2018 Kia Niro Problems

The dealership is falsely reporting to Kia Corporate and the NHTSA that Recall SC276 is 'completed' by only replacing a fuse. They are refusing to replace the actively leaking, fire-hazardous Hydraulic Clutch Actuator unless I pay an out-of-pocket diagnostic fee. They are violating federal recall safety mandates by trying to release a vehicle with an active, un-repaired recall leak.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge became elevated, and the vehicle stalled. The message "Check Hybrid System - Turn Engine Off" was displayed. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train). The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was serviced under the recall; however, the vehicle was still inoperable, and additional diagnostic tests were needed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the mechanic discovered that there was no coolant inside the coolant reservoir. The contact attempted to contact the dealer but had not received a reply from the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

The dealership is falsely reporting to Kia Corporate and the NHTSA that Recall SC276 is 'completed' by only replacing a fuse. They are refusing to replace the actively leaking, fire-hazardous Hydraulic Clutch Actuator unless I pay an out-of-pocket diagnostic fee. They are violating federal recall safety mandates by trying to release a vehicle with an active, un-repaired recall leak.

On April 21, 2026, Go Kia Renton performed an oil change on my 2018 Kia Niro Touring (VIN). The car was in perfect condition just two weeks earlier — North Seattle Transmission did a full service on April 6, 2026 at 283,649 miles with no issues noted. Later that night while driving, the red oil light flashed. I pulled over immediately and called AAA. AAA towed the vehicle from Belltown [XXX] ) at 12:11 AM on April 23 to my house then at 9:14 AM towed it straight to Go Kia Renton. The AAA driver found oil leaking all over his tow truck. The car now has a dead battery and is showing Hybrid Control System / Low Voltage DC/DC Converter and Engine Control System codes. This appears to be a sudden engine seizure caused by oil loss shortly after dealer service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My kia niro 2018 backup camera takes a few seconds to start up when the vehicle is put in reverse. the time it takes differs from a second to sometimes 5 seconds. I know of accident caused in a McDonalds drive through where someone was backing up but the cam didn't turn on right away and they got in a small accident.

The vehicle just shut down as I exited. The power and gas pressure decreased. Pulled over to see if my hybrid battery was defective or drained. It wasn’t. A notification popped up and said “Hybrid Control System or Low Voltage DC/DC Converter, Contact dealer for service. Finally got it towed to Kia of Valencia the next day and they said it was “Hydraulic Clutch Actuator” and they want charge me $2200 to fix it. But looking up the part, it says there’s a recall for that exact problem.

I'm 59 years old never have an accident or had to slam breaks on the guy in front of me slammed his breaks on so I did the same time the brake pedal was to the floor the car didn't even slowed down and not even skid marks hit him then air bags deployed the car was totaled no one got hurt thank God I do t know if any other kia cars had this problem I got real lucky

An alert to "check regenerative brakes" popped up on the dashboard screen. My younger sister who is borrowing our car, told me it now takes her much longer to come to a stop when braking. She's having to brake really early to stop on time but traffic and animals will not always allow for that. From what I am reading online, this is a common issue due to faulty 12v battery or a loose ground from said battery. The only way to fully engaged the conventional brakes (without the regenerative brakes) is to switch the car into neutral and then brake. This is a major safety issue that Kia should address. Maybe they need to address the battery issue, but they definitely should address the fact that you have to shift into neutral to brake properly when the regenerative brakes arent working right. Seems like a common sense plan to have it default to conventional brakes when the others are having issues or at least provide a way to turn off regenerative brakes.

The vehicle just shut down as I exited. The power and gas pressure decreased. Pulled over to see if my hybrid battery was defective or drained. It wasn’t. A notification popped up and said “Hybrid Control System or Low Voltage DC/DC Converter, Contact dealer for service. Finally got it towed to Kia of Valencia the next day and they said it was “Hydraulic Clutch Actuator” and they want charge me $2200 to fix it. But looking up the part, it says there’s a recall for that exact problem.

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved up. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond. Eventually, the vehicle shifted into gear and started to move. The contact stated that the check HEV and turn off engine error messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that a faulty engine clutch activator needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Everything is falling off the bottom of this vehicle

A FEW MONTH AGO, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED/STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE HANDLE AND COVER WERE REPLACED. TODAY, 10/22/2018, THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE POPPED OFF WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. BOTH TIMES THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED, AND THE PRESSURE APPLIED TO DOOR HANDLE WAS MINIMAL (NORMAL). THE HANDLE BROKE IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE FIRST. WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, WE ASKED IF THE OTHER HANDLE (RIGHT REAR PASSENGER) COULD ALSO BE REPLACED, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY COULD INSPECT IT WHEN REPLACING THE OTHER HANDLE, BUT COULD NOT ORDER PARTS UNTIL IT IS DETERMINED THAT IT IS BROKEN. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, WE FOUND THAT KIA HAD ISSUED TSB #TSBBOD180_R1 NHTSA ID #10151899, AND TSB #TSBBOD186 NHTSA ID #10151901 IN REGARDS TO THE DOOR HANDLES ON 2017/18 NIROS, AND SAID THAT ALL THREE PASSENGER HANDLES WERE TO BE REPLACED (NOT THE DRIVER). WE THEN CALLED BACK THE SERVICE DEPT AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE TBS, AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WASN'T FOR OUR VEHICLE. 2 HANDLES IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WOULD WARRANT THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL HANDLES. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN DONE, IF THIS IS AN KNOWN ISSUE, OR WHY OUR VEHICLE IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE TSB. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS ACCESS CANNOT BE OBTAIN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

hybrid battery warning paid out of pocket for towing, car still at the dealership, loss of income and wages, been treated with awful customer services, and paying out of pocket. Car went in on June 25

Fire warning recall notice issued in July 2023. Follow up with both Kia and with Kia dealership that I purchased the vehicle from still says that there is no fix to this problem. THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) IN THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ACTUATOR (HCA) MAY BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH FLUID. A FLUID-CONTAMINATED PCB MAY LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. With the potential of a fire risk while driving, why is the manufacturer not required to remedy this situation in a more timely manner. It has been over 6 months since the recall was issued yet the manufacturer is allowed to continue producing vehicles but not required to repair those vehicles that may be affected and cause significant risks to the driver at potentially other property. NHTSA should mandate inspection and repairs of recalled vehicles which should take a priority to the manufacturing process. Vehicles with recalls should not be allowed to go without repair especially when accidents are imminent and life-threatening injuries may occur. Additionally, trying to get an appointment with a local Kia dealer where I purchased the car has a wait of well over a month for them to even inspect the car. Between Kia not taking care of their vehicles and their dealers not being able to service vehicles, NHTSA really needs to evaluate this and create remedies for the safety of the vehicle and the driver. Waiting over 6 months for a recall is frustrating, dangerous, and unacceptable. Manufacturers need to take responsibility for recall notices and repairs in a much more timely manner. Safety over profit should be a priority. On a personal note. I purchased my Kia Niro hybrid new in 2018. It is one of the best cars that I have purchased in my '76 years. I have had virtually no problems with the vehicle and was a big proponent of Kia, but their lackadaisical attitude on recall repairs as really put a damper on my respect for their management and

Ever since the purchase of the car I been bringing this attention to the dealership but they always turn down and avoiding the situation at first electrical issues like turning signals goes in and out window stop rolling up sometimes had to try for hours just rolls up fog light check light headlight and turn signal all together went out in the beginning started to work in and out and now window turn signal front both and one fog light now won't come back and front Air Flap won't operate that's from the few months into the car check light and also in the beginning car transmission always felt rough not gears smoothly change I brought this attention but they always ask change the transmission fluid but it's was a new car felt that but never bothered looking into but over time got worst now it hit you when picking up like gear just stuck and your whole body gets that shock like someone hit you from the back every time and when comes to slow stopping making crying sound. It's like I made the biggest mistake why I decided to buy the new car because I know old cars have problems but this is Brand New I bought shouldn't have problems, and from it's was new always heard the click sound when move from complete stop like go from on red light or from any stop position click hear it from front never worried but was not feeling good why but now all of sudden it's unbearable sound when turning or making u turn loud like anything when acceleration but not in straight drive asked dealership about all the problems I been getting since was a brand new car the answered I got it's now not in the warrenty will cost to check wow what a rip off and when I use to say those problems when was in the warrenty they would say it's not the major issue and yes one time one of the tech specialists I mentioned he you know what he said made me sick we would try something but warrenty is BS it's a piece of *** we never get money easily so this is why they always refuse to take this seriously wow

AMBAS LUCES DELANTERAS LES ENTRA AGUA Y HUMEDAD CUANDO LLUEVE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Air Bags) 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.

Driver heated seat shorted out and caused burn to leg. System has not been repaired, will wait to hear from Kia Customer Affairs prior to decision to repair. I was injured by this and have concerns about the safety of the vehicle, will this happen again if a new grid is installed. Kia dealership confirmed that the grid showed high resistivity but also claimed since nothing is melted I couldn't have been burned. The vehicle has only been inspected by the dealership currently. there were and are no indicators, warning lights or messages about the failure available. Kia dealerships claims there no way to tell with the electrical systems.