Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | 2.8× | 1 | Electrical | Caution |
| 2024 | 10 | typical | 1 | Electrical | Average |
| 2023 | 44 | 3.5× | 2 | Electrical | Avoid |
| 2022 | 31 | 1.8× | 1 | Brake | Caution |
| 2021 | 9 | −52% | 1 | Transmission | Good |
| 2020 | 39 | typical | 1 | Engine | Average |
| 2019 | 56 | typical | 1 | Transmission | Average |
| 2018 | 60 | — | 3 | Transmission | Limited data |
| 2017 | 82 | — | 4 | Engine | Limited data |
* Complaints compared with the median Niro year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Kia Niro problems
Latest Kia Niro recalls
Seats
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Internal › Clutches/bands › Actuators/solenoids
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.
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.
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
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.
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.
Hybrid propulsion system
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.
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.
Hybrid propulsion system
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Kia Niro should you avoid?
2023, 2025 and 2022 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Niro years at the same age, led by electrical system problems in the 2023.
What is the best year for the Kia Niro?
2021 has the fewest complaints compared with other Niro years at the same age. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Kia Niro problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the engine & cooling (91), electrical system (91) and transmission & drivetrain (84). Engine complaints peak in the 2017 model year.
How many recalls has the Kia Niro had?
6 recalls across 2017–2025. The model year with the most is 2017. See all Kia Niro recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.