The Lemon Index2018 Kia Niro. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 1,145 and 15,000 miles. Median 5,000, from 16 complaints with a mileage.
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 21% |
| Brakes | 21% |
| Body structure | 21% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 21% |
| Electrical | 16% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
23V534000 Jul 2023 Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Internal / Clutches/Bands / Actuators/Solenoids
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
22V836000 Nov 2022 Hybrid Propulsion System
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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
18V666000 Sep 2018 Hybrid Propulsion System
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Pedestrian alert sounds | 2023 | 2023 |
Manufacturer communications 100
Kia filed 100 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- 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…
Crash ratings by version
| 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 |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
Engines and drivetrains 2
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (AM6) | FWD | 51 / 46 / 49 | Regular | $1,250 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | Auto (AM6) | FWD | 48 / 44 / 46 | Regular | $1,350 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
YouTube repair topics
200 videos about the 2017–2022 Kia Niro, 14.4M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 5 | 399K |
| No-start: theft light, key & ignition | 1 | 48K |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 2 | 44K |
| Heat, A/C & blend door | 2 | 36K |
| Oil changes & service | 1 | 22K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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