The Lemon Index
2022
20242nd generation
Too new: partial score · still collecting complaintsThe 2023 Kia Niro hasn't finished its 3-year window yet. This counts every owner complaint filed so far (through October 2026) and compares it with other 2023 cars, which have had the same time on the road. It can change as more owners file.
Too new: partial score · most complaints: electrical
65 owner complaints, first 3 years 48–113 MPGe combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Only 8 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 25V024000 (seats), 24V271000 (transmission & drivetrain) and 24V057000 (transmission & drivetrain) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Has it ever braked hard for no reason? Ask whether the safety-system software was updated.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Kia sent dealers 87 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “MOOD LAMP OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA536) - This bulletin”?
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 65 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 0K to 12K miles (1K to 19K km) on the car (8 of all 65 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.
In owners' words
2023 Kia Niro electronic dash went blank, no speed indication, no adaptive cruise, no lane departure warning, no forward collision warning capabilities.
2023 Kia Niro owner · NHTSA complaint 11669859
More owner reports
When slowing with regenerative braking, there is a ticking sound and shaking until the car stops.
NHTSA complaint 11595788
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 8.7M views · 2023–2025 Kia Niro
- Windows, doors & mirrors51K views
All-New 2023 Kia Niro EV | How To Use Your Charging Port Door!Cardinal Kia · 35K views · 2 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical43K views
2022 - 2025 KIA NIRO Key Fob Battery Replacement - How To Change Replace Niro Remote Batteries DIYPYR Automotive · 37K views · 2 videos - Brakes & ABS11K views
Kia Niro 2024 Electronic parking brake issueChris I · 8K views · 2 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors10K views
2024 Kia Niro EV | How To Use Your Front & Rear Parking Sensors!Cardinal Kia · 10K views
Before you buy, watch
2023 Kia Niro (183hp) - Sound & Visual Review!Visual Car Reviews · 1.4M views
2024 Kia Niro Review - IT TAUGHT THE COROLLA CROSS A LESSON!Carro Chefe · 234K views
2023 Kia Niro EV review – we drive NEW e-Niro electric car! | What Car?What Car? · 217K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2023 is the same generation.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 87 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- MOOD LAMP OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA536) - This bulletin
- Sharing kia connect credentials with third-party apps and potential impact to 12v battery in evs
- MOOD LAMP OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA536) - This bulletin has
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Seats · recall issued 2025
The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2024
The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2024
One of the drive shafts may have been improperly heat-treated, allowing it to break under load and resulting in a loss of drive power.
Show all 4 recalls
- Electrical · recall issued 2023
The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
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
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Niro SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Niro EV SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $650–$1,250 (USD) a year in electricity (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year).
Every Kia Niro year. 2023 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 2023 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/kia-niro/?y=2023" 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/2023/">Lemon Index</a> (2023 Kia Niro reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2023 Kia Niro reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn about one and a half times the average car's complaints per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 150; 100 is average). The Kia Niro year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2021.
What are the most common 2023 Kia Niro problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (35%), automatic emergency braking (23%) and transmission & drivetrain (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Niro have?
4 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2023 Kia Niro safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2023 Kia Niro have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2023 Kia Niro cost in fuel a year?
About $650 to $1,250 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Kia Niro year is better than the 2023?
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