2018 Kia Niro PHEV Owner Complaints

Year/Make/Model: 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid Mileage at time of incident: approximately 69,000 Component: Hybrid Propulsion System / Powertrain My 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid has experienced five recurring "Hybrid System Failure — Turn Off Engine" errors occurring without warning while the vehicle was being operated. Each occurrence rendered the gas engine ineffective in moving the vehicle, creating an immediate safety hazard. The driver was forced to quickly navigate to safety each time. The vehicle has been brought to the dealership four times for this issue — February 25, May 4, May 15, and May 30, 2025. On May 30 the dealer performed a repair they stated would resolve the problem. The vehicle was returned the same day. On May 31, one day later, the error occurred again. The defect remains unresolved after four service visits. Out-of-pocket towing and rental car costs have been incurred each time. I believe this defect is related to the hydraulic clutch actuator issue covered under Kia recall SC276 and the active class action lawsuit (FeganScott v. Kia/Hyundai). The recall repair has not resolved the problem.

NHTSA ID

11741362

Incident

Feb 25, 2026

I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days later, I was on the road, slowing down at the intersection and the car suddenly lost power, the Dashboard show the message for 'EV System failed'. My battery was fully charged at work, which is 2 miles away. My gas tank was full and I couldn't start my car again. Lucky enough, I was 1/4 mile away entering a Freeway. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I was on Freeway. Police stopped by, put road warning while I scrambled to get a tow truck. An hour later, they was able to move my car off the road. The first Kia Dealer is 3 miles away. They, however, refused to service my car because the other Dealer in San Jose already checked my car for recall before. I had to tow my car 36 miles to San Jose Kia Dealer. I asked them to check again if it was the issue with the recall. Kia Dealer diagnosed and concluded that the 'Relay Assembly Power' unit, Fuse-High Voltage failed for whatever reason. I asked for picture of the damage part and haven't received them. The Dealer said they still have system message which Kia's Engineers haven't figured out why. I am on the 3rd week without a car. I don't have a car to go to work and pick up my kids. I am renting a car at $300/week for my family and work tasks.

NHTSA ID

11572995

Incident

Jan 29, 2024

I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise control" - i am not sure of the exact warning. I've had a warning similar, im not sure if its the exact same, when the adaptive cruise control turns off in traffic and it slows down and turns itself off. But when it turned off this time after the puddle I tried to take control of the car and the gas pedal was completely unresponsive. Pedal to the metal, nothing. I was, thankfully, the only car in sight, so i was able to change lanes and check my brakes, which worked, and coasted/braked my way off the shoulder. I turned the car off and then back on and the car and pedal responded normally.

NHTSA ID

11564643

Incident

Dec 10, 2023

In July 2023, Kia identified a defect that can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving; namely that the printed circuit board in the hydraulic clutch actuator may become contaminated with fluid and lead to an electrical short circuit. To date, there is still no remedy available. I am filing this complaint for your assistance in ensuring the company provides a remedy within a reasonable time.

NHTSA ID

11563151

Incident

Jul 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11555439

Incident

Oct 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11552926

Incident

Jul 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11548070

Incident

Jul 23, 2023

2018 KIA NIRO PLUG-IN HYBRID, 16,235MI. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES IN LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 30 DAYS IN SHOP. TRANSMISSION WILL DO A VERY HARD DOWNSHIFT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPING. MAKES VEHICLE DIP HARD..NOTICEABLE ON DASH CAM VIDEO. ON HARDER ACCELERATION, POWER TRAIN HAS TROUBLE DECIDING WHAT TO DO AND OFTEN THERE IS A NOTICEABLE DELAY IN ACCELERATION. FEELS SORT OF LIKE IT IS SLIPPING, BUT IS A DELAY IN POWERING THE ELECTRIC MOTOR FULLY AND STARTING THE GAS MOTOR.THIS HAS CAUSED A COUPLE CLOSE CALLS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC EXPECTING THE CAR TO REACT APPROPRIATELY. SOME ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE. DEALER HAS REPLACED A HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR, BLED SYSTEM AND REPROGRAMMED PCM. THIS FIXED A SQUEAK NOISE IN POWER TRAIN BUT NOT THE HARSH/ERRATIC OPERATIONS. AS FOR THE BRAKES, RECENTLY, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WITH MORE THAN LIGHT PRESSURE CAUSES A RUBBERY GROAN SOUND FROM UNDER DRIVER'S DASH. THIS HAPPENS MORE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR SITTING FOR SOME TIME, LESS AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP. DURING THESE EPISODES, THE BRAKE PEDAL TAKE MORE EFFORT TO PUSH AND BRAKE ENGAGEMENT IS DELAYED. THE NOISE WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE TO START CAR OR WHEN DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN DISMISSIVE ABOUT THE ISSUES. WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD GET A 'FLIGHT RECORDER' TO HELP THEM DOCUMENT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND RECORD VEHICLE DATA FROM THE COMPUTERS. TODAY WE WERE TOLD WE WILL NOT BE GETTING IT AND TO COME PICK UP THE CAR. KIA CORPORATE IN IRVINE, CA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND A CASE HAS BEEN OPENED. WE ARE WAITING ON A RESPONSE NOW.

NHTSA ID

11299943

Incident

Jan 12, 2020

Mileage

5,000 mi

DOOR HANDLE CANE OFF AND VEHICLE SOMETIMES CAN NOT BE LICKED

NHTSA ID

11297818

Incident

Jan 3, 2020

Mileage

24,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KIA NIRO PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THEIR RED LIGHT CAUSING A COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FAILED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11206542

Incident

May 2, 2019

Mileage

25,000 mi

VEHICLE RANDOMLY FLASHES MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR AFTER VEHICLE RESET BUT THE MESSAGE HAS REPEATEDLY COME UP VERY OFTEN NOW. MESSAGE POPS UP DURING MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: AFTER CHARGING, BEFORE CHARGING, WHILE CHARGING, AND DURING OPERATION.

NHTSA ID

11190496

Incident

Mar 21, 2019

Mileage

15,000 mi

I WENT TO A KIA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS THEN INFORMED THERE WERE 3 OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION BY MAIL, EMAIL OR PHONE. THE REPAIRS WERE TO TAKE 5 HOURS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO DO THE REPAIRS AND LEFT THE CAR THERE THE ENTIRE DAY AND HAD TO BE SHUTTLED 20 MILES BACK AND FORTH TWICE THAT DAY. THEY WERE NOT COMPETENT ENOUGH TO ORDER THE PARTS BUT WERE CONTENT TO HAVE ME WASTE MY ENTIRE DAY AND TELL ME TO COME BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK. THE INCOMPETENT DEALER IS KIA ON BATTLEGROUND IN GREENSBORO.

NHTSA ID

11173342

Incident

Jan 31, 2019

Mileage

7,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY TO THE GEAR SHIFTED TO. WHEN STATIONARY AND WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IF YOU PROCEED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARDS, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION EVEN AFTER SWITCHING THE GEAR SELECTOR TO DRIVE AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN SWITCHING FROM EITHER DRIVE TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11144919

Incident

Nov 2, 2018

Mileage

50 mi