Kia Niro Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 348 consumer complaints across the 9 model years of the Kia Niro (2017–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2017 has the most, with 82. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (91 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Niro model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | 35,000 | 1 | 12 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 10 | 75,000 | 1 | 28 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 44 | 600 | 2 | 52 | 91 · More | Too new |
| 2022 | 31 | 75,000 | 1 | 38 | 38 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 9 | — | 1 | 53 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 39 | 60,000 | 1 | 68 | 35 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 56 | 35,000 | 1 | 81 | 39 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 60 | 27,290 | 3 | 95 | 61 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 82 | 50,500 | 4 | 82 | 58 · Typical | Rising |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Electrical system91 21%
- Transmission and drivetrain84 19%
- Engine81 19%
- Other or unknown73 17%
- Brakes35 8.1%
- Fuel system31 7.2%
- Forward collision avoidance19 4.4%
- Air bags18 4.2%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2019: “Pulling into my parking space, barely moving, car suddenly lunged forward and to the right over a concrete barrier and uphill. This happened with another Kia - forte- a few years ago . Same trajectory. Low speed turn, I did not accelerate.”
NHTSA complaint #11321456, filed 2020-04, 1,500 miles2018: “Purchased the vehicle with safety tech package which includes aeb (auto emergency braking) and vehicle did not stop even when I applied full brakes to prevent a collision. The main reason I purchased this vehicle was for this safety feature.”
NHTSA complaint #11099431, filed 2018-06, 1,800 miles2017: “The air bags didn't deploy when I was rear ended and totaled my car.. While.sitting and waiting for green light on a road(stationary).the new Kia are not safe. If you are rear ended.theres no protection.the air bags don't work even if you get hit at 35 MPH.I am complaining to make the consumers to be aware of the Kia brand.that they are not testing cars on rear end collisions.my car was only 6 months old.I hope you investigate this and make cars more safer.”
NHTSA complaint #11065272, filed 2018-01, 30,000 milesOther Kia models
10,219 complaintsKia Optima
7,532 complaintsKia Soul
5,579 complaintsKia Sportage
4,713 complaintsKia Forte
2,560 complaintsKia Sedona
2,415 complaintsKia Telluride
2,058 complaintsKia Sephia
1,701 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology