Niro (2nd)
Data covers 3 NHTSA model names
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
GDI Kappa PE
1.6LView details
Complaint Breakdown
Kia Niro Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Hybrid (HEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2023-2025 Kia Niro
That's near the typical rate for hybrids in this dataset (median 7.0 per year). Within the normal range for the category.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 17 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Regen brake feel, one-pedal driving, B-mode complaints.
Sample complaint excerpts
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2023] When stopping for a traffic sign or light, the car announces that it is shifting into park and does so. The car then will not shift into drive or reverse and is essentially disabled. Turning off the car completely and turning it back on will not return it to "Ready to Drive" mode. Jump starting the car, provided it is jump started twice, will clear the problem and move the car to "Ready to Driv
- [2023] After sitting 2 weeks at airport parking. 12 volt Battery dead . Unsafe to repeatedly have to take out emergency key and pull handle cover off and get in car hit 12v button to start. The dealer we took it to refuses to replace the 12 volt integrated battery. It has happened multiple times. They checked battery and said it was okay. Repeated having to push 12 volt button unacceptable and unsafe.
- [2023] My 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid EX has experienced multiple warning messages and unresolved concerns after previous repairs. After the first recall repair, I began receiving intermittent warning messages while driving. The messages appeared briefly and disappeared before I could safely document them. After a second repair, the transmission was replaced. Shortly afterward, the vehicle displayed an overheat
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2023] My 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid has a recurring intermittent electrical defect. Warnings appear together: Check Hybrid System, Check Engine, Forward Collision, Rear Cross-Traffic, Lane Keeping, Driver Attention, ESC, Brake, Auto Hold. They appear and persist while driving, during which stability control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, and related safety assists are disabled. Once, the vehicle
- [2023] My 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid EX has experienced multiple warning messages and unresolved concerns after previous repairs. After the first recall repair, I began receiving intermittent warning messages while driving. The messages appeared briefly and disappeared before I could safely document them. After a second repair, the transmission was replaced. Shortly afterward, the vehicle displayed an overheat
- [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.
High-Voltage Battery
- [2023] When stopping for a traffic sign or light, the car announces that it is shifting into park and does so. The car then will not shift into drive or reverse and is essentially disabled. Turning off the car completely and turning it back on will not return it to "Ready to Drive" mode. Jump starting the car, provided it is jump started twice, will clear the problem and move the car to "Ready to Driv
- [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
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
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] The vehicle is usually charged on a level 2 system set to 40 amps or 9 KW/hr. In October of 2023, I received the following message from the Kia connect application, "Charge Interrupted". The car disconnected electrically from the wall unit/charger because the connector unit in the car where the cable plugs into or internal charging unit was getting hot. This "charging interrupted" is a known issu
- [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.
Regenerative Braking
- [2023] When slowing with regenerative braking, there is a ticking sound and shaking until the car stops.
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: Kia Niro EV 64.8 kWh (second generation)
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.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Niro, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2023-2025 Kia Niro
On a used 2023-2025 Kia Niro, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the electrical system (33), the airbags and driver-assist systems (22) and the transmission and drivetrain (13). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 33 owner complaints on the 2023-2025 Kia Niro about the electrical system.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 22 owner complaints on the 2023-2025 Kia Niro about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 13 owner complaints on the 2023-2025 Kia Niro about the transmission and drivetrain.
- On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 8 owner complaints on the 2023-2025 Kia Niro about the brakes.
- Measure the tread on all four tires, read the date codes and look at each wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 6 owner complaints on the 2023-2025 Kia Niro about the wheels and tires.
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 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 2023-2024 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 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."
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
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Alternatives in Compact SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2023-2025 Kia Niro complaints?
Owners have filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023-2025 Kia Niro. The systems they name most often are the electrical system, the safety systems and the transmission.
Is the 2023-2025 Kia Niro a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023-2025 Kia Niro. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2023-2025 Kia Niro have?
NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on file for the 2023-2025 Kia Niro as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2023-2025 Kia Niro?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls covering some 2023-2025 Kia Niro vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Kia Niro?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the electrical system, the safety systems and the transmission, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and 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. 104 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.