2017 KIA Niro Hybrid

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2025· ENGINE

  Failed/leaking coolant heat exchanger which is integrated into the rear catalytic converter assembly. This seems to be a well-known issue with 2017-2020 Kia Niros. Leaks cause overheating of the engine or no heat in the vehicle and potential blown head gaskets. This issue has been confirmed by an independent service center. Car itself gave no messages or warnings regarding the leak.

• 12/27/2023· POWER TRAIN

  The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the Check Hybrid System, Turn Off Engine message displayed, and the HEV warning light illuminated. The vehicle then stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,787.

• 12/24/2023· ENGINE

  EHRS fails, causing coolant leaks & cracked cylinders

• 12/15/2020· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER RK KIA OF VINELAND LOCATED AT 612 N. DELSEA DR BUILDING 1, VINELAND, NJ 08360 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 12/14/2017· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

  NEW KIA NIRO ROLLS BACK ON INCLINES IN DRIVE AFTER REMOVING FOOT OFF OF BREAK AND RIGHT BEFORE PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, ON PAVED, CITY STREETS. NEVER HAD THIS WITH OTHER AUTOMATICS. NEW KIA NIRO JUMPS FORWARD/ACCELERATES SHARPLY WHILE IN DRIVE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY (1-3 MILES PER HOUR) UP AN INCLINE. THIS OCCURRES ON PAVED, CITY STREETS.

• 12/11/2025· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Engine Overheated - Turn Engine Off" was displayed with white smoke coming from the exhaust system. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the coolant level was extremely low. The contact stated that coolant was added to the reservoir; however, hours later the coolant level was low again. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the head gasket was blown and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.

• 12/07/2022· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  Back seat got warm & later that morning car engine would not start but lights in vehicle came on. Appt made w/dealer who after a week hadn't done diagnostics nor checked battery & main hybrid fuse as I had requested. I towed to a service garage who upon starting to open the box covering battery, found battery had kindof exploded & bulged. I searched online for recalls on 12/7/22 and found a recall 11/10/22 -22V836000 (KIAs # is SC256) which is "Main Relay within Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance, which can overheat the rear seats." "This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 18V-666. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed" I have receipt showing I had did the 1st recall but the recall is not showing up when I search my VIN#. Kia has found some dealers lied & never replaced the part they said they did. My car will be towed tomorrow to a KIA dealer who will look into this issue & what my battery looks like. No warning lights came on prior to the engine not starting. I called KIA cust service for recalls this morning 12/7 and they were no help to me at all seeing the recall isnt showing under my VIN number.

• 12/07/2017· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  REVERSING (BACKUP) LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, AND MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF SECTION 571.108 OF THE CFR TITLE 49 CH. 5 (10-1-04 EDITION)

• 12/06/2021· ENGINE

  On 12/03/2021 I noticed white steam coming from the exhaust of my vehicle. Very shortly after noticing this issue I lost all heat and the engine temperature began to rise. I immediately checked the engine coolant level and noticed the reservoir was empty. On 12/04/2021 an authorized dealer diagnosed the issue as a cracked catalytic converter/heat recovery unit. This assembly allows exhaust gases to heat up engine coolant to improve gas efficiency. When the system fails it allows engine coolant to burn off an causes the vehicle to unexpectedly over heat, hence putting the occupants at great risk. Simple internet research has shown that this is a common problem with this vehicle yet the dealer is refusing to pay for the replacement of this defective part.

• 12/02/2019· TIRES

  2017 KIA NIRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVEN SAFETY RECALLS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED DUE TO NOT HAVING THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME SLUGGISH. THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE TIRE WAS FILLED.*JS

• 11/28/2025· ENGINE

  The heat exchanger (exhaust heat recovery system) on my 2017 Kia Niro has been diagnosed by an authorized Kia dealership as leaking coolant. The failed component can be available for inspection upon request. This failure poses a serious safety risk. The heat exchanger is part of the vehicle’s cooling system, and when it leaks, the engine can rapidly lose coolant while driving. This can lead to sudden overheating, reduced power, or potential engine shutdown in traffic. A driver may not receive immediate warning, and if the vehicle overheats unexpectedly at highway speeds, it can put both the occupants and surrounding drivers at risk of a collision. Coolant leaking into the exhaust system can also create steam and white smoke that may impair visibility for the driver or other vehicles. The problem has been confirmed by a Kia dealership, which inspected the vehicle and provided a repair estimate of over 3,500 for heat exchanger replacement. The vehicle has not been inspected by the police or insurance representatives. In my case, there were no warning lamps or messages prior to the diagnosis. The vehicle did not illuminate a check-engine light related to the failure or coolant warning, meaning the failure could easily occur without the driver’s knowledge until the engine overheats or loses power while on the road. This lack of warning significantly increases the safety risk. Given the number of owners reporting identical heat-exchanger failures, the high repair cost, and the potential for sudden overheating or power loss, this appears to be a widespread safety-related defect that warrants investigation.

• 11/27/2023· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

  I was driving and the car was stuttering. Then after I stopped for a bit it resumed normal operations. Then the warning light came on, then it went off again. This happened for a couple of weeks until finally, while on a road trip at the end of July 2023, the car seemed to just lose power in 4th gear and I would have to really rev the engine just to keep it moving, that happened while on a road trip. I called the dealership several times during the trip and they said I’d already had the computer recall reset so they didn’t think it made any sense. I took it to my neighborhood repair shop when I got back and they said two spark plugs are shot, they replaced them and it ran fine. But now it’s stuttering again, just a few months later. I called the dealership again and they said I could bring it it for a diagnostic (not free) and then I got a letter about a recall. Not sure if it’s related to my issue because the dealer said probably not and said they’d call me when they knew more and my car had the computer issue not this one. No one has called and the car is still stuttering. I took it to the mechanic again and he said spark plugs look fine, but again, it is losing power in 4th gear, just around 45 mph only when I’ve been driving for more than two hours. I would just like the dealership to take a look and fix it.

• 11/23/2023· ENGINE

  Car stalled, overheated due to coolant leaking into car parts which is causing catyllac converter to not work correctly. The issue is not with the catillac converter but the faulty piece that causes coolant leaking. This is a known issue amongst Niro Users. KIA is illegally forcing customers to purchase the most expensive part instead of bypassing so that the heat exchange system doesn’t leak into converter. The same issue affects the EV model which KIA has recalled but they refuse to add the hybrid to the recall list. Please help. The repair is $3,000 and customers that have paid to fix only end up in the same position moths later with the same issue. I reported the issue to KIA and my claim was denied.

• 11/19/2020· STRUCTURE

  2 DOOR HANDLE COVER BROKE UNDER NORMAL USE.

• 11/19/2017· STRUCTURE

  EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES POP OFF, JUST FROM PULLING ON THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOOR.

• 11/16/2022· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,STRUCTURE

  The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while her mom was opening the front passenger’s side door outside door handle detached. The driver’s and passenger’s side door handle and button detached. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer four times where it was diagnosed and determined that the door handles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under a warranty or recall. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. The VIN was not available.

• 11/08/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check hybrid system warning light illuminated, and the hybrid system seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with power relay assembly failure. The contact was informed that the power relay assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin: SC256 as a possible fix for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

• 11/02/2022· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, he noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that her son pulled over to input more coolant however, upon starting the vehicle, the coolant immediately drained from the reservoir. Additionally, the contact stated that a burning odor could be detected throughout the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a hole was in the exhaust and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000. The VIN was not available.

• 10/27/2021· UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  The contact had a loaner 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving and stopping at a red light when the light turned green the contact depressed on the accelerator pedal and was going about 5 MPH when suddenly the power steering failed. The contact manually steered the vehicle and caused the driver to rear-end and crash the vehicle in front of her that also caused that vehicle to rear-end the vehicle in front of them which caused a 3 car accident. There were no warning lights illuminated from the vehicle, The air bag did not deploy. No one was injured. There was no medical treatment needed at the scene. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the local dealer where they loaned the vehicle to have it returned. The contact was informed a week after the accident there was a recall for that year and model of vehicle for power steering and the contact reached out to a local dealer to inquire if that particular vehicle was part of the recall but did not get any response. The vehicle was repaired. However, the contact was told the vehicle was sold shortly after the repair to an individual without knowing if the vehicle had a recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

• 10/22/2025· STRUCTURE

  The push buttons that lock/unlock the car in the outer front door handles fell out within two weeks of each other (passenger door and driver door). There was no sign of them being loose before falling out. There was no event that would cause them to fall out. Without the buttons, the lock circuitry is exposed. Kia dealership has seen the broken handles but unable to reinsert the buttons.

• 10/21/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  My Kia Niro 2017 began losing antifreeze back in January of 2024. Upon inspection by Folsom Lake KIA they determined that the EGR needed to be replaced. The dealership made the repair under my third-party warranty that I purchased when I bought the car preowned in 2020 (22,000 miles). In August 2024 the engine began to overheat triggering and engine light. The car had approximately 90,000 miles on it at the time. The antifreeze was gone, and I filled it up and took it to the dealership a few weeks later when they had an available appointment. They were not able to diagnose the issue during that visit. They said that I had to schedule a multiday appointment to get a diagnostic done. In the meantime, I was adding antifreeze every few days to keep the reservoir full. I took the car back to Folsom Lake KIA on October 14th and received a diagnostic on the 17th that the vehicle's heat exchange recover system was leaking the antifreeze into the exhaust which burns off as a white smoke. The recommendation was to replace the entire heat exchanger. I decided to do some research and found find out what exactly this part does. I discovered that it simply warms up the antifreeze faster using the engine exhaust and shuts off when the coolant temperature reaches a setpoint. After further research on the internet, it became clear to me that this is a systemic issue with these vehicles, but no recall has been made. My warranty claim was denied due to the part not being covered. When I took it to an independent shop, they said that the part was not available from anyone, but KIA and they said that there was no price listed, and you had to contact KIA for the part. KIA quoted 3,000.00 for the part and labor to replace the heat exchanger. All of this just seems very suspect. I believe KIA knows this is a systemic problem but refuse to recall the part. Instead, they are making a bundle replacing this part. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

• 10/20/2023· POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  Hybrid System Failure due to overheating Overheating due to coolant leak into resorvoir My car started having white smoke come from exhaust during driving Took to the repair shop, repaired the coolant reservoir next day, same issue took back to the service tech stated they couldn't find the leak, but the reservoir was empty. Took the car for a second opinion, the service people had my car all day, after picking up, was told by the repairman that it was the engine and KIA is aware of it. Stated he is unable to help and I should take the car to a KIA dealer For weeks the car was still blowing smoke Took the car to KIA of Stamford Had the car for a few hours, tech said coolant leak and I will need to replace the part which is 3000, advised there is a bypass method on the internet for NIRO owners with the same issue online, and I was told they will not do the bypass due to emission laws. Advised my car should be covered under Emissions warranty, and was told it does not cover the part. Advised the service man this should be covered under my 100,000 warranty with KIA, which is what I was sold, and was told this is not the case, and I wasn't covered. Advised KIA I have an extended warranty with WIZ autos where i purchased the car. Spoke to the warranty department and was told it wasn't covered under their warranty either. May 2023 While driving I saw white smoke, my car began to overheat and I tried to pull over, when I pulled over the car would not drive. HYBRID System Malfunction The car has been with Wiz autos and they are now telling me the repairs will cost $5,800 There are many people online suffering because of this defect. There are reports online that once fixed, the issue returns months later. Wiz autos is asking me to pay 6000 for a repair and 3 month warranty on the part. Issue: Coolant leak is causing issues that affect the safety of drivers, as well as destroys their vehicles and KIA Motors has been the worst to work with.

• 10/15/2018· SEATS

  THE STEMS THAT THE HEADREST SETS ON ARE SHARP. MY DAUGHTER CUT HER FINGER WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST THE HEADREST. IT WAS MINOR, BUT STILL UNEXPECTED.

• 10/14/2024· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I had some lurching when trying to accelerate for a month before the check engine and HEV warning beeping came on. Kia Niro EGR (Gas Recirculated Cooler) failed at 105K miles. It leaked on to the engine causing it to overheat. My children and I got smoked out and my child had an asthma attack from this issue. We were also stressed, thinking the engine would catch fire. Kia says there are no recalls for my 2017, yet the 2023 has a recall on this exact item. I would like this complaint to be filed due to a part failing 5K miles after a warrenty. The problem was diagnosed by the Kia Dealer. Quote is $1875.

• 10/08/2018· STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE COMING BACK FROM AUSTIN AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS I HEARD A SOUND OF SOMETHING RATTLING ABOVE MY HEAD. MY PASSENGER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF AREA. HE CRACKED OPEN THE SUNROOF ACCESS DOOR AND HE SAID HE COULD SEE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND HE CLOSED IT IMMEDIATELY. WE STOPPED AS SOON AS WE COULD AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE SHATTERED SUNROOF. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS AROUND US. AND WE DID NOT GO UNDER ANY BRIDGES OR OVERPASSES.

• 10/08/2018· POWER TRAIN

  THE ACCELERATION RAPIDLY FLUCTUATES AND IT FEELS LIKE IT IS VIBRATING.

• 10/08/2018· SERVICE BRAKES

  DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING THE CAR SKIDS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE CAR GOING INTO A SIDEWAYS SKID. I ENCOUNTERED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IN SLIGHTLY WET/SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN PANIC BRAKING FROM ~35 MPH.

• 10/03/2023· ENGINE

  Car gives digital signal of overheating, white smoke pours out of exhaust but there is no code that allows dealership to diagnose and remedy. This has occurred twice in the last 6 weeks and the car has sat at the dealership for weeks. This problem and inability to repair without a $1,200 exhaust system replacement is well documented on-line [XXX] ] and the dealership is unhelpful. It appears there's a design flaw that allows this to occur and should be remediated by the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 09/18/2024· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I have had ongoing electrical issues with my 2017 Kia Niro. First, the back passenger (driver side window) was working intermittently. The back windows from the day I bought the car brand new are rarely used, but when it was used for the 3rd or 4th time I had already gone over the miles where it would have been covered. The dealership was going to charge me almost $300, so I never fixed it. I just don't use the back windows. Then, the driver side low beam bulb kept going out. Erlich Kia in Longmont kept replacing the bulb despite my concerns of it being an electrical issue. Finally, the dealership was transitioned to Fowler Kia. By that time the issue was no longer going to be covered. Fowler eventually determined that the socket and harness assembly needed to be replaced. That was last year. Now, the passenger side headlight is having the same exact issue. I find it extremely frustrating that there are so many electrical issues that I have had with this car, and the dealership just doesn't care to try and connect any of the other issues. I also had to have my car towed twice to fix issues with it in the past. I have never had a car that I bought brand new have so many issues with it.

• 09/18/2024· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  I received a warning indication that the engine temperature is too hot while driving the vehicle to work. I opened the hood of my vehicle and discovered the vehicle’s coolant reservoir was empty which led me to believe there was a coolant leak. I took the vehicle to be inspected and diagnosed by an independent repair shop (non-dealership) and it was explained that there was in fact a coolant leak and it’s because the exhaust heater exchanger is failing. This is a serious safety concern because if there is a coolant leak the vehicle’s engine can overheat causing further and extensive damage to the engine which could result in a fire. Based on research, there have been other cases where this particular year/model vehicle has had or is experiencing issues with the exhaust heater exchange failing. This faulty system is causing customers who own the same year/model vehicle that I drive to either bypass the exhaust heater exchange all together—which I don’t believe is safe to do—or customers are being made to pay a huge bill just to repair the faulty system. My vehicle only has 73,000 miles and this is something that I should not be experiencing especially since Kia is aware of the fault with the exhaust heater exchange on these particular year/model vehicles. Kia should be recalling these vehicles with the faulty system for diagnosis and repair as this is a major safety concern on the road not only for the driver, but also for other motorists as well.

• 09/07/2023· STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  - my car started releasing white smoke - i took it to repair shop, stated it was fixed, white smoke continued -car started overheating -Took it to KIA dealership and was told i was responsible for fuel leaking into engine, was told my car was not covered under warranty, I also have an extended warranty at the dealership which they wouldn't honor stating it was not covered -Recently while driving the car flashed Hybrid system Failure and shut off -I was unable to move the car -I had the car towed to the original dealer (wiz autos) and it has been there since May 2023, it is now 4 months and the car still does not work -Wiz autos informed me the car had a "lock on it" and will need to be released by KIA its been 4 months with no answers from KIA, I have been having an issue with the coolant leaking into the engine since 11/22 and although this is a common problem in these cars(manufacturers defect) KIA will not fix, or replace. I believe the coolant leaking into the engine, is causing the cars to malfunction**** Please take a look at these forums: [XXX] [XXX] Although my car is not listed in this lawsuit by KIA, i believe more cars are affected: A federal court has granted final approval of a class action lawsuit known as In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation , No. 8:17‑cv‑00838‑JLS‑JDE and Flaherty v. Hyundai Motor Company, et al. , No. 18‑cv‑02223 (C.D. Cal.) allege that 2011–2018 and certain 2019 Kia Optima, 2012–2018 and certain 2019 Kia Sorento, and 2011–2018 and certain 2019 Kia Sportage vehicles suffer from a defect that can cause engine seizure, stalling, engine failure, and engine fire, that engine seizure or stalling can be dangerous if experienced, and that some owners and lessees have been improperly denied repairs under the vehicle’s warranty. Neither KMC nor KUS have been found liable for any of the INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 09/04/2023· STEERING

  Steering malfunction. Very difficult to turn right or left, steering wheel refuses to turn. Rattling noise of metal hitting metal when turning right or left

• 08/30/2018· STRUCTURE

  VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (PARKED AND UNLOCKED). UPON PULLING THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR (BACKSEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE), THE HANDLE BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE GROUND. I RETRIEVED THE HANDLE AND A (BROKEN) PLASTIC CONNECTING PIECE.

• 08/25/2018· STRUCTURE

  PASSAGER DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY CAME APART WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR; RENDERING THE DOOR INOPERABLE. IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS CAN LEAVE A PASSENGER STUCK IF THE DRIVER OR FIRST RESPONDERS CANNOT ACCESS THEM. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN (TSBBOD173) ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD, THIS SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE.

• 08/08/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I own a 2017 Kia Niro with 48,000 miles on it. In early February 2022, I received a "system overheating" warning on my dashboard. When I pulled over and checked the engine, I noticed that the coolant overflow reservoir was nearly empty. I had the vehicle towed to a dealership (Destination Kia in Albany, NY), who pressure tested the engine but couldn't find any leaks. They returned the vehicle to me, but a day later I got another overheating warning and this time noticed excessive smoke, along with the coolant reservoir once again being drained. I thus brought it to a different dealer (Matthews Kia in Schenectady, NY), who also could not find a leak, but offered to replace the engine. Several months went by without the repair being completed, so I finally went to Matthews last week for a status update. They informed me that they had several Niro's experiencing similar issues, and that Kia Corporate had sent out a "technical service bulletin" to the dealers informing them that this recurring issue in the Niros is due to faulty EGR coolers. I brought the vehicle back to Destination, hoping that as a larger dealer they could complete the repair more quickly. They have since confirmed that the EGR cooler needs replacing, but quoted me $2500 for the repair, stating that it is not covered under warranty. Considering that this problem has recurred in enough Niros to warrant a technical service bulletin from the corporate office, and the obvious safety issues that an overheating vehicle can cause, I argue that Kia should have to send out a recall for this part. It's absurd that I'm being asked to pay $2500 to repair a vehicle with less than 50,000 miles on it, especially considering that this is clearly a recurring issue with this model. I have attached the initial repair records that I received, and will add the $2500 repair order for the EGR cooler once it is completed.

• 08/04/2023· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  During first recall 18V-666, Kia stated that I received a new PRA in September 2019 per recall instructions. July 2023, my car would not turn on and was sent to same Kia dealership. Recall 22V-836 applies to my car, and my PRA shows sign of thermal damage yet again. Both main relays that were replaced in 2019 were of Panasonic, yet, the PRA was melted to the point that the wire harness also needs replacing. This is 2 fire incidences in my 2017 Kia Niro in less than 3.5 years, on the same part.

• 08/04/2020· POWER TRAINCrash

  WHILE PARKED AND ENGINE OFF, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS STILL SHOWING IT IN PARK AND OFF.

• 08/03/2023· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Few days ago, the check engine light turned on in the dashboard of the Kia Niro 2017 The car was taken to an authorized Kia dealership for diagnostic. The dealership informed that the "Fuel air filter kit & NVLD" needed to be changed at the expenses of the owner. The same issue was described in the "Kia technical service bulletin ... SA395" in the NHTSA website. This bulletin explains that the dealership has to repair this issue under warranty, even if the warranty is expired. The dealership said that this car VIN number is not covered by this bulletin; however, the issue is exactly the same as described in the mentioned document. The car mileage is under 54,000 miles. I would appreciate if NHTSA reviews the list of VIN numbers in order to cover all the cars that present this problem.

• 07/29/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN FEBRUARY 2017. THE AIRBAG SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPAIRED. THE CAR MALFUNCTIONS OVER A BRIDGE CONSTANTLY ON MY WAY TO WORK. KIA DOESN'T KNOW WHY IT DOES THIS. THE LATEST ISSUE IS THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IN TRAFFIC AND THERE BEING NO ACCELERATION. I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES. KIA CORPORATION HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND A TECH HAS BEEN FLOWN OUT TO INVESTIGATE MY CAR. I'M CURRENTLY SUING THEM TO REPURCHASE IT AS A LEMON. THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL. THEY HAVE HAD AIRBAG AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH SEVERAL OTHER MODELS HISTORICALLY. NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY MY CAR KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. I HAVE SEVERAL INVOICES AND PICTURES.

• 07/28/2026· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  My 2017 Kia Niro exhibits a dangerous low-speed engine surging hazard matching Safety Recall SC276. An authorized Kia dealership technician inspected the vehicle under RO #6115244 and formally documented 'seeping fluid residue' inside the clutch actuator housing. However, the dealership and Kia Corporate are refusing to honor the recall remedy and have released the car at a $0.00 balance while explicitly stating in writing that the vehicle is 'not safe to drive.' I am requesting federal intervention for safety campaign non-compliance.

• 07/26/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  While pulling into a parking space my car accelerated, flew over the curb and landed on another parked car. It was very sudden and going very fast

• 07/24/2024· STEERING

  Niro had been exhibiting increasingly frequent "crunching" noises in the steering mechanism at lower speeds, like backing up and in-town driving. Issue started in late June 2024 at about 67K miles. A few times the steering wheel grabbed on turning and I had to fight it back. I called the dealer for a diagnostic appointment and they said they couldn't see it until mid-August 2024. I then took the car in to a local mechanic two times, who said they could feel the crunching on backing up, but weren't able to reliably reproduce the condition and refused to open up the steering column in the absence of a defined problem. I continued to drive car the throughout July. On 7/20/24, the crunching noise in the steering column got markedly more frequent, was witnessed and felt by passenger, and continued intermittently throughout the day through a number of short in-town drives at low speeds on typical city roads. The next day, 7/21/24, after about 1.5 hours of continuous highway, then local driving on curvy mountain road, a series of loud crunching noises suddenly came from the steering column, the EPS warning light came on, and I experienced a total loss of power steering, making the car extremely difficult to control. The failure occurred in a triple s-curve at the top of a hill with an approaching, very steep drop-off embankment and I was very scared I would not be able to keep it on the road, even at the low speed I was driving. It took both hands and considerable effort to wrest control of the wheel and to keep the car on the road, and I managed to drive the remaining two miles home with considerable effort and both hands forcefully steering the car through turns. Definitely NOT safe to drive in this condition. The car was towed to the dealer for diagnosis. Dealer confirmed "total failure of steering mechanism"

• 07/19/2026· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I am submitting this complaint regarding a repeat failure of the Active Air Flap System on my 2017 Kia Niro, which I believe raises a broader safety and reliability concern. On XXX, my vehicle displayed a check engine light and “Check Active Air Flap System” warning. An authorized Kia dealer, Huffines Kia Corinth in Texas, diagnosed the issue and replaced the active air flap assembly (listed on the repair order as “FLAP ASSY–ACTIVE AIR”) at approximately 87,638 miles. At around 105,000 miles, the same warning and check engine light have returned, indicating that the Active Air Flap System is again malfunctioning despite the prior repair and part replacement. This suggests either repeated component failure or an underlying design or control issue that was not resolved. Owners of Kia Niro and related Hyundai/Kia models frequently report similar Active Air Flap System warnings and related diagnostic codes, and Kia has issued technical guidance addressing inspection, cleaning, and software behavior for this system. Although these issues may not yet be the subject of a formal recall, the pattern of repeated failures across multiple vehicles points to a systemic problem in a component tied to engine cooling and efficiency, which can reasonably affect safety, emissions, and vehicle reliability. I am asking NHTSA to review Kia’s handling of Active Air Flap System failures on the Niro and related models, including repeat failures after dealer repair, and to consider whether this issue warrants further investigation or recall/extended coverage action. Vehicle: 2017 Kia Niro Approximate mileage at initial repair: 87,638 Approximate mileage at repeat failure: 105,000 Location of repair: Huffines Kia Corinth[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 07/18/2025· POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

  I am experiencing engine issues with my 2017 Kia Niro Touring Launch Edition at approximately 111,000 miles, including engine hesitation and lack of acceleration, along with engine code P0011. These symptoms started suddenly and have made highway driving difficult and potentially unsafe, as I was recently in the mountains unable to exceed 35 mph. This appears to be a widespread issue among 2017 Kia Niro owners, with many reporting CVVT (Continuously Variable Valve Timing) or solenoid failures around 100,000 miles shortly after the powertrain warranty expires suggesting a pattern of premature failure. My car was purchased certified preowned and is still within the 10 year timeframe. No official recall currently exists for this issue, but it should be investigated. Despite submitting service requests and making multiple attempts to contact the dealership to have these recalls addressed, I have received little to no follow up. I have not yet had the engine issue officially diagnosed by a Kia dealer due to lack of response but the pattern of failure and symptoms match what others are experiencing. There has been no crash, fire, or injury at this time, but the combination of the existing fire related recalls and the new engine malfunction creates serious concerns for long term safety and reliability.

• 07/02/2019· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  MY 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID SEEMS TO NOT BE STORING CODES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE PROBLEMS WITH BY NIRO IN 3 WEEKS WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH THE HEV HYBRID FUSE AND WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO POWER AND YET BY THE TIME IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP IT RESET ITSELF BUT DIDN'T STORE ANY CODES FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.. THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEMS AND HAD NO WERE TO START FROM. I'M NOW DRIVING IT AND JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO GO WRONG WITH IT

• 06/29/2021· STEERING

  The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel intermittently made an abnormal clicking sound upon turning the steering wheel in either direction without warning. Over time, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle with the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V159000 (Steering) however, the Vin was not included. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

• 06/28/2021· ENGINE,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, an abnormal sound was heard, and the vehicle lost forwards momentum. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. As the contact exited the vehicle, an abnormal odor appeared under the hood. There were no flames present. The contact stated that oil was seen leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was unable to drive. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V257000 (Hybrid Propulsion System) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

• 06/27/2019· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 KIA NIRO ON REGULAR ROADS, IT HAD A DRAMATIC DOWN SHIFT IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. CONTINUED FOUR MORE STOPS WHEN APPROACHING A HILL, THE SPORT MODE DID NOT WORK AND BARELY MADE IT UP HILL, NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER LIGHTS. SHOP COULDN'T RECREATE PROBLEM. THE RECALIBRATED THE TRANSMISSION. DROVE FINE 1 DAY. 3/4 OF MY WAY ON 200 MILE TRIP ON HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL THE HEV LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE AND BLINKING GREEN CAR CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED THE HYBRID SYSTEM FUSE. 5 DAYS LATER ON 74 MILE TRIPP'S HIGHWAY ENGINE, (!) AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, LOST POWER AND BARELY MADE IT UP A HILL. OH AND THE HOOD POPPED OPEN, HELD BY LATCH WHILE DOING 65 ON HIGHWAY . NOW IT SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP

• 06/20/2024· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE

  I am unsure of what to say about my car. I saw a check oil light flicker and it went away. The car had oil when I checked on it so it didn't seem to be a problem. There was no sign of leakage and no sign of burning oil or fuel. Several days later, the check oil light came on permanently. Before I could get the car anywhere, the car started making a strange sound. I took it to my usual shop. They said it had sprung a spontaneous leak. They said it was a large oil pressure switch leak. They replaced the sensor and added oil. They said there was some damage but that the car was still drivable. I drove the car for a week and then when I was on the highway, the car starting roaring and shaking like I was in an earthquake. The check engine light started blinking. I could not accelerate properly and had to coast to safety on the electric. I was able to use my friends scanner and found 4 misfire codes: PO300-303. My neighbor (a mechanic) looked at the vehicle and said that was damage was internal and was going to need extensive work or a new engine. He didn't have the time to take the vehicle apart so we did not find the true cause and I am now wondering if this is a new safety issues or related to the recall. I did not receive the recall information until recently (I tend to have issues receiving my mail sometimes) and haven't even had time to get to the dealership to check on it. Everyone I have spoken to has said this is how Kia's are and they are not worth purchasing.

• 06/20/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA NIRO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT LOOKED OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE WERE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE AND DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.