Kia Niro Complaints (2019)

101 consumer complaints on file.

#11537776August 10, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
It caught on fire and burnt my house down when it was in my carport. Not sure why but it happened august 2,2022.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11536669August 5, 2023
POWER TRAIN
From a stop, I step on the gas quickly and it feels like the transmission has just broken. It causes my pulse to increase and scares and distracts me so much I've almost had an accident a several times. I have scheduled an appointment with Kia to assess the problem. I will provide an update once they have concluded their assessment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11518843April 25, 2023
ENGINE, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:VEHICLE CONTROLS:BRAKING
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine seized. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The check regenerative braking system message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transition motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11506234February 8, 2023
AIR BAGS, SEATS
On December 17, 2022, we were stopped at a traffic light with an Accurate behind us. A Chevy Silverado Truck, driven by a drunk driver, at a high rate of speed, rear ended the car behind us and sent that car into our rear end. The impact was so forceful it blew out all our windows and tires. the truck went airborne, landed on its side and then spun into the drivers side front end. We the spun and hit the Accra on our front passenger side.The man in the car behind us died before paramedics arrived. Our airbags did not deploy and the passenger seat broke sending my husband into the back seat despite being seat belted in. He sustained a head injury requiring 3 staples and back injuries. I suffered a concussion and neck injuries. we were tr4eated at a hospital and released. Chino Police Department Report #22-11307 Officer Steve Brown (909-270-0371)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
1
#11506051February 7, 2023
POWER TRAIN
When coming to a stop, the car will jerk forward with a loud clack sound. Sometimes it's mild, but other times it is as if the car had been rear-ended, causing it to lurch forward abruptly. There is no rhyme or reason to when it will happen, but it is always when coming to a stop, usually at a very slow speed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505781February 6, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
The rubber pad on the brake pedal came off almost causing me not to be able to stop effectively. What was left is a small steel pedal which sometimes is challenging to feel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11499188December 28, 2022
POWER TRAIN
Within the first 6 months of owning our 2019 Kia Plugin Hybrid, we started experiencing a clunk with a lurch when accelerating from a stopped position. The issue became progressively worse over time - increasing in frequency and severity. The car has been to the Kia Lupient dealership in Brooklyn Park, MN multiple times for this issue. At our most recent visit on November 7th, 2022, the service advisor acknowledged that the issue may be due to shipping the vehicle with the wrong transmission fluid. The transmission fluid was replaced with the correct fluid. However, we experienced the issue again on December 2, 2022. Could the wrong fluid have caused permanent damage to the transmission? This Technical Service Bulletin (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10174520-0001.pdf) indicates that could be true. We are pursing arbitration with the dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11496969December 11, 2022
AIR BAGS
I was in a car accident (I t-boned a guy that ran a red light in front of me) at about 20 mph but no airbags deployed. My car is a total loss and I have a concussion from hitting my head on the window plus contusions along the path of the seatbelt. I suspect something could be wrong with the airbags considering they failed to deploy despite a collision that totaled the car. I wonder if I might not have got a concussion had they deployed. Police responded and commented about my airbags failing to deploy and my insurance is inspecting the car this week.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11495928December 3, 2022
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I have a used 2019 Niro PHEV. I started getting a loud jerk when starting from a full stop. At first it started happened in EV mode only but I've had it happen in Hybrid mode a couple of times ( not sure if the engine is actually working or just on for Heating). The sound and jerk can best be described as what happens when you drive a stick shift and you pull the clutch too quickly in first gear without any gas and the car jerks forward. It also feels like I've been rear ended. The car feels unsafe the drive. There were no warning lights. Dealer hasn't reproduced it yet. I just brought it in. Please see these forum posts about this issue. Many others are experiencing this: https://www.kianiroforum.com/threads/brand-new-2019-phev-loud-jerking-noise-when-starting-from-full-stop.8740/ https://www.kia-forums.com/threads/occasional-hard-loud-shift-from-start-on-new-niro-phev.342780/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11477529August 4, 2022
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle has an intermittent jerk/clunk sound when accelerating or coming to a stop. Occasionally it can feel as if the clutch is coming engaging/disengaging roughly and cause passenger's heads to shake forward. In a few instances there has been a delay when pressing on the brakes to initiate stopping before the vehicle, this momentary loss of control is alarming. It feels as if the clutch and brakes did not react to the pedal immediately. I have taken the vehicle to the Kearny Mesa Kia dealership to diagnose the issue on 3 separate occasions starting from 2 months after purchasing the vehicle. On the most recent visit they have diagnosed that dual clutch failed a calibration test - it is unclear if they performed this test on the previous visits. Repairs have not yet been performed as I am disputing the out of warranty claim by the dealership
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11475984July 26, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
During driving or while parked, the vehicle will shut off power brakes, and display an error "Stop Vehicle and Check Regenrative Brakes". When the power brakes shut off, the brake pedal location and feedback change sharply and the responsiveness is severely impaired. This error can occur at any time, which is very dangerous especially at highway speeds or when coming to a stop. I have let an authorized Kia dealership inspect the car for 31 days and did not see the issue. I took the vehicle back, and it happens frequently, so I drove it in with the issue active again and they have had it for another 7 days so far after seeing the issue actively reported. The first occurrence occurred at approximately 18000 miles, about 2.75 years of operation on May 12, 2022. since then, it occurs about twice per week. These trouble codes are asserted when this happens: C1360(81) Raw code: 536081 ECU: Adaptive cruise-control Status: Test failed, Confirmed, Warning indicator requested C1741(81) Raw code: 574181 ECU: Adaptive cruise-control Status: Test failed, Confirmed, Warning indicator requested C2405(27) Raw code: 640527 ECU: ABS control unit Status: Test failed, Confirmed, Warning indicator requested
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11469746June 17, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Obnoxious eye and lung burning fumes in the car when turning the heater on. It was so from the day I bought it. Many owners have reported it also on Kia nitro forum . I drive in the cold without the heater or leave the window open to let the fumes out. It’s a health hazard and seems to relate to their heater core or it’s insulation material. Dealer and Kia claim nothing is wrong. It’s a health and safety hazard in need of immediate solution and recall. Also car’s steering column make a wheezing or rubbing noise when turning the wheel. Dealer says it’s normal. It’s not a safety hazard yet. But I have never driven or heard any other car with persistent rubbing noise it it’s inside the car’s steering column. Whatever is rubbing will eventually wear out posing failure and safety risk. A voluntary recall may be in order.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11462427April 27, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
12 volt starting battery (Lithium Ion Polymer) pn 37507-G2120. battery swollen and will not take charge (2.5 years old) 15,000 miles on vehicle. This battery powers dash and all related safety systems. Dealer refuses to look into problem as batteries are on national back order status and cannot fix due to parts availability. 3 dealerships have been contacted, all have been making excuses for other systems at fault to avoid recognizing battery is defective. I have been without use since Mar2021.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11459321April 2, 2022
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
There is a pause upon acceleration from a stop (unresponsive). Then the vehicle will lunge forward and make a loud noise. For both driver and passengers, it can be quite startling and feels as though the car has been hit from behind. This started happening in the fall of 2021, when the car was about two years old with about 18,000 miles. It has happened about a dozen times in the six months since first noticed. It seems that this may be a software issue related to the hybrid system - a lag in triggering which motor to use for acceleration.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457420March 19, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Multiple problems with transmission and electrical. Electrical: 1) While traveling 80mph in the far left lane of the highway, I had to make a hard break when someone changed lanes and moved into my path. When I did that, the car turned off completely. (The key fob was still secured in my cup holder.) I could no longer accelerate and it was slowing down quickly. There was no way for me to turn the car back on using the start button. I could do nothing but try to cross 6 lanes of oncoming traffic to get to the roadside in order to stop, which was extremely dangerous on a busy highway. I was very luck I didn't get slammed from behind and end up in a horrible accident. Once I got to the roadside, I stopped the car and was able to re-start it. Kia mechanics said a diagnostic turned up nothing, and they could not "duplicate" the problem. Of course, they can't guarantee it won't happen again. 2) Another time, I turned off the car after parking, grabbed my key and exited the vehicle. It started loudly beeping at me. It's the sound it make when the key fob is taken from the car while it's on, or you try to lock the car and leave when it's still on. I had to turn the car back on and then back off in order to resolve the issue. Transmission: Transmission was replaced at 19,000 miles because the gears were grinding when I was downshifting and it wasn't shifting from 3rd to 4th well. I'd put my foot on the gas and it just wouldn't go, and then it would finally kick in. I was also having issues with it when parking or coming to a stop. It would get to a point when the car was slowing down and should now coast slowly, and instead, it would come to a sudden stop, then it would jerk forward. When on any kind of an incline, it would stop, roll backward, then catch and roll forward. It seems to suddenly shift into neutral when I'm not in neutral and it should be moving forward. New transmission addressed grinding, but other issues remain. I also multiple issues accelerating now. On May 12, after driving the car to a nearby sto
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11454862March 2, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES
Twice the vehicle has lost all ability to brake or accelerate suddenly while driving speeds over 60 mph. The brake sticks in the up position, emergency brake doesn't work, and the gas pedal goes to the floor but does not work. The vehicle electrical panel goes haywire, battery of hybrid shows dead, then all gauges flash and change going up, down, and changing erratically. Vehicle lost all control in February and had to collide into something to stop.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11453100February 20, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Starting battery (which operates the safety systems) was getting progressively worse until vehicle could not be started. Upon inspection it was determined that the 1.5 year old starting battery was swollen and defective. NOTE: Vehicle did sit for 12 months in estate litigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452958February 19, 2022
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I don't know what components are involved. When attempting to move forward from a stop the car does not respond immediately. Then there is clunk noise and a lurch forward. Sometimes when this happens it feels like the car has been hit from behind. The problem began about a year ago and has been into the dealer's service center several times. I believe during one of those service visits a reset of something was done that seemed to resolve the issue for several months. The problem is intermittent. Dealer has been unable to reproduce the issue, but stated the last time the car was in for service that another customer with the same year and make was having the same symptoms and a tech that had been allowed to use the car for over a week did not experience the issue. No warning lights or codes are associated with the issue. A car that fails to move forward on a green light is in danger of being rear-ended placing the people in the vehicle and surrounding vehicles at risk of bodily injury. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than service staff at the FOlsom Lake Kia dealership. On February 18, 2022, the vehicle had no power (automatic doorlocks didn't work, etc) could not be started and was towed to the dealership where it is now.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11443095December 8, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at night with the low-beam headlights activated, the illumination was either too bright or improperly position causing the light beam to become visibility hazards to the oncoming drivers. The contact indicated that oncoming motorist constantly flashed their lights indicating that the high-beam headlights were activated even though only the low-beam headlights were illuminated. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact referenced the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V771000 (Exterior Lighting). The local dealer was notified of the issue. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 50.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435950October 7, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Received automated message that my engine may be compromised and to schedule maintenance, I took my car to the dealership service that same day. I was advised that the fuel injectors needed replaced, the car still was not working the was advised a cylinder needed to be replaced that did not correct the issues and was advised the engine needed to be replaced on my 2019 Kia Niro PHEV that has 17,801 miles. Dealership has my vehicle now for over 5 weeks With no estimated completion date.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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