The Lemon Index
201720191st generation
Better than average · most complaints: engine
Better years to buy
19 owner complaints, first 3 years 43–50 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2018 Nissan Armada 592018 Toyota C-HR 672018 Ford Flex 76
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 16 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 23V534000 (transmission & drivetrain), 22V836000 (hybrid propulsion system) and 18V666000 (hybrid propulsion system) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Kia sent dealers 100 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “PITSTOP - RATTLE NOISE FROM REAR OF THE VEHICLE (PS551) - This Pitstop contains information…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Kia's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 19 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 15K miles (2K to 24K km) on the car (16 of all 19 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 14.4M views · 2017–2022 Kia Niro
Most-watched topics
- Infotainment, battery & electrical399K views
i’m 2020 Kia Niro Hybrid - hatchback, crossover? With battery & electric most practical clean car?Asian Petrolhead · 269K views · 5 videos - No-start: theft light, key & ignition48K views
2018 Kia Niro Hybrid Won’t Start? How to Jump Start It SafelyRoadside Guy · 48K views - Gauges, lights & wiring44K views
CK | 2022 Kia Niro EV | How To Change Your Ambient Lighting!Cardinal Kia · 28K views · 2 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door36K views
Replace Kia Niro Cabin Air Filter - 2017 - 2022 - Lickity Split!Tech Angel · 22K views · 2 videos
Show 1 more
- Oil changes & service22K views
2016-2021 Kia Niro Hybrid LX Oil & Filter Change 1.6LSwan Can Fix It · 22K views
Before you buy, watch
2019 Kia Niro Hybrid Facelift Review - CarBuyer SingaporeCarBuyer Singapore · 19K views
Should you buy this BASE MODEL? | 2022 Kia Niro Hybrid Review 4KProductReview Cars · 17K views
Kia e-Niro SUV 2020 in-depth review | carwow Reviewscarwow · 1.3M viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2018 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 100 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- PITSTOP - RATTLE NOISE FROM REAR OF THE VEHICLE (PS551) - This Pitstop contains information…
- PITSTOP - DTC?S P0A0F AND P040400 AND/OR IMPROPER A/C OPERATION - When addressing a concern…
- PITSTOP - INTEGRATED BRAKE ACTUATOR UNIT (IBAU) HONK NOISE - This Pitstop provides information…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 3
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2023
Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.
- Hybrid propulsion system · recall issued 2022 Hybrid only
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.
- Hybrid propulsion system · recall issued 2018 Hybrid only
The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Niro Hybrid SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1,200–$1,400 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl.
Every Kia Niro year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 7 Kia Niro years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2018 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/kia-niro/?y=2018" title="Kia Niro reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="376" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/kia-niro/2018/">Lemon Index</a> (2018 Kia Niro reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2018 Kia Niro reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 67; 100 is average, lower is better). The Kia Niro year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2021.
What are the most common 2018 Kia Niro problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (21%), brakes (21%) and body structure (21%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Niro have?
3 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Niro get?
43 to 50 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2018 Kia Niro have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 21% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Kia Niro cost in fuel a year?
About $1,200 to $1,400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Kia Niro have?
1.6L 4-cyl.
What Kia Niro year is better than the 2018?
Nearby, the 2021 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a third as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works