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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2020 Kia Niro EV Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
16%of 19 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Kia Niro EV, 16% of the 19 complaints for this model year.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Faulty EPCU and circuit board damaged from coolant leak, as described by Kia technician. Other components have been affected. Estimated $3,000 in parts left to replace. Total repair cost is looking to exceed $13,000. On last failure of car, I was driving as the Electical Vehicle Systems error occurred and the car went into neutral and when it slowed down, went into Park. Car would start and drive 10-15 feet before becoming inoperable again. Dealership says they fixed by adding coolant and they couldn't replicate the error. It took me 200 ft of driving to do it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11569415, filed 2024-02

“-Abnormal Reduction Gear and/or EV motor Rumble noise as identified in KIA TSB-234. The car is available for inspection. -Car not working properly/increasing the risk of stall or breakdown while driving and therefore increasing the risk of collision/accident. There is a loss of power and increased revolution noise from the reduction gear/EV motor increasing the incidence of vehicle failure during operation and accident, therefore increasing the incidence of property and bodily injury/damage due to known issues by KIA currently being serviced only under TSB and not as a recall. …”

NHTSA complaint #11557339, filed 2023-11

“Drive unit defect in EV motor/reduction gear. These vehicles have a manufacturing defect that causes a percentage of them to experience a loud noise while under acceleration, loudest at around 30mph. It is described as a card in spokes , motor rumble , wheel of fortune , clicking/tapping sound. There is a TSB that Kia has released for this issue, ELE234, but Kia continually denies and obstructs owners from getting their vehicles repaired under warranty. It typically begins quietly at around 20-30k miles, gradually getting louder. Currently at 68k, Kia continues to deny repairs. …”

NHTSA complaint #11560828, filed 2023-12

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2023213%
2022825%
2020316%
2019842%

Other parts of the 2020 Kia Niro EV

Other or unknown
8 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsLane departure
2 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsForward collision avoidance
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaintsWheels
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Kia Niro EV

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology