Comparison

CHEVROLET PICKUP vs KIA SELTOS

Side-by-side comparison of the CHEVROLET PICKUP and KIA SELTOS drawn from the NHTSA consumer-complaint database, defect investigations, recall history, and NCAP crash-test ratings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,000,000 consumer complaints have been filed against U.S. vehicles (2,054,142 as of August 2026). This is a head-to-head safety comparison between the CHEVROLET PICKUP (1972–2003) and the KIA SELTOS (2021–2025), drawn from that federal complaint and recall record; see our methodology for how the figures are compiled.

The CHEVROLET PICKUP (1972–2003, 18 model years) carries 618 NHTSA consumer complaints and 0 safety recalls, while the KIA SELTOS (2021–2025, 5 model years) carries 625 complaints and 4 recalls. Severity indicators for the pair split as follows: 42 vs 39 crashes, 8 vs 11 fires, and 0 vs 0 reported fatalities.

Raw complaint counts favor whichever nameplate has fewer vehicles on the road, so the cleaner lens is components: which specific part families concentrate each model's filings? For the CHEVROLET PICKUP, the leading complaint category is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (70 filings), followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor and visibility:windshield wiper/washer. For the KIA SELTOS, it is engine (213), ahead of unknown or other and power train. When the two vehicles cluster around the same component, the problem is likely a shared supplier or a shared federal standard under stress; when they diverge, each nameplate has its own defect signature independent of the other.

Average NCAP crash-test scores are not uniformly available for both nameplates in this dataset, which typically means one or both pre-date the 2011 rating methodology refresh. Use the side-by-side table below as your scorecard, but do not treat it as a verdict. Recall counts tell you how many defects the manufacturer has already been compelled to remedy; complaint counts tell you what owners are still flagging today; and safety ratings tell you how the vehicle performs in standardized barrier tests, three different lenses on the same underlying question. The "also compare" links at the bottom of this page let you triangulate against neighboring nameplates in each model's competitive set.

CHEVROLET PICKUP vs KIA SELTOS - NHTSA complaint, recall, and safety rating comparison
CHEVROLET PICKUP Metric KIA SELTOS
N/A Avg Safety Rating 4.4/5
618 Total Complaints 625
0 Total Recalls 4
42 Crashes Reported 39
8 Fires Reported 11
26 Injuries Reported 18
0 Deaths Reported 0
18 years Years on Market 5 years

Top Complaint Categories

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
70
0
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
53
0
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
43
0
TIRES
30
0
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
28
0
ENGINE
0
213
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
0
73
POWER TRAIN
0
70
CHEVROLET PICKUP KIA SELTOS

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, CHEVROLET PICKUP or KIA SELTOS?
CHEVROLET PICKUP has 618 total NHTSA complaints with 42 crashes, while KIA SELTOS has 625 complaints with 39 crashes. Review individual model years for specific safety ratings.
How many recalls does CHEVROLET PICKUP have compared to KIA SELTOS?
CHEVROLET PICKUP has 0 recalls across 18 model years, while KIA SELTOS has 4 recalls across 5 model years.
What are the most common problems with CHEVROLET PICKUP?
The most commonly reported issues for CHEVROLET PICKUP are: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP (70 complaints), VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR (53 complaints), VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER (43 complaints), TIRES (30 complaints), TIRES:TREAD/BELT (28 complaints).
What are the most common problems with KIA SELTOS?
The most commonly reported issues for KIA SELTOS are: ENGINE (213 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (73 complaints), POWER TRAIN (70 complaints), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (69 complaints), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (43 complaints).

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data