RoadVitals

2023 Kia Niro EV

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Jun 15, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jan 17, 2025
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Kia Niro EV, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and fuel system categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 42 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance416.0%
  • Fuel system312.0%
  • Brakes312.0%
  • Powertrain (other)28.0%
  • Seat belts14.0%
  • Body & structure14.0%
  • Interior & seats14.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; SEATS

Jan 17, 2025
80,255 units potentially affected
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment.
The risk: Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The 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.
Kia America, Inc.Manufacturer number SC332View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

Apr 16, 2024
8 units potentially affected
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Niro EV and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up.
The risk: A loss of drive power or differential lock up can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the gear drive unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC308.
Kia America, Inc.Manufacturer number SC308View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Jan 31, 2024
1,243 units potentially affected
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Niro EV and 2023 EV6 vehicles. One of the drive shafts may have been improperly heat-treated, allowing it to break under load and resulting in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the drive shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC295.
Kia America, Inc.Manufacturer number SC295View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 15, 2026

Check electric vehicle system warning light indicator illuminates and car stops driving on highway! A/C and defrost won't work properly and when turned on causes the above warning light and malfunction. Car will not charge at "fast" charging stations and will leave you stranded on highway. I live in [XXX] and the vehicle only does it when humidity is high outside. Issue also causes problems with the 12V battery. SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN CAR SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. It is the system ICCU (Integrate Charge Control Unit) that KIA has a limited warranty coverage on and should be reviewed for recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11744166
Incident
Jun 15, 2026
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2026

The vehicle is a rental vehicle. It experienced two incidents of sudden loss of propulsion within the first two days of operation. During both events, the vehicle became completely unresponsive to accelerator pedal input and would not move despite being placed in Drive. I attempted to shift the vehicle into Park and then back into Drive, but propulsion was not restored. No warning lights, malfunction indicators, or system messages were displayed before or during the failure. The first incident occurred while exiting a car wash. The vehicle became immobilized in an active traffic lane and would not respond to throttle input, creating an immediate risk of rear-end collision. Vehicles were approaching from behind and I narrowly avoided being struck. The second incident occurred later the same day in a parking lot while the vehicle was charging. Again, the vehicle became unresponsive without warning and would not move. The intermittent and unpredictable loss of motive power presents a serious safety hazard because it prevents the driver from maintaining control and safely operating the vehicle in traffic conditions.

NHTSA ID
11719665
Incident
Feb 20, 2026
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 23, 2026

I did an OTA update that made the rear view camera work intermittently. It would just flash an image every couple of seconds instead of a live stream. I took it into the dealer, and on the way, it totally gave out in the middle of traffic in a very unsafe way. I was flashed with many warning signs and was not able to get it started again for 5min by just turning it on/off again. I finally got it to the dealer and after 6 weeks they told me that something spilled in the cup holders and fried the backup camera and drivetrain components. I find it extremely off the drivetrain and safety critical components are stored under a cup holder with no protection.

NHTSA ID
11712990
Incident
Dec 18, 2025
Body & structureInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jan 21, 2025

I have had the car since May 2023 and every winter moisture builds up on my windows on the inside of the car and over night it gets frozen from the inside. There is mold growing on the inside of the door panels, the back hatch window and under the seat and on the seat belts.

NHTSA ID
11637340
Incident
Jan 28, 2024
Brakes
Filed Nov 14, 2024
Crash reported

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Niro. The contact stated when parking the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated and jumped the curb. The contact stated that the vehicle was headed in the direction of the building. The contact noticed that a consumer was exiting the entrance of the building. The contact turned the steering wheel in the opposite direction to avoid hitting the consumer. The contact's vehicle crashed into the side of the building. The contact's vehicle was damaged to the front of the vehicle, which included the undercarriage, the battery pack, and both driver's side tires. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. A Police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The insurance deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 12,030.

NHTSA ID
11625279
Incident
Nov 8, 2024
Mileage
12,030 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 11, 2024

While driving on freeway, at a speed of 65-70MPH. Vehicle appeared to lose power. Navigation screen turned off, dash display dimmed and vehicle seemed to coast and not accelerate. Speed did drop down a bit, but then powered came back on, screen turned on and was able to accelerate again. No warning lights or error messages appeared on screen.

NHTSA ID
11613910
Incident
Sep 10, 2024
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jun 21, 2024

When slowing with regenerative braking, there is a ticking sound and shaking until the car stops.

NHTSA ID
11595788
Incident
Mar 1, 2024
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 17, 2024

I pulled the vehicle out of my garage yesterday and drove it out and turned it around and put it in reverse to park it on a very slight incline on my driveway close to the garage to clean it, put it in park, and shut if off. I spent a couple hours vacuuming and cleaning it. I then went to turn it on to back it into my garage for the night and it lurched backwards in an alarming scary way - I rolled my passenger window down and asked my husband who was right there if there was something in the way that I had just tried to run over with my car. He assured me there was nothing in the way so I put the car in drive and tried to go forward and it did the same thing. It was like I was trying to go over a log or something. (My husband said the same thing had happened to him when he also had it parked on the slight incline and he said to shut it off and try again). I then shut it off, put it in drive and as soon as I took my foot off the brake it flew forward without me ever touching the gas peddle. I slammed on the brakes and it stopped. It was like the cruise control was set to 60mph and it was accelerating without me in control. I tried another time to get it to operate correctly and the next time the rear wheels locked and it flew forward with the wheels locked, leaving a skid mark on my driveway. My husband then took over trying to figure it out and had the same things happen to him. We left it parked outside in our yard and called Kia. It was towed to Berlin City Kia in Williston VT today. This was all recorded on my ring camera. It also did it when the tow truck driver came. He said "I've been doing this for 23 years and I've never had an experience like this".

NHTSA ID
11583492
Incident
Apr 16, 2024

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB_ELE422

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for supported vehicles (2021-2026MY All Models).

PS797

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane film of the ultrasonic sensor is used for object detention and can be damaged by stone chips or foreign substances while driving. Damage to the cover of the ultrasonic sensor can also lead to damage to the internal circuit. As a result of this external damage, the PDW system may not receive the proper signal from the ultrasonic sensor. In some cases, the system may cause a false alarm, no alert, or phantom warnings by a “Warning Lamp’ to be displayed on the cluster. The ultrasonic sensor membrane film should be always inspected for external damage and if any part replacement should be treated as a general repair, not as a warranty claim repair for this concern. (Please note that this Pitstop only applies to models/trims that are equipped with the ultrasonic sensors.)

TSB_GEN099_R3

WHEELS

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: TIRE MOBILITY KIT INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT/ REPAIR (SA556) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to inspect, and if necessary, replace the Tire Mobility Kit (TMK) sealant can or sealant can cap on certain 2023-2024MY Kia vehicles listed on page 5. Lower ambient temperatures can create a vacuum effect inside the TMK sealant can, causing the sealant can cap to open, resulting in the tire sealant leaking.

SC345Z_TSB

POWER TRAIN

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: FRONT MOTOR REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (SC345Z) - This bulletin provides information regarding grinding or whining noise coming from the front motor reduction gear assembly after replacing the oil under SC345 (published in August 2025) on certain 2023-2024MY Niro EV (SG2 EV) vehicles produced from December 12, 2022 through February 7, 2024 and EV6 (CV) vehicles produced from December 14, 2022 through February 22, 2024. In rare cases, the front motor reduction gear assembly may exhibit noise after having the oil replaced.

SC345_OWNR_SG2

POWER TRAIN

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC345) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to replace the gear oil in the front motor and gear reduction assembly, and fill it to the factory-specified amount in certain Niro EV vehicles, manufactured from December 12, 2022 through February 7, 2024.

SC345_DP

POWER TRAIN

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC345) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to replace the gear oil in the front motor and gear reduction assembly, and fill it to the factory-specified amount in certain 2023-2024MY EV6 vehicles, manufactured from December 14, 2022 through February 22, 2024 and Niro EV vehicles, manufactured from December 12, 2022 through February 7, 2024.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kia Niro EV by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025010
2024620
2023Viewing153055.9
2022302157.4
2021211
2020172155.6
2019170146.4

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.