Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 21, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

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

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

38 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
19

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 3transmission slipping 3
A recent report: The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving 79 MPH, the thermostat displayed that the engine was running hot and there was white smoke coming from the front of the…
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The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving 79 MPH, the thermostat displayed that the engine was running hot and there was white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that a hose underneath the radiator was disconnected, and coolant was leaking from the hose, and the dipstick had dislodged into the engine. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop or while decelerating, the vehicle jolted forward. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11760958 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
8

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 4sudden stalling 2fire 1
A recent report: 10.25" audio head unit. UVO no longer connects so that 911 and roadside assistance can not be reached. This is a known problem with 2019 and early 2020 Kia Niro's part# 96160-Q4210. I spoke to the…
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10.25" audio head unit. UVO no longer connects so that 911 and roadside assistance can not be reached. This is a known problem with 2019 and early 2020 Kia Niro's part# 96160-Q4210. I spoke to the Kia UVO Call Center and they confirmed that my unit is not communicating and has not since Dec. 2021. As I usually drive just around town I have not used UVO, but now that I'm on the road I need to be able to use this feature. I'm attaching a quote for a replacement unit

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11734752 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
4

Most reports here involve rollaway.

rollaway 2sudden stalling 1software faults 1
A recent report: This submission is supplemental information for my prior NHTSA complaint (Complaint #XXX). After filing the original report, I learned additional details from the Kia dealership that serviced my…
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This submission is supplemental information for my prior NHTSA complaint (Complaint #XXX). After filing the original report, I learned additional details from the Kia dealership that serviced my vehicle. The service department stated that they have seen the same electronic parking brake controller and actuator failure on multiple Kia Niro vehicles from model years 2018–2021. They reported that these failures were not covered under warranty for those years, even when the symptoms began during the warranty period. The dealer also explained that Kia made design improvements to the electronic parking brake system in later model years and expanded warranty coverage for the updated EPB assembly and control components. This suggests that Kia was aware of recurring issues with the earlier design, despite no formal recall or service campaign being issued for the affected 2018–2021 vehicles. I am submitting this supplemental information because it indicates a potential pattern of safety‑related failures involving the electronic parking brake system across multiple vehicles and model years. These failures affect the vehicle’s ability to hold position when parked and may interact with braking and stability control systems.”

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11749340 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
2

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: Hi my name is [XXX] I had an accident on a red light, I was on a highway took a ramp for the exit the car who was ahead of me like 30 feet make a right turn and as next on turn I look on my left side…
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Hi my name is [XXX] I had an accident on a red light, I was on a highway took a ramp for the exit the car who was ahead of me like 30 feet make a right turn and as next on turn I look on my left side then when I turn on the right the car ahead of me stop again so I heat with the right corner of my bumper to the left rear corner of her bumper, both airbags deployed but the one on the bottom cut my leg, because the sewing part and threads were outside, I don't know if that is the way is supposed to be installed, because the airbag on the steering wheel doesn't have the sewing part outside. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11619612 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
2

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 2
A recent report: One night the tailgate latch began clicking, locking and unlocking itself and then not latching closed, causing the inside light to remain on and the tailgate open indicator to display on the display…
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One night the tailgate latch began clicking, locking and unlocking itself and then not latching closed, causing the inside light to remain on and the tailgate open indicator to display on the display panel. Then it just went dead and would not open at all, even if using the specific tailgate open key on the key fob. Then a few weeks later while driving on an empty street very slowly as I was turning a corner, with no warning the back windshield suddenly made a loud noise and then spontaneously shattered. I got out and looked around and there was no one else around or any other cars driving by. I did not hear any impact and also had my driver window down and did not hear any shots, and was not able to recover anything from the inside the back of the vehicle or on the ground that could have hit it. Kia will not cover the cost of the back windshield even though I still have 5 years left on the manufacturer warranty, and purchased the dealership warranty. There is a class-action lawsuit against Kia that is for the Telluride model windshields but according to Google my affect some Niros (Sanchez Vs Kia).

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11720581 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
3

Most reports here involve fluid leaks.

fluid leaks 1fire 1
A recent report: AC not working, recall SA512 is needed, Kia wont cover the cost of replacing electrical components. Thermal Runaway / Fire Risk: The broken compressor prevents the battery thermal management system…
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AC not working, recall SA512 is needed, Kia wont cover the cost of replacing electrical components. Thermal Runaway / Fire Risk: The broken compressor prevents the battery thermal management system from cooling the main high-voltage lithium-ion battery package, creating an overheating hazard during driving or DC fast-charging. Sudden Loss of Power (Motive Power): Battery overheating can trigger a sudden "safe mode" or turtle mode, dropping your speed to zero unexpectedly on the highway.Impaired Driver Visibility: The lack of functional cabin heating prevents windshield defrosting, severely impairing the driver's ability to see the road safely.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11755319 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 38 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2020 and 2026, roughly 6 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.