Kia Niro Complaints (2019)

101 consumer complaints on file.

#11588671May 14, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- While driving, we received a notice on the dashboard to "stop driving and check regenerative brakes". Simultaneously we lose 95% of our braking power and all of the acceleration. Slamming on the brakes all the way to the floor provided some minor braking ability, but it was significantly diminished and frankly terrifying. We turn the car off, turn it back on again, and everything seems totally normal. - We cannot recreate the error, but we call the dealership. They say they can get us in in a week to service us. As this is our only car we keep driving it cautiously. - This happens again once more, before we bring it into the dealership. - The dealership runs a bunch of tests, tells us its the 12V battery, replaces the 12V battery, charges us $500 and tells us its fixed. - one week later (today) the same thing happens. Clearly it's not fixed, but even if it had been fixed, why is so much of the braking tied to the 12V? The dealership cannot get us in for days and is suggesting this may not be covered under our warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11579193March 24, 2024
POWER TRAIN
Constantly get a refill inverter coolant light on dash, have taken it in to dealer and are unable to correct it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11579063March 23, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2019 Kia Niro LX PHEV is or has recently been the subject of multiple including NHTSA Recall Number [XXX] and Service Action [XXX]. Despite coordinating repair of these defects with the University Kia dealership located at 5105 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707 (hereafter 'University Kia"), and taking my vehicle to University Kia for those repairs twice, University Kia has been unable or unwilling to repair the defects over a 4-month period. This delay has not been due to parts availability, as I have received multiple assurances that parts needed to repair the defects were available. After three separate service appointments, University Kia has been unable to address these defects, and my vehicle remains in an unsafe condition. P.S.: The numbers on the prior page of the form where I can nominally report these issues (888-327-4236 & 800-424-9153) don't seem to be working. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11575526March 5, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car caught fire
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11571634February 13, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12 volt battery will suddenly and without warning loose capacity to power the vehicle operating controls and displays including remote key access, start sequence using push button start, and traction battery charging through charging port. While parked and connected to a charging station vehicle ‘died’ in place. This occurred within 10 minutes of last use of remote key to unlock doors, open doors, place shopping bags, close doors, and use driver door push button feature to relock doors. Outside air temperature was mid 20’s Fahrenheit. Traction battery was fully depleted per dashboard miles available display as vehicle driven 20 plus miles using hybrid vehicle mode just prior to parking at charging station. Vehicle was removed from charging station connection and 1.5 hours later jump started using connection under hood. After start was driven just under 4 miles to home garage where plugged into 110 volt home charger. Multimeter on 12 volt system after recharge of traction battery read over 12 volts. Appears that control system for maintaining charge on 12 volt system using traction battery has a flaw that fails to detect 12 volt battery condition and react correctly. While this occurred this time while vehicle stopped and shutoff there is potential for such to occur while vehicle in a roadway at highway speeds causing vehicle to loose all power as 12 volt system powers all operating logic. As a practicing engineer over 50 years and college instructor of engineering for about 40 years it appears that there is a software error in assuring 12 volt system intact and a failure of the software to identify potential problem, notify operator, provide a manual reboot of operating system before 12 volt system reaches failure level if it ever did. Unlike alternator equipped vehicles that show failure of alternator no such given on hybrid.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11571396February 12, 2024
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for the scheduled recall repair, the vehicle was inspected. The contact's wife was informed that the hydraulic clutch actuator (HCA) was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact's wife was informed that the parts were unavailable, and the repair needed to be rescheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,473. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11571191February 10, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KIA NIRO 2019 SAFETY RECALL As described in the safety recall (previous page), my KIA Niro 2019 alarm went off with the following error message "Engine Overheating". Kia of America and its dealership refused to fix the problem. The car dealership -said- has no direction as to how or when to fix the problem, and the KIA consumer hotline is out of business.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11564298January 8, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
Able to completely stop vehicle with light brake pedal pressure without activating the brake lights. Regenerative braking is engaged
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11563593January 4, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This complaint references the open recall with the Kia reference SC276 and the NHTSA reference of 23V534. Kia has not been able to provide me with repair despite a notice from them stating a remedy is available, and appears Kia may be sending out faulty notices. I first received notice in July/August, 2023 that this recall was in process but remedy was not available. This week, I recieved a letter dated December 29, 2023 that explicitly states remedy is available (attachments will be added). However, the NHTSA website, the Kia recall website, and my local Kia dealer all as of today (01/04/24) say that remedy still is not available. I have attempted to call Kia customer care at the number on the letter, but every attempt has resulted in their system hanging up on me before I could reach anyone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11562063December 27, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11559989December 13, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
On 7-31-2022 while traveling on the freeway the gas engine shut down, HEV triangle came on and the information center on the car displayed "turn off car restart" on this trip it happened three times. I took the car to the dealer and they had it for a month and could not get it to act up. On 5-5-2023 it did it again twice, I called the dealer and they did not have a loaner car, they said they would let me know when they do. On the 6-30-2023 it did it eleven times. I called the dealer and they checked the car into service a mouth later 7-2023. The car has been at the dealer since then, now it is 12-2023. The dealer has not been able to get it to act up. I call KIA customer service and they told me they would not do the recall unless the dealer can repeat the problem. When this happens, I have only a limited amount of room to get the car off the road. This problem has only happened on freeways and the mountain pass with limited pull outs. This exposes me and any passenger's to a rear end collision. I feel the manufacture is playing roullet with me and my passenger's lives. All my dealer paper work is in my car a two hour trip at Sunset KIA 3317 Auburn way N Auburn WA 98002
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11559774December 12, 2023
ENGINE
Recall letter from KIA states "WARNING: You may experience illumination of the HEV warning light. If this occurs, pull over to a safe location and contact Kia Roadside Assistance ... to request to have your vehicle towed to the nearest authorized Kia dealership as soon as possible." This implies that the car is not safely driveable if the HEV warning light illuminates. My HEV warning light illuminated, but neither of two local Kia dealerships is willing to take responsibility since the "remedy is not available" from Kia. This means I have lost the safe use of my car for an indefinite period without any compensation from Kia.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11558343December 4, 2023
POWER TRAIN
This is a published TSB but it doesn't appear when searching for this vehicle. I have to search in google for specific phrases to find this on your website. "DRIVE UNIT INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT FOR EV MOTOR RUMBLE NOISE " Kia Niro EV: [XXX] Hyundai Kona EV: [XXX] Known issue with many customers reporting Kia and Hyundai Motor failures. But since it is not an official recall campaign, it doesn't pop up when researching Kia Niro, Soul, Hyundai Kona, Ioniq EVs. Many consumers report that service centers will gaslight, dismiss, downplay, or falsely blame on brakes, rotors, other unrelated parts. Some have reported they flat out refuse to work on their car even if they bought it there, stating that they don't have technicians trained for EV service. And when/if we are lucky enough for service departments to do repairs, the parts are on backorder. They have to replace brackets/mounts that never resolve issue until finally replacing the motor/gearbox. Often the problem comes back in a few months as the replacement parts don't actually address the root causes. This should certainly be a full recall campaign that the public is made aware of. A final note here on the problem with these extensive complicated long services, is that people are without a vehicle during the whole process. Dealerships and Manufacturers pass the buck, point the finger to each other. Dealerships don't offer loaners, they say check with Kia for rental reimbursement. No one who plans a budget for a new car payment, ever factors in $2-3000 for months of car rental payments that the Manufacturer won't pay until the service is fully finished. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11557140November 27, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
Breaks seized to respond when doing a sharp break. Vehicle did not break and slid off until it hit the vehicle up front. Waiting for vehicle inspection to begin. No warning signs, lights, or prior issues happened before the incident.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11556459November 22, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552928October 31, 2023
POWER TRAIN
My car sometimes lurches when I am moving from a stopped position. This is dangerous as it causes the car to hesitate when I am sometimes pulling out across traffic for a left turn. It is especially frequent when I am on a slight incline. It feels like it might have something to do with the transmission shifting from the EV mode. I have read about other people having the same problem with this car on online forums but there have been no recalls and they have the same trouble getting their dealerships to fix it. I took my car to the dealership multiple times, and they were able to reproduce the issue and thought it was initially something to do with calibrating the computers. It seemed to temporarily "fix" it so I picked it back up, just to have the same problem a week later. Since it happens sporadically, it has been difficult to get the dealership to fix the issue as sometimes they are unable to reproduce the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11551515October 24, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I’ve had this repaired by Kia and immediately failed again, but a component to the alternator and ac unit is attached to the drive train and will cause an alarm that hybrid battery failure and sudden power loss(they told me this with the first “fix” but failed within an hour of leaving Kia. It’s happened again tonight and nearly caused a crash on the freeway and I’ve seen many others with this issue and I want to drive my kid home safely so any help would be wonderful with this issue. Thank you!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550175October 16, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546776September 27, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driving to work and all of a sudden my front right side tilts down and scares me to death. This starts to effect my steering. This also happened to the side only 1 time. I believe this maybe a front lower control arm issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541478August 29, 2023
POWER TRAIN
Kia has a recall on this model for the power train automatic internal clutch under NHTSA Campaign ID 23V534000 Kia Recall number is SC276. My vehicle had the HEV light come on so it is currently at the Dealership for service. They have told me the Hydraulic clutch fluid has leaked into the fuse panel and needs replaced. According to Kia my VIN number is not included in the recall, but the issue is the exact issue being explained by this national recall. It seems they need to expand the recall to include more Niro's than in this recall to include my VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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