Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 1 recall before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

1 total · 1 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V024000 · Jan 2025

Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC332.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

17 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
9

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

transmission slipping 6software faults 1rollaway 1
A recent report: My car was shifted into drive but when I press accelerate my car went backwards. I’ve reported this to kia numerous times and they refuse to fix it

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763276 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
2

Most reports here involve electrical shorts.

electrical shorts 1software faults 1
A recent report: The engine light went on. I took the car into the dealer, where they explained that the navigation system needs to be updated. But they couldn't update the navigation system, because the Kia website…
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The engine light went on. I took the car into the dealer, where they explained that the navigation system needs to be updated. But they couldn't update the navigation system, because the Kia website for that is down. Since this isn't actually an engine issue, I retrieved my car. The dealer suggested that I try to update the nav system myself, as the website for consumers is different from that for dealers. No dice: that website is down. 1. The fact that my car needs a map update causes the engine light to go on? That's misleading--bad design, in my opinion. 2. The navigation system update website being down means that I'm driving around with the engine light on. If an engine issue occurs now, I might disregard it because the light's on already. 3. According to Kia's technical service bulletin on this subject, nav system are available in spring and fall. So if I do get this fixed anytime soon, it'll just happen again in the fall.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11660224 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
4

Most reports here involve loss of steering.

loss of steering 1premature wear 1software faults 1
A recent report: The vehicle began shaking violently on the Florida Turnpike, and the factory-installed tire completely separated from the factory rim at highway speeds. This was a life-threatening equipment failure…
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The vehicle began shaking violently on the Florida Turnpike, and the factory-installed tire completely separated from the factory rim at highway speeds. This was a life-threatening equipment failure on a brand-new vehicle fully covered under Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. The vehicle is at the dealership awaiting repairs. The tire size is 205/60R16

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757072 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
1

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: 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…
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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.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11736086 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
1

Most reports here involve fluid leaks.

fluid leaks 1
A recent report: 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…
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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.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11725424 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 17 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2025 and 2026, roughly 11 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2025 has 17 complaints on file, fewer than the 2023 (44). Of the 7 model years of the Kia Niro we cover, the 2017 has the most (82). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.