STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2017 Kia Niro Hybrid
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 22 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 2017 | 2 | 4 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 2017 | 2 | 7 |
| May 2018 | 1 | 8 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 9 |
| Oct 2018 | 4 | 13 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 14 |
| May 2019 | 1 | 15 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 16 |
| Jul 2019 | 1 | 17 |
| Dec 2020 | 1 | 18 |
| Jun 2021 | 1 | 19 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Driver assistance315.0%
- Engine315.0%
- Brakes315.0%
- Powertrain (other)315.0%
- Body & structure315.0%
- Steering15.0%
- Fuel system15.0%
- Interior & seats15.0%
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
1 campaign 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.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, an abnormal sound was heard, and the vehicle lost forwards momentum. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. As the contact exited the vehicle, an abnormal odor appeared under the hood. There were no flames present. The contact stated that oil was seen leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was unable to drive. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V257000 (Hybrid Propulsion System) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11422579
- Incident
- Jun 9, 2021
- Mileage
- 39,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER RK KIA OF VINELAND LOCATED AT 612 N. DELSEA DR BUILDING 1, VINELAND, NJ 08360 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11383538
- Incident
- Dec 15, 2020
- Mileage
- 57,000 mi
MY 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID SEEMS TO NOT BE STORING CODES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE PROBLEMS WITH BY NIRO IN 3 WEEKS WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH THE HEV HYBRID FUSE AND WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO POWER AND YET BY THE TIME IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP IT RESET ITSELF BUT DIDN'T STORE ANY CODES FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.. THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEMS AND HAD NO WERE TO START FROM. I'M NOW DRIVING IT AND JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO GO WRONG WITH IT
- NHTSA ID
- 11229081
- Incident
- Jul 2, 2019
- Mileage
- 44,427 mi
WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 KIA NIRO ON REGULAR ROADS, IT HAD A DRAMATIC DOWN SHIFT IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. CONTINUED FOUR MORE STOPS WHEN APPROACHING A HILL, THE SPORT MODE DID NOT WORK AND BARELY MADE IT UP HILL, NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER LIGHTS. SHOP COULDN'T RECREATE PROBLEM. THE RECALIBRATED THE TRANSMISSION. DROVE FINE 1 DAY. 3/4 OF MY WAY ON 200 MILE TRIP ON HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL THE HEV LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE AND BLINKING GREEN CAR CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED THE HYBRID SYSTEM FUSE. 5 DAYS LATER ON 74 MILE TRIPP'S HIGHWAY ENGINE, (!) AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, LOST POWER AND BARELY MADE IT UP A HILL. OH AND THE HOOD POPPED OPEN, HELD BY LATCH WHILE DOING 65 ON HIGHWAY . NOW IT SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP
- NHTSA ID
- 11223054
- Incident
- Jun 27, 2019
- Mileage
- 44,427 mi
THE CAR MISFIRES DUE TO THE EGR VALVE AND THE ENGINEER'S OF THE CAR CAN'T COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THE MISFIRE PROBLEM THE CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IS UNSAFE
- NHTSA ID
- 11208393
- Incident
- Dec 12, 2018
- Mileage
- 1 mi
MY 2017 KIA NIRO CAUGHT ON FIRE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. NO COLLUSION WAS INVOLVED. I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE TO STOP THE ENGINE DUE TO A PROBLEM BEING DETECTED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I PULLED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING HAD JUST HAPPENED TO THE ENGINE. I STAYED IN THE CAR AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AS I DID NOT WANT TO STAND ON THE SHOULDER OF THIS BUSY HIGHWAY. A MAN THEN JUMPS OUT OF HIS TRUCK AND STARTS RUNNING TOWARD ME YELLING AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT, WE RAN DOWN THE SHOULDER AND WE STOOD WATCHING MY CAR BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2018.
- NHTSA ID
- 11191530
- Incident
- Mar 25, 2019
THE STEMS THAT THE HEADREST SETS ON ARE SHARP. MY DAUGHTER CUT HER FINGER WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST THE HEADREST. IT WAS MINOR, BUT STILL UNEXPECTED.
- NHTSA ID
- 11140413
- Incident
- Oct 7, 2018
- Mileage
- 21,000 mi
ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE COMING BACK FROM AUSTIN AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS I HEARD A SOUND OF SOMETHING RATTLING ABOVE MY HEAD. MY PASSENGER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF AREA. HE CRACKED OPEN THE SUNROOF ACCESS DOOR AND HE SAID HE COULD SEE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND HE CLOSED IT IMMEDIATELY. WE STOPPED AS SOON AS WE COULD AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE SHATTERED SUNROOF. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS AROUND US. AND WE DID NOT GO UNDER ANY BRIDGES OR OVERPASSES.
- NHTSA ID
- 11139119
- Incident
- Sep 30, 2018
- Mileage
- 22,500 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
POWER TRAIN
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart starting on page 2.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: MAINTENANCE REMINDER FEATURE - 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 on setting the "Service Interval Reminder" feature available on most 2014-2023MY Kia vehicles (refer to model list on page 2). If the service interval reminder is set, the customer will be informed to have the next maintenance service performed, which can positively affect vehicle longevity and performance. Refer to TSB ENG241 for 2023MY~ vehicles equipped with the Oil Life Management System (OLMS) feature not included in table on page 2.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PITSTOP: RANDOM MISFIRES/OVERHEATING DUE TO LOW COOLANT - This Pitstop provides information to help identify one cause of low coolant, random misfires, and/or possible overheating on some 2017-2022MY Niro HEV (DE HEV) and 2018-2022MY Niro PHEV (DE PHEV) vehicles. The cause may be a small coolant leak in the EGR Cooler. Locating this leak may be difficult.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PITSTOP: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACEMENT AND MILEAGE SETTING WITH KDS - 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 pitstop provides the KDS service procedure for mileage setting on the models listed below with newly replaced instrument clusters. Certain models allow for mileage setting with the KDS, which prevents the need to send out the instrument cluster to a 3rd party for mileage adjustment (refer to PS264). After a new cluster is installed, cluster (variant) coding may also need to be conducted using the KDS. Make sure the KDS software is also updated to the latest version. Mileage setting should be performed by using the KDS only, as described in this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PITSTOP: NO START / NO DTC WITH KEY IGNITION - This Pitstop provides information to help troubleshoot a "no start" symptom on some 2017-2022MY Niro LX HEV (DE HEV) vehicles with standard 'key start' ignition. The 'Ready' icon on the instrument cluster will not illuminate 'ON'. The issue happens when the Hybrid Power Control Unit (HPCU) does not unlock the immobilizer when the start signal is sent.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
PITSTOP: ENGINE OVERHEATING IN NIRO HEV/PHEV - This Pitstop provides information to help troubleshoot an overheating symptom on some 2017-2022MY Niro HEV (DE HEV) and 2018-2022MY Niro PHEV (DE PHEV) which may exhibit coolant boiling in the reservoir. Overheating may occur due to a bypass valve in the Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS) stuck in the closed position.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017Viewing | 19 | 1 | 0 | 41.6 |
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.