2018 KIA Niro Phev Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Niro Phev years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KIA Niro Phev. That ranks 2nd out of 8 Niro Phev model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (6 complaints, 46%), typically at around 2,525 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 13owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 KIA Niro Phev 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 | 46% | 2,525 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 31% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 15% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 15% | 15,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 15% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 8% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 8% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | 7,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 KIA Niro Phev recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:internal:clutches/bands:actuators/solenoids
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.
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.
Year/Make/Model: 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid Mileage at time of incident: approximately 69,000 Component: Hybrid Propulsion System / Powertrain My 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid has experienced five recurring "Hybrid System Failure â Turn Off Engine" errors occurring without warning while the vehicle was being…
I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days…
I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise…
In July 2023, Kia identified a defect that can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving; namely that the printed circuit board in the hydraulic clutch actuator may become contaminated with fluid and lead to an electrical short circuit. To date, there is still no remedy…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer…
Other KIA Niro Phev years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Niro Phev | 2 | 1 |
| 2024 Niro Phev | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 Niro Phev | 6 | 2 |
| 2022 Niro Phev | 12 | 1 |
| 2021 Niro Phev | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 Niro Phev | 5 | 1 |
| 2019 Niro Phev | 26 | 1 |
| 2018 | 13 | 1 |
See all KIA Niro Phev 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 2018 KIA Niro Phev?
Owners most often report power train, engine, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 KIA Niro Phev?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 KIA Niro Phev a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Niro Phev model years, the 2018 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.