2020 KIA Niro EV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Niro EV years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 KIA Niro EV. That ranks 2nd out of 7 Niro EV model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is unknown or other (8 complaints, 42%), typically at around 89 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 19owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2020 KIA Niro EV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 42% | 89 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 32% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 16% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 16% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 5% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 5% | 44,910 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2020 KIA Niro EV recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Niro EV vehicles. The circuit board for the rearview camera may become damaged and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC342.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery:thermal management:fluid/coolant
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Niro EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally.
Risk: Coolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the EPCU as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC258.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the coolant system warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle following a charging session, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle while the coolant system…
I am submitting a complaint regarding a safety issue with the rearview camera on my 2020 Kia Niro EV. VIN # [XXX] The rearview camera display has stopped functioning properly. Based on technical research and driver community reports, this issue appears to stem from an electrical surge that causes…
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro EV. The contact stated that the rearview camera intermittently failed to display an image when the vehicle was shifted into reverse. The contact stated that reverse engaged normally, and the audible alert was sounded; however, the display screen periodically…
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro EV. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under an undisclosed recall on two separate occasions; however, the part failed a third time after the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer declined to offer additional repairs under the recall. The contact…
I had just left my doctor after a protracted visit and was almost late for dinner guests. I noticed a thumping and thought it was the road, but it was a 3/8" bolt in my tire tread.I pulled up at Costco, hoping they could repair it quickly but was told I had to wait 2.5 hours when I had guests…
Other KIA Niro EV years
← 2019 Niro EV · 2021 Niro EV →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Niro EV | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 Niro EV | 6 | 2 |
| 2023 Niro EV | 15 | 3 |
| 2022 Niro EV | 31 | 2 |
| 2021 Niro EV | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 | 19 | 2 |
| 2019 Niro EV | 19 | 0 |
See all KIA Niro EV problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 KIA Niro EV?
Owners most often report unknown or other, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, unknown or other, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2020 KIA Niro EV?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2020 KIA Niro EV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Niro EV model years, the 2020 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.