Summary
The KIA NIRO has 19 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 seatbelt pretensioners from deploying properly in a crash or triggering an unexpected side curtain airbag deployment.
The 2023 model year also has a related but separately scoped version of this wiring issue where seat movement can damage the harness and additionally compromise the system that disables the front passenger airbag when a child seat is present. On 2023 Niro EV models, differential gear bolts that were not properly tightened can cause sudden loss of drive power or a locked differential.
The 2022 Niro EV has a high-voltage battery safety plug that can overheat and melt, either cutting drive power or starting a fire. On 2020 Niro EV models, the electric power control unit can leak coolant internally onto its circuit board, causing a sudden loss of drive power. Those 2020 models also have a rearview camera circuit board that can fail and leave the driver with no image while reversing; that camera failure extends through 2022 Niro EV models as well.
The 2019 Niro EV has a brake issue where water can enter the integrated electronic brake unit, corrode the motor, and reduce braking effectiveness, extending stopping distances.
The 2017–2022 model years share a hydraulic clutch actuator defect where fluid can leak onto the circuit board inside the unit and cause an engine compartment fire. The 2017–2018 models have an additional fire risk from the power relay assembly located under the rear seat, where poor electrical connections generate heat that can ignite the seat above it; an earlier repair attempt did not fully resolve this issue, prompting a follow-up recall. The 2017 model year alone also has a damaged electric power steering connector that can cause a sudden increase in steering effort, particularly at low speeds.
