Model year record

2018 Kia Niro

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 85 owner complaints on file.

Kia Niro, 2017–2022 generation
Pictured: the 2017–2022 generation. OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V534000

Power train: automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands: actuators/solenoids

Component
Power train: automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands: actuators/solenoids
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
121,411
Reported to NHTSA
2023-07-31
Owners notified
2023-12-29

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A fire increases the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V836000

Hybrid propulsion system

Component
Hybrid propulsion system
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
27,030
Reported to NHTSA
2022-11-11
Owners notified
2023-01-09

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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 completed.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V666000

Hybrid propulsion system

Component
Hybrid propulsion system
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Vehicles affected
27,030
Reported to NHTSA
2018-09-25
Owners notified
2018-11-23

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train1948,000 mi
Electrical system181,927 mi
Engine174,230 mi
Unknown or other11910 mi
Service brakes61,800 mi
Vehicle speed control410 mi
Structure: body3250 mi
Exterior lighting2—
Fuel/propulsion system2—
Air bags1—
Engine and engine cooling174,000 mi
Seats1—

The 2017 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2019 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other Kia Niro model years

All Kia Niro recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.