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Kia NiroModel year report

2023 Kia Niro Problems

Compared with other Kia Niro years

More complaints than typical for this model

91/100 2.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2020

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
44filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
600miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
53 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 53 city / 54 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2023 Kia Niro (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 2023 Kia Niro. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 16 complaints (36% of the total), followed by electrical system (14) and forward collision avoidance (7). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 80% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 600 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 52 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 39 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 5 Kia Niro model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 91 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Wheels (2), Seat belts (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “On multiple occasions, the car has flashed an error on the dash stating there was a problem with the hybrid system. It immediately slows down without time to merge over causing extreme danger on a busy highway several cars swerved to miss the Kia because there was nothing I can do. this has happened several times and Kia is well aware as I’ve had multiple communications with them.”

NHTSA complaint #11684015, filed 2025-08

Electrical system: “I was 3 1/2 weeks into a four year lease driving this brand new car and it stopped completely in the middle of the road flashing a HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE warning. I nearly died. It would not move nor turn off. Had to be in the shop for 2 weeks. I don’t feel safe in this car and I want out of this lease asap. Kia is not willing to work with me on this”

NHTSA complaint #11550666, filed 2023-10

Forward collision avoidance: “Driving VA Interstate 64. Traveling right side travel lane approximately 70 mph. Had ADAS engaged. Car entering highway, moved to center travel lane to pass. As I approached entering highway car, suddenly, my car stalled, engine off and I was stopped in center travel lane. Able to start car by putting transmission in park and pressing start button. Called KIA Car Care Center - They have no record of this type situation occurring throughout country. Took car to dealer. …”

NHTSA complaint #11687304, filed 2025-09

Air bags: “I was driving my 2023 Kia Niro PHEV into my garage after running an errand, going very slowly. Suddenly the vehicle--all on its own--surged forward, slammed into the rear wall (triggering air bags), ricocheted backward across the street, and struck a neighbor's fence. I was able to get out of the car but I was in shock; paramedics were called. Ultimately, my injuries were found to be limited to bruised ribs, but it has been very painful and limiting. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop where it was pronounced a total loss. …”

NHTSA complaint #11674651, filed 2025-07

Mileage when problems were reported

80% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 200 and 11,000 miles.

60%0–1020%10–250%25–5020%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 600 miles.

Complaints by year filed

This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

202312202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2023 Kia Niro. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Niro · SUV FWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 11.8% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2023 model year: forward collision warning standard on some versions, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard on some versions.

Neighbouring years: 2022: 4–5 stars overall; 2024: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2023 Kia Niro version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe; plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Niro Electric FWDElectricsingle-speed126101113 MPGe$650
Niro FWD1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic534549$1,350
Niro FE FWD1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic535453$1,250
Niro Plug-in Hybrid FWD1.6L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid6-speed automatic494748 gas only—

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2023 Kia Niro → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 52 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 52 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Niro

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20251735,0001453—Too new
20241075,0001553—Too new
202344600255391 · MoreToo new
20223175,00014–54938 · TypicalRising
20219—1449—Not enough data
20203960,000144935 · FewerRising
20195635,000144939 · TypicalRising
20186027,2903—4961 · TypicalRising
20178250,5004—4958 · TypicalRising

All Kia Niro model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2023 Kia Niro have?

NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 2023 Kia Niro as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2023 Kia Niro is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 16 complaints (36% of the total), followed by electrical system with 14.

Has the 2023 Kia Niro been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2023 Kia Niro do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2023 Kia Niro 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Niro get?

The EPA rates the 2023 Kia Niro (Niro FE, 1.6L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 53 mpg combined, 53 city and 54 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,250 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2023 Kia Niro reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 600 miles and the middle half falls between 200 and 11,000 miles; 80% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.