Kia Seltos Extended Car Warranty

What Happens After the Kia Seltos’s Factory Warranty Ends

The Kia Seltos launched in South Africa in November 2019, built in India, and was facelifted in 2024 with updated engines and gearbox. The earliest cars are therefore reaching the end of their five-year warranty now.

This page sets out the factory cover, how the pre-facelift and 2024 cars differ, the problems AutoTrader’s buyer’s guide reports, and how an extended motor warranty fits in.

Kia Seltos Factory Warranty and Service Plan — What You Started With

Per AutoTrader, cars past five years or 90,000 km have an expired service plan. Confirm the terms on your car with a Kia dealer.

Kia Seltos: Pre-Facelift vs 2024 Facelift

The 2024 facelift brought new front styling, a single digital dash layout and updated engines and gearbox. We found no evidence that the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine sold in some overseas markets was ever sold in South Africa.

The guide lists the 2024 base petrol both as 1.6 EX and 1.5 LX, so check the exact specification of your car. A facelift doesn’t change the terms on a Seltos you already own.

Known Kia Seltos Problems to Date

AutoTrader’s guide rates the Seltos highly, calling the 1.5 CRDi diesel the best engine in the range. It gives no repair costs, so we quote none. The reported issues are below. The guide notes some of its text appears carried over from other articles, so we use only the model-specific points.

DCT overheating and jerkiness (pre-facelift 1.4 GT-Line)

The 1.4 turbo’s 7-speed dry-clutch DCT can shudder and show overheating warnings in heavy traffic or on inclines. Kia addressed this with the 2024 facelift’s switch to an 8-speed torque-converter automatic. If you are buying a pre-facelift GT-Line, test for shudder when pulling away and in stop-start traffic.

1.6 petrol at altitude

The guide says the 1.6 loses roughly 15–17% of its power at Johannesburg’s altitude, with weak overtaking and constant gear hunting. It advises avoiding the 1.6 inland.

Infotainment and interior

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto sometimes disconnect, mainly on 2020–2022 cars; a free software update at service usually fixes it. Piano-black dash trim scratches easily, and some rattles appear on high-mileage cars used on rough roads. The front passenger seat height is not adjustable on LX and EX.

Recalls

The guide gives no South African recall details. Overseas campaigns on the Seltos (including an Indian CVT oil-pump controller recall) concern engines and gearboxes South Africa either never received or that we could not confirm apply here. Check any car by VIN with a Kia dealer.

Compiled from AutoTrader’s buyer’s guide and recall coverage up to October 2026. Sources: AutoTrader (Seltos buyer’s guide). The guide itself warns that some of its content may be inaccurate. Details can change — confirm with a Kia dealer.

Why Kia Seltos Owners Choose an Extended Warranty

The 2019–2020 Seltos cars are now at the end of their 5-year warranty, and the 90,000 km service plan has often expired earlier. After that, gearbox, turbo and electronics repairs fall on the owner — most notably on pre-facelift 1.4 turbo GT-Lines with the dry-clutch DCT. An extended motor warranty keeps costs predictable. It is subject to its own terms and exclusions — ask Cheryl what applies to your Seltos.

What’s covered

Monthly or Once-Off — Your Choice

Protect your Seltos with a Monthly Motor Warranty from R246/month with flexible payments and no long-term commitment, or a Once-Off Warranty Plan providing 24 months of cover paid upfront — no waiting period, no monthly commitment.

Am I eligible?

Not sure if your Seltos qualifies? Ask Cheryl — she can confirm in one call.

Also available for your Seltos

Many owners combine their warranty with a service plan for complete cover:

Kia Seltos Extended Service Plan →