The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun an audit into automaker Kia’s remedy for more than 137,000 recalled SUVs.
Kia recalled 137,256 Seltos and Soul 2021-2023 vehicles in February 2025 because the piston oil rings may have been manufactured incorrectly, could damage the vehicles’ engine and could possible cause a vehicle stall or fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury, the company said in a NHTSA filing.
NHTSA began the audit query, according to an Aug. 6 notice, after its Office of Defect Investigation’s (ODI) Recall Management Division (RMD) reviewed 47 complaints, received from April 29 to June 27, regading Kia’s remedy program.
The complaints “allege an ineffective recall remedy, inconsistent results in inspections to determine whether an engine replacement was needed, and the unavailability of recall remedies,” according to the agency’s notice.
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Kia’s recall remedy, which included an inspection procedure to determine whether an engine replacement was necessary, became available on April 4, 2025. Kia changed the procedures for the inspection on May 7, 2025, the notice says.
The purpose of this audit, the agency said, is to “evaluate the effectiveness of Kia’s remedy program and to understand Kia’s response to vehicle owners’ complaints of difficulties experienced due to changes to the procedures used to remedy vehicles.”
Which Kia models were impacted by the recall?
Two Kia models affected by the recall, which involved 137,256 vehicles:
2021-2023 Kia Seltos (53,635)
2021-2023 Kia Soul (83,621)
USA TODAY has reached out to Kia for comment.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kia faces NHTSA audit over SUV recall program
