Kia Niro Complaints

107 consumer complaints on file.

#11736086May 6, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The contact leased a 2025 Kia Niro. The contact was stopped at a traffic light during the night. When the light changed, the contact was partially turning when the other vehicle slammed into the contact's vehicle. No injuries were reported. The contact stated that the front collision sensor failed. The contact was not warned of the impending collision. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was taken to the collision center. A police report was filed. The contact believed that the sensor failed in the evening and worked as intended during the daytime. The insurance company was notified of the accident. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736000May 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
am writing to formally request assistance regarding my Kia vehicle which I purchased used at approximately 38,000 miles. Shortly after purchase, the vehicle became undrivable and has since required repeated repairs without resolution. To date, the vehicle has been presented for repair on six separate occasions for the same issue and has remained out of service for a significant period of time. Based on these repeated failures and lack of resolution, the vehicle may reasonably be considered defective at this point. Despite being unable to use the vehicle, I have continued to make monthly payments, resulting in considerable financial hardship. In an effort to resolve this matter, I consulted with a Maryland MVA investigator, who advised me to contact Kia directly and report that the vehicle appears to have been sold with a pre-existing defect. I have also communicated with the selling dealership, Eastern Motors; however, I was informed that due to changes in management, they are unable to provide further assistance and consider the matter outside of their control. Additionally, I have previously reached out regarding this issue and have not received a response. Given the timing of the failure, the repeated unsuccessful repair attempts, and the extended period the vehicle has been out of service, I respectfully request that Kia conduct a thorough review of this matter. I am respectfully requesting Kia’s assistance in resolving this matter. Specifically, I would like to explore options such as a replacement vehicle, repurchase (buyback), reimbursement of payments made, or other goodwill support. I remain open to a fair and reasonable resolution. Please advise what documentation or additional information is required to proceed. I am prepared to provide all relevant records, including purchase documentation and complete service history. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733667April 24, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Intermittent warning to "Refill Inverter Coolant" displays on the dash screen. This is a known issue pursuant to SA512 (ELE 270 Rev 3) due to faulty coolant that crystallizes and interferes with the sensor. However, per Kia, it is only covered under standard warranty (5 years/60k miles) and while my vehicle is within the year warranty, it is over the mileage. Quote was to replace "Chiller, water pump and flush coolant system" at a cost of $2369.02 including parts and labor. Dealership will not perform recommended maintenance of coolant flush (every 37k miles) without replacing these parts. If this was a known defect why is there a limitation to the SA? It should be covered as a recall, not a voluntary service alert. I am unable to properly monitor the in-dash warnings regarding coolant levels until this problem is fixed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11733425April 23, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact constantly depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the residence while depressing the brake pedal to prevent the unintended acceleration. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731798April 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On now 4 occasions--intermittently my car will go into drive when shifted into the reverse shift I don't know what component is impacting this. My safety and others safety is at risk by my car literally going forward when it's supposed to be in reverse. I've taken my car to the dealership two times and they have not been able to recreate it or fix anything. I've reached out to KIA corporate for a resolution but have not gotten follow up: Case#XXX (case where I was supposed to get a response from a case manger) and XXX (original case). To my knowledge I don't know if it's been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others No warning lamps or signs. It happens intermittently and seemingly no rhyme or reason when it happens. This happened back in November 2025 and most recently this April.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730887April 13, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I own a 2021 Kia Niro. The rear backup camera intermittently fails to operate. When shifting into reverse, the display screen will either go completely black or the camera will not activate at all. This issue occurs unpredictably and without warning. As a result, I am unable to see behind the vehicle when reversing, which creates a significant safety concern. The lack of rear visibility increases the risk of a collision, especially in areas with pedestrians, children, or low-visibility obstacles. I am aware that similar rearview camera failures have led to recalls for certain Kia Niro EV models; however, my vehicle is not included in those recalls. Despite this, my vehicle is experiencing the same or a very similar issue. The problem has occurred multiple times from 2023-now and does not appear to be related to specific weather, lighting, or driving conditions. This defect poses a serious safety risk and should be investigated for potential inclusion in a broader recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730504April 10, 2026
POWER TRAIN
This is a hybrid vehicle. It has Dual clutch transmission. Since I have owned it, intermittently the clutch does not disengage completely. This causes the vehicle to try to pull ahead but my foot is on the brake. The vehicle does not stall. Somehow it figures out it can't pull ahead and somehow fully releases. I have brought it to kia at least 3 times. In each case they tell me they cNt get the car to fail and since there are no codes produced they can't fix it. They even held onto the car several days. I asked them to please replace SOMETHING but the say Kia policy will not allow them to do that. So I am stuck with a car that keeps misbehaving. It is embarrassing because problems occur while a passenger is in the car and it seems to them that I am not driving correctly. I don't know what to do.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728234March 31, 2026
ENGINE
The vehicle has a recurring P0420 code (“Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1”). A boroscope inspection at Ricardo Caballero Kia Santa Isabel (invoice #[XXX] dated December 5, 2025) confirmed internal disintegration of the catalytic converter, with physical pieces of the catalyst falling out when the exhaust pipe was removed. This failure appears related to Recall 23V534 (SC276) and TSB PS709 (overheating / coolant boiling issues in 2017-2022 Niro Hybrid models). Motorambar, Inc. (official Kia distributor in Puerto Rico) has ignored my warranty claim since December 2 and December 22, 2025 (more than four months). Motorambar is now refusing to authorize a courtesy loaner vehicle at the dealer Ricardo Caballero Kia Santa Isabel, claiming the tests will take less than 5 days. This leaves me without transportation. The catalytic converter is fully covered under the Federal Emissions Warranty (8 years / 80,000 miles). I request that NHTSA investigate this as a potential safety and emissions defect and require Kia / Motorambar to: 1. Immediately repair or replace the catalytic converter under warranty at no cost. 2. Provide a courtesy loaner vehicle during the repair. 3. Reimburse previous diagnostic costs of $449.17. 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
#11725753March 20, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
EV motor and drive train have a clattering noise, much like a playing card attached to a bicycle clattering against the wheel spokes. it speeds up and slows down with the acceleration of the motor.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725424March 18, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I believe the issue is related to something connected to the AC system or a component underneath the hood. The exact part that malfunctioned has not been confirmed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because some kind of leak or fumes were being sent into the car through the AC vents, causing myself and others in the vehicle to feel sick. I have taken the car to 3 Kia Dealerships. All of which have been extremely dishonest (have tons of proof) and say they cannot verify problem. I took it to an outside independent shop and they verified it instantly and wrote a very detailed invoice about the problem. They couldnt pin point where it was coming from though. The vehicle has only been inspected by the 3 Kia Dealerships and the independant shop Brake Busters I purchased the car in November of 2025 and had no problems until February 22nd 2026. No warnihg lights or messages came on prior. The symtoms that started were Nausea, Headaches, light headedness, vision blurry, and almost caused me to pass out at wheel several times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11721626March 3, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The interior surface of the windshield freezes during cold weather operation, beginning at the edges of the windshield and progressing toward the center directly into the driver’s line of sight. This significantly impairs visibility and requires approximately 20–30 minutes of vehicle warming before safe operation is possible. The condition has occurred repeatedly since November under normal winter temperatures. No warning lights or system messages appear prior to the event. The vehicle has fewer than 8,000 miles. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by authorized dealerships. Three separate dealerships performed diagnostics and preventative service, including cleaning A/C drains and ventilation components; however, the condition persists. Dealership personnel advised they could not open a technical case unless the freezing could be observed in person, which has prevented further escalation because the condition is temperature-dependent. Photos and videos documenting the freezing have been provided to the manufacturer and dealerships. The issue has not been resolved and continues to present a safety concern because driver visibility is obstructed during normal winter driving conditions. The suspected cause is improper windshield installation or sealing allowing moisture intrusion, although the exact failure mechanism remains unconfirmed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720308February 24, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
I visited Car Pros Kia Tacoma for a wheel alignment on my 2025 Kia Niro EV. After the service, I was told the alignment was completed correctly and I was given a printout showing all values in the green. However, the vehicle did not feel stable or safe to drive afterward. The steering felt off, and the car did not track straight. Because the vehicle felt unsafe, I took it to Firestone the next day for a second opinion. Firestone performed a full alignment check and their “before” measurements showed that the alignment was significantly out of specification, including major issues with front toe, rear toe, and thrust angle. These values were far outside normal ranges and could affect handling and safety. Firestone then corrected the alignment, and their “after” measurements showed the vehicle was properly aligned and driving normally again. Their report clearly shows the difference between the unsafe alignment I received from Kia and the corrected alignment they performed. In summary: • Kia performed an alignment that was not actually within proper specifications. • I was told the alignment was correct when it was not. • The vehicle felt unsafe to drive after Kia’s service. • Firestone’s diagnostic confirmed the alignment was significantly off. • Firestone corrected the alignment and the vehicle immediately drove normally. I am filing this complaint because the dealership returned my vehicle in a condition that affected its stability and safety, and the documentation from Firestone clearly supports this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11716423February 7, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
I bought my Niro hybrid EX Touring new from the dealership in 2023. The first issue arose when the car shut off completely while driving and was towed to the dealership. Later, I started hearing a squeaking/rubber rubbing sound. The car would make squeaking and creaking noises when turning or going over minor bumps. The "rubber rubbing sound" happened when I was at a full stop, right after removing my foot from the brake, as the car began to move forward. These issues were both reported to the dealership, and they did an inspection. The dealership service center has been able to hear the sounds. Since then, the calliper boots have been replaced multiple times and the full calliper kit once. The strut bearing has also been replaced multiple times. Consistent issues with the car's braking system is a significant safety issue. I have no idea what damage the rest of my car could have sustained, and I have not been able to get an answer for why this is happening. I have also been in contact with the manufacturer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715328February 3, 2026
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am filing a complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Niro and Safety Recall SC332. The recall involves a damaged floor wiring assembly that may prevent proper airbag and seat belt deployment, creating a serious safety risk. I scheduled and brought my vehicle to Cowboy Kia, Conroe on Feb 2,2026 specifically to have this recall repaired, but the dealership did not complete the recall service and returned the vehicle without fixing the issue or providing a clear explanation. This is a manufacturer-issued safety recall and should be addressed promptly at no cost. I am requesting immediate repair and an explanation for the failure to perform the recall work.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712922January 23, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Niro. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The failure obstructed the driver's visibility, preventing the driver from safely operating the vehicle. Additionally, there was a delay with the image appearing on the screen when the vehicle was in reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but it was unknown if the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the vehicle failed to start up, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the battery terminals were loose. The vehicle was repaired; however, when the contact arrived to retrieve the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer inspected the vehicle; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed by the dealer that the vehicle had an open recall, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V426000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711969January 19, 2026
ENGINE
Vehicle with code p0420, Kia dealership technician say: the problem was the spark, proceeded to change it and clear code. Check engine turn on again, the same person say: it’s a ring piston, the car was leaked engine oil to exhaust and he see blue smoke, no evidence for part of dealership and dealership never mention the car was consuming excessive engine oil. I mentioned the law of emission to change the catalyst and the boss say: I can’t change it but the problem will be come but never do anything to change it. In other dealership Kia the technician dismantle the exhaust and see ceramic part coming from the catalyst, his recommendation is change it. Dealership make a formal petition to motorambar distributor official ok Kia in PR and motorambar refuse to change the part with the evidence provide by dealership: technician report and photos. I call motorambar in 2 times and the only thing motorambar do is creating ticket to escalated to technician, never received call from this ticket, this occurred on fort week of December 2025 and today is 19 January of 2026 and not received any call from motorambar.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710359January 12, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
When attempting to activate the parking brake there is no response from the vehicle. No matter how many times in attempting to activate the parking brake it would not activate. The only way to successfully activate the parking brake was if "auto hold" was on and i turned off the vehicle. i have a safety concern regarding this matter as the vehicle could potentially roll away if the car is unattended. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the service center as of yet but it will be inspected on 01/14/2026. There are no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709314January 7, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The 12-volt battery system in my 2024 Kia Niro (VIN: [XXX] ) has suffered two total failures in under one year of ownership (approx. 10,000 miles). In both instances, the vehicle was completely unresponsive, with no power to essential systems. Safety Risks and Incidents: 1. [XXX]: Vehicle experienced a total power loss. It would not start and all electrical systems were dead. 2. [XXX]: Identical failure. These failures create a significant safety risk by potentially stranding the driver in hazardous locations and disabling critical safety systems, including hazard lights, power steering assist, and emergency braking. If a total power loss occurs while the vehicle is in motion, it could result in a sudden loss of motive power and control, posing an unreasonable risk of accidents or injury. Dealer/Manufacturer Confirmation: The problem was confirmed by Ourisman Kia of [XXX] ). The dealer replaced the 12-volt battery after identifying diagnostic code D04 ("Insufficient Battery Charge Condition Identified"). Despite proof of regular use (1,000 miles/month), Kia America has denied warranty coverage, claiming "insufficient driving". Warning Symptoms: There were no warning lamps or messages prior to either failure. The vehicle functioned normally until it became completely inoperable. I have since installed a third-party battery monitor to mitigate the risk of being stranded by a third failure. Evidence of Trend: A technician at the dealership noted a similar 12V failure in another new 2024 model (Carnival). Numerous other 2024 Niro owners report identical "parasitic drain" issues on NHTSA and consumer forums, suggesting a systemic manufacturing or software defect in the charging system. 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
#11703967December 9, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -I have received a "Check Brake Light" warning several times now, even after replacing the bulbs. I have replaced them twice now in the past 6 months and the issue persists. I believe it to be a faulty sensor or something similar. Yes, it is available to inspect upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I do not know if my brake light is functioning properly as this warning indicator comes on intermittently even though the light has been replaced and even when it seems there is nothing wrong with the light. It is very stressful. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I took my car to the dealership in November 2025 and they couldn't find any issue. The indicator light did not come on at the dealership but came on again later in the week. They even replaced both brake lights hoping that would help. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The dealership service center Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No other symptoms.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703599December 7, 2025
AIR BAGS
I was driving on a 70mph hwy and traffic came to a full and sudden stop due to a car cutting across lanes a few cars ahead of me. There was no time for me to stop and I couldn’t see the traffic stopped. The car in front of me was able to stop without hitting anyone but I could not. Airbags did not deploy and this concerned me even though I was not injured.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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