Niro (2nd)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Engine Reliability Ratings
Kia Niro Unidentified Engine
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Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
GDI Kappa PE
1.6LView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Hybrid (HEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2023-2025 Kia Niro
That's below the typical rate for hybrids in this dataset (median 7.5 per year). Battery & propulsion complaints are lower than peer average for this category.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 12 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Battery & propulsion recalls (1)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Niro EV and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up.
Consequence: A loss of drive power or differential lock up can increase the risk of a crash.
Sample complaint excerpts
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2023] On multiple occasions, the car has flashed an error on the dash stating there was a problem with the hybrid system. It immediately slows down without time to merge over causing extreme danger on a busy highway several cars swerved to miss the Kia because there was nothing I can do. this has happened several times and Kia is well aware as I’ve had multiple communications with them.
- [2023] I was 3 1/2 weeks into a four year lease driving this brand new car and it stopped completely in the middle of the road flashing a HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE warning. I nearly died. It would not move nor turn off. Had to be in the shop for 2 weeks. I don’t feel safe in this car and I want out of this lease asap. Kia is not willing to work with me on this
- [2023] Forward Collision System: When stopped or at low speeds, the vehicle’s forward collision warning will activate for short intervals (roughly 1-2 seconds) randomly. Hybrid Battery: The vehicle won’t go below 50% battery on the hybrid battery and the engine unnecessarily turns on to charge back to 90% when hitting 50% rather the exercising a wider range on the battery such as 20-80%
Electric Propulsion
- [2023] Last year, I purchased a new 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid and had a 24-month lease contract on it. After 9 months (5,700 miles), my car started having problems (Forward Collision Warning, random loss of power steering). My car had to be towed twice to a KIA dealership, where I was told nothing was wrong with my car. They finally agreed to run a scan on the electric syste, where they found a few communic
- [2024] The 12-volt battery system in my 2024 Kia Niro (VIN: [XXX] ) has suffered two total failures in under one year of ownership (approx. 10,000 miles). In both instances, the vehicle was completely unresponsive, with no power to essential systems. Safety Risks and Incidents: 1. [XXX]: Vehicle experienced a total power loss. It would not start and all electrical systems were dead. 2. [XXX]: Identical f
- [2023] The vehicle is a rental vehicle. It experienced two incidents of sudden loss of propulsion within the first two days of operation. During both events, the vehicle became completely unresponsive to accelerator pedal input and would not move despite being placed in Drive. I attempted to shift the vehicle into Park and then back into Drive, but propulsion was not restored. No warning lights, malfunc
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2024] The 12-volt battery system in my 2024 Kia Niro (VIN: [XXX] ) has suffered two total failures in under one year of ownership (approx. 10,000 miles). In both instances, the vehicle was completely unresponsive, with no power to essential systems. Safety Risks and Incidents: 1. [XXX]: Vehicle experienced a total power loss. It would not start and all electrical systems were dead. 2. [XXX]: Identical f
- [2024] I picked up this car on 12/30/2023. On 1/10/2024, I noticed that the power folding side mirrors were folding slower than normal. On 1/13/2024, I went into the Kia Access app and was greeted by an error message stating that remote commands could not be sent as the battery was under 40%, however the app showed the battery at 80%. On 1/14/2024, I discovered the app was referencing the 12-volt battery
High-Voltage Battery
- [2023] The contact owns a 2023 Kia Niro. The contact stated when parking the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated and jumped the curb. The contact stated that the vehicle was headed in the direction of the building. The contact noticed that a consumer was exiting the entrance of the building. The conta
- [2024] I picked up this car on 12/30/2023. On 1/10/2024, I noticed that the power folding side mirrors were folding slower than normal. On 1/13/2024, I went into the Kia Access app and was greeted by an error message stating that remote commands could not be sent as the battery was under 40%, however the app showed the battery at 80%. On 1/14/2024, I discovered the app was referencing the 12-volt battery
Charging System
- [2023] The contact leased a 2023 Kia Niro EV. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to charge as designed. The message "Charge Interrupted" was displayed on the mobile app that monitored the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or re
- [2023] Charge Interruptions session. The Kia Niro EV interrupt charging on a Level 2 50amp ChargePoint Home Flex charge. I contact the Charger company ChargePoint and reduce the power to 40 amps. The car charging improve slightly but continue interruption. The on board CSS J1772 port of the car overheat and stop charging. Same issue that the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kia EV6, and Genesis EV.
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Battery: Hyundai Kona Electric / Kia Niro EV (64 kWh, pre-eGMP)
Pack overview
Known issues
How this pack ages (industry context)
Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).
OEM warranty floor on this pack: 10 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.
Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.
Vehicle-Level Issues
These issues affect the Kia Niro regardless of engine variant.
Recalls (4)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Niro EV and 2023 EV6 vehicles. One of the drive shafts may have been improperly heat-treated, allowing it to break under load and resulting in a loss of drive power.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Niro EV and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
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Alternatives in Compact SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2023-2025 Kia Niro problems?
The 2023-2025 Kia Niro has accumulated 81 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Safety Systems, Transmission. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Kia Niro engine is most reliable?
The 2023-2025 Kia Niro was offered with 2 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 1.6L ?-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2023-2025 Kia Niro a good used car?
The 2023-2025 Kia Niro can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 81 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2023-2025 Kia Niro have?
The 2023-2025 Kia Niro has 81 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2023-2025 Kia Niro?
There are 4 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2023-2025 Kia Niro vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Kia Niro?
Before buying a used Kia Niro, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Electrical System, Safety Systems, Transmission, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Niro?
The 2025 Kia Niro received an overall 4-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (11.8% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard & Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 81 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: moderate. Last updated: 2026-05-23.