KIA Niro Problems by Year
NHTSA has 350 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the KIA Niro, across 10 model years (2017–2026). The 2017 model year has the most complaints (82). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
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KIA Niro years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Niro year: 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2017 Niro: 82 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2018 Niro: 60 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2019 Niro: 56 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Niro: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2021 Niro: 9 complaints, 1 recall
- 2024 Niro: 10 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA Niro problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 92 | 10 | 4 |
| Power Train | 84 | 9 | 3 |
| Engine | 81 | 9 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 34 | 6 | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 30 | 6 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 19 | 9 | 12 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 19 | 6 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 8 | 4 |
| Structure | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Suspension | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All KIA Niro model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Niro | 2 | 0 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2025 Niro | 17 | 1 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Niro | 10 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Niro | 44 | 2 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | More complaints than other years |
| 2022 Niro | 31 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Niro | 9 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2020 Niro | 39 | 1 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 Niro | 56 | 1 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2018 Niro | 60 | 3 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 Niro | 82 | 4 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA Niro years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2017 (82) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Niro year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Niro?
Electrical System, with 92 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA Niro have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.