2020 Kia Niro PHEV Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Niro PHEV, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)240.0%
- Body & structure120.0%
- Brakes120.0%
- Steering120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 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.
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 KIA NIRO EX PREMIUM PHEV ON 10/10/2020 AND REGRET IT. LESS THAN A WEEK AND 50 MILES IN WE HAD THE "CHECK ACTIVE AIR FLAP SYSTEM" WARNING. APPARENTLY THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HTTPS://WWW.KIANIROFORUM.COM/THREADS/2020-PHEV-CHECK-ACTIVE-AIR-FLAP-SYSTEM.9142/ HOW RIDICULOUS THAT A WELL KNOW AND VERY WIDESPREAD FAULT LIKE THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE THE SALE. THE 1-800 PEOPLE WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT ANSWER EVEN THE MOST SIMPLE QUESTION. Q - IS THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE? A - IF YOU FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE THEN DON'T DRIVE IT. VERY CAVALIER BUT I SUSPECT THE REP WAS NOT PROVED DETAIL AND SCRIPT. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT KIA DIRECTLY AND ALSO VIA THE BBB. FROM WHAT I SEE THE DEALER IS ALSO A VICTIM. I AM BUILDING MY CASE FOR A LEMON LAW RETURN. HOW SAD A LARGE AND EXCITING PURCHASE GOES WRONG SO QUICKLY AND THAT BASIC SAFETY QUESTIONS CAN'T BE ADDRESSED. *LN CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY STOP AUTOMATICALLY AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE ON IT'S OWN. SCAN SHOWED FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE WHEN CONSUMER FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.*JB *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
On [XXX], Flakes of paint starting peeling away and flew over the windshield while simply driving along an interstate highway at 65 MPH on a calm, dry and sunny day in CO. (A factory paint application defect of the SWP paint color is a common owner complaint) Issue reported to Kia Customer Service on NOV 15th, 2024 who provided case No.[XXX]
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle locks the left wheel when braking. It skids and brakes in one simultaneous action. It doesn't happen often but occasionally if I'm in heavy traffic. I reported this problem to the Kia dealer who found no problem. I really feel that this requires investigation as it could cause an accident. El vehículo bloquea la rueda izquierda al frenar. Patina y frena en una sola acción simultánea. No sucede a menudo, pero de vez en cuando, si hay mucho tráfico. Informé de este problema al concesionario de Kia, que no encontró ningún problema. Realmente creo que es necesario investigarlo, ya que podría provocar un accidente.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The bearings in the steering wheel is going bad. The car is a 2020 and should not have this issue. They’re claiming it’s not covered under basic warranty since my mileage is 77,637, over the 60,000 mileage. Even with this many mileage, a steering wheel bearing should not go bad this quickly.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .