The Lemon Index2022 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 9,500 and 17,500 miles. Median 10,500, from 5 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical | 25% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 25% |
| Brakes | 15% |
| Engine | 10% |
| Wipers & visibility | 10% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
25V426000 Jun 2025 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera
Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Niro EV vehicles. The circuit board for the rearview camera may become damaged and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk. A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC342.
24V358000 May 2024 Electrical System / Propulsion System / Shock Protection
Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022 Niro EV vehicles. The high voltage battery safety plug may overheat and melt, which can cause a loss of drive power or fire.
Risk. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash, and a fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy. Owners are advised not to charge their vehicle in a garage or any other covered structure until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will replace the safety plug, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 19, 2024. Kia's number for this recall is SC314.
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.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Pedestrian alert sounds | 2023 | 2023 |
Manufacturer communications 61
Kia filed 61 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Sharing kia connect credentials with third-party apps and potential impact to 12v battery in evs
- TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Niro Electric SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Kia Niro Hybrid SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Standard |
Engines and drivetrains 3
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (AM-S6) | FWD | 51 / 46 / 49 | Regular | $1,250 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | Auto (AM-S6) | FWD | 48 / 44 / 46 | Regular | $1,350 |
| Electric | Auto (A1) | FWD | 123 / 102 / 112 | Electricity | $700 |
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)
. Get the data