Kia Niro Recalls

The Kia Niro has 21 recalls spanning 2017 through 2025, with the most serious recent issue affecting 2023–2025 models where wiring beneath the front passenger seat can be damaged, preventing airbags and seatbelts from deploying correctly in a crash or causing a side curtain airbag to fire without warning.

On the 2023 model year specifically, a separate wiring routing problem under the front passenger seat can also disable the airbag and seatbelt pretensioner system and prevent the passenger airbag from switching off when a child seat is in that position. There is also a 2023 instrument cluster recall where the display can go completely blank at startup, hiding tire pressure warnings and other critical alerts. The 2023 Niro EV has two drivetrain concerns: a driveshaft that can fracture under load and cut power to the wheels, and differential gear bolts that can loosen and either drop drive power or lock the differential, both of which can cause a sudden loss of control.

The 2022 Niro EV has a high-voltage battery safety plug that can overheat and melt, creating a fire risk and potentially cutting drive power. On 2020 EV models, the electric power control unit can allow coolant to seep onto its circuit board, causing a sudden loss of drive power. The 2019 Niro EV has a brake system concern where water can enter the integrated electronic brake unit, corrode the motor, and extend stopping distances. Rearview camera failures on 2020–2022 EV models can leave the screen blank while reversing.

Going back to the 2017–2022 model years, fluid can leak into the hydraulic clutch actuator's circuit board and cause an engine compartment fire. This issue was addressed in stages, with earlier repair attempts not fully resolving it for all affected vehicles. The 2017 model year carries the densest recall history: the power relay assembly under the rear seat can develop poor electrical connections that generate heat and raise the risk of fire, the hydraulic clutch actuator oil seal can leak and cause an electrical short in the engine compartment, and the electric power steering connector can be damaged from assembly, requiring noticeably higher steering effort especially at low speeds.