2017 KIA Niro Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Niro years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 KIA Niro. That is the most of any Niro model year in the database (10 years). The most reported problem area is engine (29 complaints, 35%), typically at around 97,500 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 5 fires, 4 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 82owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 KIA Niro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 29 | 35% | 97,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 23 | 28% | 9,750 | — | — |
| Power Train | 19 | 23% | 91,760 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 15% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 9% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 9% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 5% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2% | 20,750 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 11,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 135,000 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 KIA Niro recalls (4)
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.
Hybrid propulsion system
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid electric vehicles previously recalled under recall 18V-666. The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance, which can overheat the rear seats.
Risk: Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the PRA and replace either the PRA or the Main Relay, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC256. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 18V-666. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
Hybrid propulsion system
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid electric vehicles. The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance.
Risk: The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) for damage. If no damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. If damage is found, the PRA will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began November 23, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC168.
Hybrid propulsion system
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Kia Niro vehicles. The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) inner oil seal may leak, allowing oil to accumulate in the cap area, possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HCA caps for leaked oil and replace the HCA assembly if needed, or replace the HCA cap with additional sealant. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC163.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
September 18th I had to jump the battery from the 12 volt switch at the drivers side dash. Going to the dealership where I had bought it on August 27th I noticed smoke rolling out from behind the car. I exited off the highway 40 and checked the oil it was clean and full. Water level in radiator was…
On XXX, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a friend and I were driving on XXX near [XXX], when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. As I pulled over to the side of the road, a warning light appeared on the dashboard. Once stopped, I saw flames coming from the engine compartment. We…
The vehicle's hydraulic clutch actuator (HCA) has failed and is actively leaking fluid onto the printed circuit board (PCB), creating an immediate electrical short and engine bay fire hazard. This failure is identical to the defect detailed in Safety Recall SC276 (NHTSA Campaign 23V534). As…
My 2017 Kia Niro has developed a serious hybrid system failure that causes the vehicle to shut off unexpectedly while driving. For about a month, the car would only start using the â12V Battery Resetâ button. Now it starts, but after driving a short distance, the vehicle loses power and shuts…
2017 Kia Niro Hybrid subject to Safety Recall SC276 (NHTSA Campaign 23V534) for the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA). Fluid contamination of the HCA PCB can cause an electrical short and engine compartment fire risk. Official remedy is HCA inspection/replacement as necessary plus a new fuse. Three…
Other KIA Niro years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Niro | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 Niro | 17 | 1 |
| 2024 Niro | 10 | 1 |
| 2023 Niro | 44 | 2 |
| 2022 Niro | 31 | 1 |
| 2021 Niro | 9 | 1 |
| 2020 Niro | 39 | 1 |
| 2019 Niro | 56 | 1 |
| 2018 Niro | 60 | 3 |
| 2017 | 82 | 4 |
See all KIA Niro problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 KIA Niro?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 29 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 KIA Niro?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 KIA Niro a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Niro model years, the 2017 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.