RoadVitals

2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
19
Latest Jun 28, 2021
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.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 23, 2017

What this page shows

Our database holds 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–19 of 19

EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 28, 2021

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
Engine
Filed Dec 15, 2020

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
Filed Jul 2, 2019

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2019

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
Engine
Filed May 18, 2019

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
Filed Mar 26, 2019
Fire reported

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
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 15, 2018
1 injury reported

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
Body & structure
Filed Oct 8, 2018

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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 8, 2018

THE ACCELERATION RAPIDLY FLUCTUATES AND IT FEELS LIKE IT IS VIBRATING.

NHTSA ID
11139106
Incident
Oct 8, 2018
Mileage
4 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 8, 2018

DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING THE CAR SKIDS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE CAR GOING INTO A SIDEWAYS SKID. I ENCOUNTERED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IN SLIGHTLY WET/SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN PANIC BRAKING FROM ~35 MPH.

NHTSA ID
11139104
Incident
Oct 8, 2018
Mileage
4 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 30, 2018

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (PARKED AND UNLOCKED). UPON PULLING THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR (BACKSEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE), THE HANDLE BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE GROUND. I RETRIEVED THE HANDLE AND A (BROKEN) PLASTIC CONNECTING PIECE.

NHTSA ID
11123575
Incident
Aug 27, 2018
Mileage
6,800 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 14, 2018

I HAD THIS CAR 2 MONTHS WHEN I REALIZED I AM NOT GETTING MPG AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING OFF. MPG ON HIGHWAY IS ABOUT 35 MPG AND ABOUT 40 IN STREET. ABOUT TRANSMISSION EVERY TIME I AM ABOUT SLOWING DOWN I HEAR NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH OF CAR AND SOME TIMES I FEEL SHAKE, AND ALSO FEW TIMES VERY HARD KICK. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE WITH SERVICE AT CARSON, AND GLENDALE KIA AND BOTH SERVICE REP GAVE ME SAME ANSWER ABOUT THIS CLUTCH IS COMPUTER AND IT IS NORMAL IF JERKS. AND ALSO ONCE I ASKED SERVICE TECH TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HE SAID SAME THING.

NHTSA ID
11093810
Incident
Jan 9, 2018
Mileage
1 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 14, 2017

NEW KIA NIRO ROLLS BACK ON INCLINES IN DRIVE AFTER REMOVING FOOT OFF OF BREAK AND RIGHT BEFORE PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, ON PAVED, CITY STREETS. NEVER HAD THIS WITH OTHER AUTOMATICS. NEW KIA NIRO JUMPS FORWARD/ACCELERATES SHARPLY WHILE IN DRIVE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY (1-3 MILES PER HOUR) UP AN INCLINE. THIS OCCURRES ON PAVED, CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ID
11054843
Incident
Dec 14, 2017
Mileage
40 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 7, 2017

REVERSING (BACKUP) LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, AND MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF SECTION 571.108 OF THE CFR TITLE 49 CH. 5 (10-1-04 EDITION)

NHTSA ID
11053336
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
100 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 19, 2017

EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES POP OFF, JUST FROM PULLING ON THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID
11047350
Incident
Nov 19, 2017
Mileage
12,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 9, 2017

I ACCELERATED TO 65MPH.I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. 2 SECONDS LATER I SEE THAT I AM ACCELERATING. I PRESS CANCEL AT 72 MPH. I PRESS THE CRUISE BUTTON AGAIN, TURNING OFF THE CRUISE, THEN ON AGAIN. SLOW TO 65, PRESS THE - SET AND IT IMMEDIATELY STARTS SPEEDING UP. SECOND REPORT. 4TH AND 5TH TIME TO HAPPEN. DASHCAM RECORDED EVENTS.

NHTSA ID
10994154
Incident
Jun 9, 2017
Mileage
1,900 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 4, 2017

WHEN PRESSING THE RESUME BUTTON THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION WIDE OPEN THROTTLE WELL BEYOND THE SET SPEED OF THE SPEED CONTROL. MOST OF THE TIME THE RESUME DOES NOTHING BUT SET A NEW SPEED, THE CURRENT SPEED.

NHTSA ID
10993066
Incident
Jun 4, 2017
Mileage
1,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 23, 2017

WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE RIGHT REAR FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE LOOSE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE HARD LINE. I TIGHTENED THE FITTING ADDED APPROXIMATELY 6OZ OF BRAKE FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR AND LEAK CHECKED THE SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS QUALITY ASSURANCE FACTORY ESCAPE WHICH COULD HAVE CREATED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
10980033
Incident
Apr 16, 2017
Mileage
1,740 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 23, 2017

LEASED THE CAR ON SUNDAY AND DROVE HOME 10+ MILES. ODOMETER HAD 15 MILES ON IT. LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT EARLY WEDNESDAY. (DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL WEDNESDAY, AND ONLY ATTEMPTED ONCE. OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 DAYS.) BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WAS STEERING ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND NOISY - VIBRATING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL ITSELF. PULLED BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RETRIED SEVERAL TIMES. WAITED WITH THE CAR IDLING. BATTERY WARNING CAME ON. LET THE CAR SIT AND LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR ANSWERS. TRIED BACKING UP AGAIN AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, AND STEERING WAS AGAIN VERY DIFFICULT. DROVE BACK INTO THE GARAGE. CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND THE FLATBED TRUCK TOOK THE 2017 KIA NIRO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOPING TO HAVE OUR LEASE VOIDED AND WILL SEARCH SAFERCAR.GOV FOR A NEW VEHICLE CHOICE. NO FAITH IN THE KIA BRAND NOW.

NHTSA ID
10956626
Incident
Feb 22, 2017
Mileage
30 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .