other reports describe the gauges dropping to zero with a string of warning lights and lost acceleration on the interstate, plus false forward-collision braking at highway speed. The touchscreen shows gibberish, goes black, or keeps the backup camera on in drive. One crash involved the car accelerating backward while parking. Dealer delays on recall parts also come up.

Oil burning and white or gray exhaust smoke lead these reports. Dealers diagnose failing piston rings or a failed engine, and some blame maintenance and deny warranty coverage. These failures appear between 58,000 and 80,000 miles. Some come with sputtering, jerking under acceleration, or a sudden loss of power on the road. Heavy oil consumption is also reported, with 2 to 3 quarts needed every 1,000 miles. Separate reports describe the car lunging forward at a stop, the engine revving while parked, and shutdowns when auto stop tries to restart.

Smoke from the exhaust or engine bay signals serious engine trouble. Reports describe a fuel smell followed by smoke under the hood, and gray exhaust smoke along with stalling, swinging RPM, and lost acceleration at 70 mph. Dealer findings range from no cause found to an engine, turbo, and catalytic converter replacement needed at 62,000 miles. In one case the manufacturer offered no assistance, and the car went unrepaired.

The dashboard reflects into the windshield in direct sunlight. The large glare makes it hard to see the road when driving toward the sun. Dealers tell owners this is how all of them are, and the problem can go unnoticed on an overcast test drive. Separately, the windshield can crack on its own from the upper edge on the driver's side with no impact, and the crack keeps spreading.

Side glass can shatter on its own. A rear door window burst at 65 mph in 15-degree weather and sprayed glass through the cabin, and the warranty claim was denied. The other report repeats the dashboard reflection problem. In sun or bright light, the dash shows up in the window glass and blocks part of the driver's view.

Power drops out while driving. The engine shakes, feels like it is misfiring, and will not accelerate, which leads to near-collisions while turning at intersections. Dealers often find nothing because no warning light is on, even though symptoms can begin before 40,000 miles and get worse over time. Other reports describe a check engine light that comes and goes, a shifter that sticks between drive and park, and an engine that failed a recall inspection before the dealer said the test itself was faulty.

Glossy interior trim reflects sunlight into the driver's eyes. Glare off the frame around the media display and off the door panels can flash bright enough to blind the driver for a moment, even through sunglasses. In one case the glare forced the driver to pull off the road. The other report describes exterior paint that bubbles, chips off, and leaves dull blotches.