SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE07/09/2026
This submission is supplemental information for my prior NHTSA complaint (Complaint #XXX). After filing the original report, I learned additional details from the Kia dealership that serviced my vehicle. The service department stated that they have seen the same electronic parking brake controller and actuator failure on multiple Kia Niro vehicles from model years 2018–2021. They reported that these failures were not covered under warranty for those years, even when the symptoms began during the warranty period. The dealer also explained that Kia made design improvements to the electronic parking brake system in later model years and expanded warranty coverage for the updated EPB assembly and control components. This suggests that Kia was aware of recurring issues with the earlier design, despite no formal recall or service campaign being issued for the affected 2018–2021 vehicles. I am submitting this supplemental information because it indicates a potential pattern of safety‑related failures involving the electronic parking brake system across multiple vehicles and model years. These failures affect the vehicle’s ability to hold position when parked and may interact with braking and stability control systems.”
POWER TRAIN06/28/2026
What's malfunctioning: coolant monitoring system shows low coolant warning when coolant level is observably fine. Problem has been ongoing for over a year. Available for inspection: yes. Safety problem: coolant monitoring is inaccurate, causing alarm when coolant levels are fine and possibly causing no alarm when coolant levels are too low. Problem reproduced: yes, by both dealer and independent service center. Vehicle inspected by manufacturer: yes. They attempted service but their repair only lasted a few months. Symptoms prior to failure: no. The problem is that the warning lights are turning on when they should not be. This matches the symptoms of Kia Technical Service Bulletin SA512, but the manufacturer's fix did not work.
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE06/16/2026
The electronic parking brake controller failed after intermittent warnings that began while the vehicle was still under warranty. The parking brake actuator also failed and had to be replaced. The electronic parking brake system is part of the vehicle’s safety system, and the failure caused the parking brake to malfunction unpredictably. The issue did not store persistent diagnostic codes, making it difficult to diagnose earlier. This is a safety concern because it affects the vehicle’s ability to hold position when parked and can interfere with braking and stability control. Because I am not the original owner, Kia refused to perform this as a warranty repair even though the intermittent failures began while the vehicle was under warranty.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER06/02/2026
The AC compressor failed due to an isolation resistance failure at the high voltage inverter. Freon leaked from the AC system into the battery chiller coolant loop, causing crystallization and blockages in the inverter coolant circuit. This is a battery thermal management system failure. The failure was confirmed and diagnosed by an authorized Kia dealer. Warning lights appeared on the dashboard including an inverter coolant warning. The vehicle was driven in ambient temperatures exceeding 108 degrees Fahrenheit in Arizona with no cabin cooling and a compromised battery thermal management system, creating a safety risk to the driver. The dealer quoted repair including AC compressor replacement, battery chiller replacement, and inverter coolant flush. Kia Consumer Affairs denied warranty coverage under the federal emissions warranty despite the vehicle being within the 8 year/80,000 mile coverage window at approximately 58,309 miles. No written explanation for the denial was provided. This failure appears to be a known pattern on this platform based on owner reports. The battery chiller and inverter coolant system are integral to battery thermal management and should be covered under the federal emissions warranty. The vehicle is currently unsafe to operate in extreme Arizona heat without functioning thermal management.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM04/30/2026
10.25" audio head unit. UVO no longer connects so that 911 and roadside assistance can not be reached. This is a known problem with 2019 and early 2020 Kia Niro's part# 96160-Q4210. I spoke to the Kia UVO Call Center and they confirmed that my unit is not communicating and has not since Dec. 2021. As I usually drive just around town I have not used UVO, but now that I'm on the road I need to be able to use this feature. I'm attaching a quote for a replacement unit
ENGINE04/24/2026
I had my oil changed in Dec. 2025. I drove 1000+ miles w/no issue. Engine suddenly seized w/no engine light warning. Oil dumped all at once. Kia refuses to cover under warranty. THIS HAPPENED TO MY CAR: NTSA announced it had launched an investigation into Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motor Company for problems with their oil pans and oil drain plugs... consumers have filed complaints their engine’s oil drain plug falls out, causing all the oil to drain out of their engine while driving. In multiple tests the oil drain plug was tightened according to factory torque specifications and the tightening was well documented. Yet, testing shows in multiple cases that while driving, the oil drain plug falls within a few thousand miles after the service. In those cases, the crankcase drained completely. The Hyundai and Kia drain plug falls out due to inferior oil pan material and the drain plug gasket. The testing and investigations appear to show that the oil drain plans are made with THIN METAL AND THE DRAIN PLUG MOUNTING IS POORLY REINFORCED. In addition, the oil pan is coated with a thick paint coating the bonds the gasket to the pan, so the gasket does not come off when the drain plug is removed. That gasket issue alone is not why the oil drain plug falls out, but it is a factor in the chain of events. The oil pan is the biggest problem Apparently, the thin metal, along with engine vibrations and expansion/contraction tend to loosen the drain plug without any other intervention. NHTSA is investigating this as a factory defect ... The problem is two-fold. First, even if the repair shop properly torques the drain plug, the oil drain plug falls out on its own. The customer then blames the shop for shoddy workmanship. Second, Hyundai and Kia dealers are telling customers that servicing their vehicle at an aftermarket shop automatically voids their factory warranty. This is totally false & actually illegal under the terms of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM03/26/2026
I own a 2020 Kia Niro PHEV. In October 2024, my dealership performed Technical Service Bulletin SA512 on my vehicle addressing the inverter coolant system. I was not informed at that time that the issue was likely to recur or that periodic maintenance would be required. In March 2026, the inverter coolant warning light returned. I brought the vehicle back to the dealership, where I was told the coolant had crystallized. The dealer confirmed this is a known recurring issue with this vehicle and stated it would need to be flushed approximately every two years since we drive relatively low miles per year (despite driving every day). I was not warned of this at any point. Furthermore, many owners likely drive it short distances every day since it is a plug-in electric vehicle. Kia denied goodwill coverage and I paid out of pocket for the repair. When I contacted Kia Customer Care, representatives gave conflicting information. One confirmed SA512 was performed as a service campaign, another stated it was only a TSB and declined coverage since my car is out of warranty (even though the warranty should still cover the battery and this is an electrical issue). A total case specialist I was assigned to said she would talk to the dealer and call me back but never did. The inverter cooling system is safety-relevant as it prevents the battery from overheating. The problem was confirmed and repaired by the dealership. The component is no longer available for inspection as the repair has been completed. Kia's issuance of SA512 suggests this is a known design issue affecting multiple owners of this model, and they informed the dealership that they could not cover the cost because if they did so, they would have to cover everyone with the same problem (again implying that the issue is quite widespread.)
ENGINE03/23/2026
Engine Seized at 79,000 miles on Kia Niro Hybrid on 3/8/2025. Oil was changed at 78,225 miles on 12/16/2025. No issues with vehicle until approx. 1,000 miles later and just a month and a half later when car suddenly lost power on a highway forcing me to try to safely and quickly navigate off the road. This could have caused risk to my life and other lives. The car could not be restarted. Kia said the drain plug was not screwed on and is refusing to honor warranty despite no issues with the oil change. Notably, in October 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it had launched an investigation into Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motor Company for problems with their oil pans and oil drain plugs. Specifically, consumers and aftermarket service facilities have filed complaints their engine’s oil drain plug falls out, causing all the oil to drain out of their engine while driving. In multiple tests the oil drain plug was tightened according to factory torque specifications and the tightening was well documented. Yet, testing shows in multiple cases that while driving, the oil drain plug falls within a few thousand miles after the service. In those cases, the crankcase drained completely. [XXX] This issue should be investigated for potential recall to keep drivers, passengers safe on our highways. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER02/26/2026
One night the tailgate latch began clicking, locking and unlocking itself and then not latching closed, causing the inside light to remain on and the tailgate open indicator to display on the display panel. Then it just went dead and would not open at all, even if using the specific tailgate open key on the key fob. Then a few weeks later while driving on an empty street very slowly as I was turning a corner, with no warning the back windshield suddenly made a loud noise and then spontaneously shattered. I got out and looked around and there was no one else around or any other cars driving by. I did not hear any impact and also had my driver window down and did not hear any shots, and was not able to recover anything from the inside the back of the vehicle or on the ground that could have hit it. Kia will not cover the cost of the back windshield even though I still have 5 years left on the manufacturer warranty, and purchased the dealership warranty. There is a class-action lawsuit against Kia that is for the Telluride model windshields but according to Google my affect some Niros (Sanchez Vs Kia).
SERVICE BRAKES02/19/2026
When I’m braking at slow speeds, 10mph or less the front left tire braking system locks and makes the car skid. This happens randomly. There’s also a clicking sound made from the regen braking to switching to regular braking. The mechanic replaced the hca assembly and wiring kit from a recall but the car is still having the same issues. This also brings up the codes EBS and AUTO HOLD on my dash.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12/24/2025
There were no symptoms prior to the warning message and warning symbol on the dash. Warning message was "Check EV System". I took my car to the dealer immediately. The dealer has had my car for 3 1/2 months, since Sept 12, 2025. Now the field tech from Kia, on 12/22/25, says that the Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) needs to be replaced. This could have cause the vehicle to stop in the middle of traffic and cause an accident.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE11/04/2025
AS AT 11/07/2023 KIA AMERICA KNEW OF HCV/HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ACTUATOR -HEV/HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAUSED TRANMSISSION PROBLEM IN KIA NIRO HYBRID 2020 AND KIA AMERICA REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. RECALL COMPLETED 5/27/2025 AFTER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED.
Showing 12 of 36 complaints.
