2025 Kia Niro

Finally got car back from previous repairs and it was making a loud groaning noise all the time. Took it back to dealership and they said they had to repair the rack and pinion system and the gears were shredded. Employee says they now have another niro with the same problem as my original symptoms when transmission was replaced twice. Car has consistently had problems with the RPMs being incredibly high at low speeds but the dealership can’t seem to replicate the problem. Car randomly switched over to manual mode after a long drive. Video of problems given to employee and just said he’s going to give them to his field technician. Car has now been at the dealer for over 4 months and was finally returned because they can’t reproduce the problem.

NHTSA ID

11752437

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

Re: Driver Safety Downgrade Stemming from Recent Software Update Complicating Tire Pressure Display Accessibility I am writing as the owner of a 2025 Kia Niro HEV to express my concerns regarding a recent software update that altered how tire pressure information is accessed on the instrument cluster. Prior to the update, tire pressures were available through the steering wheel page button, allowing drivers to view this safety-critical information with a single press and a quick glance. After the update, the tire pressure screen was removed from the page sequence and relocated into a deeper Vehicle Information submenu that requires multiple button presses and menu navigation. This change has created a significant safety issue. Tire pressure can only be displayed while the vehicle is in motion, yet the update now requires the driver to divert attention from the road to navigate several screens in order to access it. This is a clear regression from a human factors and safety standpoint. The previous method was intuitive, efficient and aligned with safe driving practices. The new method increases cognitive load and driver distraction at precisely the moment when attention should remain on the road. I respectfully request that Kia reevaluate this change and consider restoring tire pressure visibility to the steering wheel page button or another single-action, high-visibility location. Tire pressure is not a secondary diagnostic item; it is essential real‑time safety information that should remain immediately accessible. I appreciate Kia’s commitment to innovation, but updates that alter established safety workflows should be communicated clearly and designed to not be at odds with a driver's attention to the road. I hope Kia will take this feedback seriously and consider adjustments in future software releases. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ID

11751226

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

I purchased this vehicle new from the dealer last year. The second time I went to them for an oil change the tires were worn out oddly and needed to be replaced. They said the car needed an alignment that I had to pay for. I purchased replacement tires from another shop and had the alignment paid for at another shop. The dealer refused any responsibility. This vehicle has not been in any accidents and miles driven are highway miles

NHTSA ID

11748421

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

Transmission was replaced but then completely shut down as I was making a right turn. Multiple indicators on dash went off and safety errors kept scrolling across dash. Vehicle then wouldn’t shift at all. TCM was replaced but vehicle has high RPMs at low speeds. Has been at the dealership now for over 90 days.

NHTSA ID

11744906

Incident

May 1, 2026

Situation: Slowing on exit lane from freeway while in I-Pedal mode. Anomaly: As i gradually lifted the accelerator pedal, at about 61 mph the car strongly accelerated. My response: I lifted my foot entirely off the accelerator pedal and scanned the dash to confirm that cruise control was not active. Acceleration continued. I tapped the accelerator pedal and the acceleration stopped. We were now at 69 mph and close to the car in front of us.

NHTSA ID

11737568

Incident

May 12, 2026

The contact leased a 2025 Kia Niro. The contact was stopped at a traffic light during the night. When the light changed, the contact was partially turning when the other vehicle slammed into the contact's vehicle. No injuries were reported. The contact stated that the front collision sensor failed. The contact was not warned of the impending collision. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was taken to the collision center. A police report was filed. The contact believed that the sensor failed in the evening and worked as intended during the daytime. The insurance company was notified of the accident. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.

NHTSA ID

11736086

Incident

Jan 9, 2026

Mileage

35,000 mi

On now 4 occasions--intermittently my car will go into drive when shifted into the reverse shift I don't know what component is impacting this. My safety and others safety is at risk by my car literally going forward when it's supposed to be in reverse. I've taken my car to the dealership two times and they have not been able to recreate it or fix anything. I've reached out to KIA corporate for a resolution but have not gotten follow up: Case#XXX (case where I was supposed to get a response from a case manger) and XXX (original case). To my knowledge I don't know if it's been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others No warning lamps or signs. It happens intermittently and seemingly no rhyme or reason when it happens. This happened back in November 2025 and most recently this April.

NHTSA ID

11731798

Incident

Nov 18, 2025

I believe the issue is related to something connected to the AC system or a component underneath the hood. The exact part that malfunctioned has not been confirmed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because some kind of leak or fumes were being sent into the car through the AC vents, causing myself and others in the vehicle to feel sick. I have taken the car to 3 Kia Dealerships. All of which have been extremely dishonest (have tons of proof) and say they cannot verify problem. I took it to an outside independent shop and they verified it instantly and wrote a very detailed invoice about the problem. They couldnt pin point where it was coming from though. The vehicle has only been inspected by the 3 Kia Dealerships and the independant shop Brake Busters I purchased the car in November of 2025 and had no problems until February 22nd 2026. No warnihg lights or messages came on prior. The symtoms that started were Nausea, Headaches, light headedness, vision blurry, and almost caused me to pass out at wheel several times.

NHTSA ID

11725424

Incident

Feb 22, 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for supported vehicles (2021-2026MY All Models).

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN5.0W DTC P17A000 DAIGNOSTIC PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information regarding a potential illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) accompanied by DTC P17A000 on some 2022-2025MY Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) equipped with AVN5.0Wide head units listed below. This condition occurs when the Global Positioning System (GPS) module within the Audio Video Navigation (AVN) head unit, sends an inaccurate signal to the Hybrid Power Control Unit (HPCU), causing the DTC to set. There are no drivability symptoms associated with this condition.

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: INCORRECT AMOUNT OF AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANT (SC358) - This bulletin provides information regarding an incorrect amount of air conditioning refrigerant in certain 2025MY Niro EV, HEV, and PHEV (SG2 P/HEV, SG2 EV) vehicles manufactured between September 2, 2024 and May 19, 2025. During assembly, the affected vehicles may have been produced with the incorrect amount of refrigerant during the in-line manufacturing process. As a result, the HVAC system may provide insufficient cooling in the cabin when vehicle owners are operating the vehicle.

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC358) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Voluntary Service Campaign on certain 2025 MY Niro, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, and Niro EV vehicles, manufactured from September 2, 2024 through May 19, 2025, to inspect and, if necessary, recover and charge the air conditioner refrigerant.

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC358) - This document is the Question and Answer guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Voluntary Service Campaign SC358.

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO () - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain 2025 MY Niro, Niro Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Niro EV vehicles manufactured from September 2, 2024 through May 19, 2025 to inspect and, if necessary, recover and charge the air conditioner refrigerant.