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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2017–2026

Kia Niro recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 348 owner complaints for the Kia Niro, covering model years 2017 to 2026. The 2017 model year drew the most complaints (82), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Kia Niro VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 6 recall campaigns on file
  • 348 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 10 model years with data (2017–2026)
  • most complaints: 2017 (82 for that model year)
  • top component: Electrical System (91 complaints)
  • latest recall 25V024000 (reported Jan 17, 2025)
  • 34 complaints reporting a crash (9.8%)
  • 10 complaints reporting a fire (2.9%)
  • 23 complaints reporting an injury (6.6%)
  • 1 complaint reporting a death (0.3%)

Kia Niro complaints by model year

10 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2017 model year has the most complaints: 82 of 348, or 23.6%. Next come 2018 (60) and 2019 (56). The fewest are for 2026, with 2 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Kia Niro owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2017–2026Column chart of 348 complaints across 10 model years. The highest is 2017 with 82. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2017: 82 complaints8220172018: 60 complaints6020182019: 56 complaints5620192020: 38 complaints3820202021: 9 complaints920212022: 31 complaints3120222023: 44 complaints4420232024: 9 complaints920242025: 17 complaints1720252026: 2 complaints22026
Kia Niro complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Kia Niro complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
2017824520
2018605030
2019564221
2020382320
202191010
2022315040
2023448050
202492030
2025172000
202621010
All model years3483410231

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Kia Niro components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 91 complaints (26.1% of all 348), followed by Power Train (83) and Engine (80).

Components named most often in Kia Niro complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Kia Niro complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Electrical System9126.1%
Power Train8323.9%
Engine8023.0%
Unknown or Other7020.1%
Service Brakes339.5%
Fuel/Propulsion System308.6%
Air Bags195.5%
Forward Collision Avoidance185.2%
Vehicle Speed Control144.0%
Structure133.7%
Steering123.4%
Engine and Engine Cooling113.2%
Exterior Lighting72.0%
Visibility/Wiper72.0%
Back Over Prevention51.4%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Kia Niro recalls

6 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Niro, newest first. The 6 campaigns cover model years 2017 to 2025. The 2017 model year appears in the most campaigns (4).

  • 6 recall campaigns
Kia Niro recall campaigns covering each model year
DecadeYears ending in 0Years ending in 1Years ending in 2Years ending in 3Years ending in 4Years ending in 5Years ending in 6Years ending in 7Years ending in 8Years ending in 9
2017: 4 campaigns2018: 3 campaigns2019: 1 campaign
2020: 1 campaign2021: 1 campaign2022: 1 campaign2023: 2 campaigns2024: 1 campaign2025: 1 campaign
Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 25V024000

    Reported

    Seats; Electrical System › Wiring

    Model years 2023–2025

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment.

    Consequence:
    Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC332.

    Filed by Kia America, Inc.

  2. NHTSA campaign 23V534000

    Reported

    Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Internal › Clutches/Bands › Actuators/Solenoids

    Model years 2017–2022

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.

    Consequence:
    A fire increases the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.

    Filed by Kia America, Inc.

  3. NHTSA campaign 23V298000

    Reported

    Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel

    Model year 2023

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

    Consequence:
    A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.

    Filed by Kia America, Inc.

  4. NHTSA campaign 22V836000

    Reported

    Hybrid Propulsion System

    Model years 2017–2018

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid electric vehicles previously recalled under recall 18V-666. The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance, which can overheat the rear seats.

    Consequence:
    Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the PRA and replace either the PRA or the Main Relay, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC256. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 18V-666. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

    Filed by Kia America, Inc.

  5. NHTSA campaign 18V666000

    Reported

    Hybrid Propulsion System

    Model years 2017–2018

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid electric vehicles. The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance.

    Consequence:
    The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) for damage. If no damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. If damage is found, the PRA will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began November 23, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC168.

    Filed by Kia America, Inc.

  6. NHTSA campaign 18V257000

    Reported

    Hybrid Propulsion System

    Model year 2017

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Kia Niro vehicles. The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) inner oil seal may leak, allowing oil to accumulate in the cap area, possibly resulting in an electrical short.

    Consequence:
    An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HCA caps for leaked oil and replace the HCA assembly if needed, or replace the HCA cap with additional sealant. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC163.

    Filed by Kia America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Kia Niro questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Kia Niro have?

NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recall campaigns for the Kia Niro, covering model years 2017 to 2026. The most recent, 25V024000, was reported on January 17, 2025 and is filed under “Seats; electrical system”. The 2017 model year is covered by the most campaigns (4).

Which Kia Niro model year has the most complaints?

The 2017 model year, with 82 of the 348 complaints in NHTSA’s file (23.6%). The next are 2018 (60) and 2019 (56). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Kia Niro complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 91 complaints, or 26.1% of all 348. Power Train (83) and Engine (80) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Kia Niro?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Kia dealer.

How many Kia Niro complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 348 complaints, 34 report a crash, 10 a fire, 23 at least one injury and 1 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Kia models

8 models · most complaints first

The Kia models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Kia VIN decoder with every Kia model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Kia Sorento 2003–2026 · 40 recalls · 10,159 complaints
  • Kia Optima 2001–2020 · 22 recalls · 7,499 complaints
  • Kia Soul 2010–2025 · 15 recalls · 5,532 complaints
  • Kia Sportage 1995–2026 · 36 recalls · 4,687 complaints
  • Kia Forte 2009–2024 · 18 recalls · 2,539 complaints
  • Kia Sedona 2002–2021 · 23 recalls · 2,406 complaints
  • Kia Telluride 2020–2027 · 19 recalls · 2,009 complaints
  • Kia Sephia 1995–2003 · 7 recalls · 1,687 complaints

All Kia models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.