Most common 2019 Kia Niro problems
Share of the 56 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Niro complaints by model year
Best Niro years: 2021. Years to avoid: 2023, 2025, 2022. Compare all years →
2019 Kia Niro recalls (1)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2019 Kia Niro:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2019 Kia Niro owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 22 →
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for the scheduled recall repair, the vehicle was inspected. The contact's wife was informed that the hydraulic clutch actuator (HCA) was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact's wife was informed that the parts were unavailable, and the repair needed to be rescheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,473. …
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Pull Over and Shut off Engine" was displayed and a burning odor was coming from the engine compartment. After restarting the vehicle, the failure was self-corrected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that fluid had leaked into the clutch actuator and the clutch actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was previously inspected as part of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact's customer owns a 2019 Kia Niro LX. The contact stated that his customer stated that the vehicle overheated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the converter. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The owner stated that the vehicle was randomly stopping. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic. While test driving at 15 MPH, the brakes were operating as designed, and then after several attempts, the brake pedal was applied and depressed to the floorboard, and the driver crashed into a parked BMW X5. There were no warning lights illuminated. The brakes were inoperable. The air bags deployed. There were no reported injuries, fire or police report filed. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a ticking and a popping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact's friend who was following behind noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was driven to the destination. The following day, the oil level was checked, and the contact stated that the oil level was low; however, there was no sign of an oil leak. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started and made a rattling sound. The contact turned the vehicle off and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a hole in the crankcase. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Electrical system
While traveling from upstate New York, the vehicle displayed an engine overheating warning shortly after startup while the engine was still cold. Because I was away from home, I stayed overnight and the next morning took the vehicle to a Kia dealership for inspection. The dealership inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a problem with the exhaust heat recovery system pipe. According to the service department, coolant is leaking internally through this component and is being burned in the exhaust system. The cooling system was pressure tested and held pressure externally, indicating the coolant loss is occurring internally through the exhaust heat recovery system rather than from an external leak. This condition can cause coolant loss and overheating while driving. …
Hydraulic fluid is leaking onto the hydraulic clutch actuator's circuit board, creating a potential fire hazard. The vehicle requires replacement of the dual clutch and slave cylinder. This failure occurred just over one year after Kia replaced the dual clutch and performed a full engine replacement at a Kia dealership. This condition is identical to a known safety recall affecting 2019-2022 Kia Niro vehicles involving hydraulic clutch fluid leaking onto the actuator circuit board and creating a fire risk. Although my VIN is not listed under the recall, the vehicle is the same year, make, model, and drivetrain and is exhibiting the same defect described in the recall. This appears to be a recurring safety defect involving the hydraulic clutch system.
2019 Kia Niro engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 123 / 102 / 112 MPGe | 239 mi |
| 1.6L 4-cyl hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 52 / 49 / 50 | — |
| 1.6L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 48 / 44 / 46 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Kia Niro a good car?
Based on 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Niro rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Niro at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Kia Niro?
The transmission & drivetrain — 22 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (13) and electrical system (13).
How many recalls does the 2019 Kia Niro have?
There is 1 recall for the 2019 Kia Niro, the most recent from July 31, 2023 (actuators/solenoids). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Niro?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2025 and 2022. See the full Kia Niro years comparison.
At what mileage do 2019 Kia Niro problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 35,000 miles; 53% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.