Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 18 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reports
39,000 miles · Jun 28, 2021
EngineHybrid Propulsion System
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, an abnormal sound was heard, and the vehicle lost forwards momentum. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. As the contact exited the vehicle, an abnormal odor appeared under the hood. There…
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, an abnormal sound was heard, and the vehicle lost forwards momentum. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. As the contact exited the vehicle, an abnormal odor appeared under the hood. There were no flames present. The contact stated that oil was seen leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was unable to drive. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V257000 (Hybrid Propulsion System) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
NHTSA ODI #11422579
57,000 miles · Dec 15, 2020
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER RK KIA OF VINELAND LOCATED AT 612 N. DELSEA DR BUILDI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER RK KIA OF VINELAND LOCATED AT 612 N. DELSEA DR BUILDING 1, VINELAND, NJ 08360 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11383538
44,427 miles · Jul 2, 2019
Unknown Or Other
MY 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID SEEMS TO NOT BE STORING CODES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE PROBLEMS WITH BY NIRO IN 3 WEEKS WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH THE HEV HYBRID FUSE AND WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO POWER AND YET BY THE TIME IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP IT RESET ITSELF BUT DIDN'T STORE ANY CODE…
Read full complaint
MY 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID SEEMS TO NOT BE STORING CODES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE PROBLEMS WITH BY NIRO IN 3 WEEKS WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH THE HEV HYBRID FUSE AND WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO POWER AND YET BY THE TIME IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP IT RESET ITSELF BUT DIDN'T STORE ANY CODES FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.. THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEMS AND HAD NO WERE TO START FROM. I'M NOW DRIVING IT AND JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO GO WRONG WITH IT
NHTSA ODI #11229081
44,427 miles · Jun 27, 2019
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 KIA NIRO ON REGULAR ROADS, IT HAD A DRAMATIC DOWN SHIFT IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. CONTINUED FOUR MORE STOPS WHEN APPROACHING A HILL, THE SPORT MODE DID NOT WORK AND BARELY MADE IT UP HILL, NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER LIGHTS. SHOP COULDN'T RECREATE PROBLEM. THE RECALIBRATED THE TRANSMISSION. DROVE FINE 1 DAY. …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 KIA NIRO ON REGULAR ROADS, IT HAD A DRAMATIC DOWN SHIFT IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. CONTINUED FOUR MORE STOPS WHEN APPROACHING A HILL, THE SPORT MODE DID NOT WORK AND BARELY MADE IT UP HILL, NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER LIGHTS. SHOP COULDN'T RECREATE PROBLEM. THE RECALIBRATED THE TRANSMISSION. DROVE FINE 1 DAY. 3/4 OF MY WAY ON 200 MILE TRIP ON HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL THE HEV LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE AND BLINKING GREEN CAR CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED THE HYBRID SYSTEM FUSE. 5 DAYS LATER ON 74 MILE TRIPP'S HIGHWAY ENGINE, (!) AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, LOST POWER AND BARELY MADE IT UP A HILL. OH AND THE HOOD POPPED OPEN, HELD BY LATCH WHILE DOING 65 ON HIGHWAY . NOW IT SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP
NHTSA ODI #11223054
1 miles · May 18, 2019
Engine
THE CAR MISFIRES DUE TO THE EGR VALVE AND THE ENGINEER'S OF THE CAR CAN'T COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THE MISFIRE PROBLEM THE CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IS UNSAFE
NHTSA ODI #11208393
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2019
Unknown Or OtherFire
MY 2017 KIA NIRO CAUGHT ON FIRE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. NO COLLUSION WAS INVOLVED. I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE TO STOP THE ENGINE DUE TO A PROBLEM BEING DETECTED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I PULLED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. I TH…
Read full complaint
MY 2017 KIA NIRO CAUGHT ON FIRE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. NO COLLUSION WAS INVOLVED. I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE TO STOP THE ENGINE DUE TO A PROBLEM BEING DETECTED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I PULLED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING HAD JUST HAPPENED TO THE ENGINE. I STAYED IN THE CAR AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AS I DID NOT WANT TO STAND ON THE SHOULDER OF THIS BUSY HIGHWAY. A MAN THEN JUMPS OUT OF HIS TRUCK AND STARTS RUNNING TOWARD ME YELLING AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT, WE RAN DOWN THE SHOULDER AND WE STOOD WATCHING MY CAR BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2018.
NHTSA ODI #11191530
21,000 miles · Oct 15, 2018
SeatsInjury
THE STEMS THAT THE HEADREST SETS ON ARE SHARP. MY DAUGHTER CUT HER FINGER WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST THE HEADREST. IT WAS MINOR, BUT STILL UNEXPECTED.
NHTSA ODI #11140413
22,500 miles · Oct 8, 2018
StructureUnknown Or Other
ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE COMING BACK FROM AUSTIN AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS I HEARD A SOUND OF SOMETHING RATTLING ABOVE MY HEAD. MY PASSENGER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF AREA. HE CRACKED OPEN THE SUNROOF ACCESS DOOR AND HE SAID HE COULD S…
Read full complaint
ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE COMING BACK FROM AUSTIN AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS I HEARD A SOUND OF SOMETHING RATTLING ABOVE MY HEAD. MY PASSENGER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF AREA. HE CRACKED OPEN THE SUNROOF ACCESS DOOR AND HE SAID HE COULD SEE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND HE CLOSED IT IMMEDIATELY. WE STOPPED AS SOON AS WE COULD AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE SHATTERED SUNROOF. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS AROUND US. AND WE DID NOT GO UNDER ANY BRIDGES OR OVERPASSES.
NHTSA ODI #11139119
4 miles · Oct 8, 2018
Power Train
THE ACCELERATION RAPIDLY FLUCTUATES AND IT FEELS LIKE IT IS VIBRATING.
NHTSA ODI #11139106
4 miles · Oct 8, 2018
Service Brakes
DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING THE CAR SKIDS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE CAR GOING INTO A SIDEWAYS SKID. I ENCOUNTERED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IN SLIGHTLY WET/SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN PANIC BRAKING FROM ~35 MPH.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Niro vehicles. The affected vehicles may have a damaged Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) connector resulting in a loss of electric power steering assistance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the MDPS motor, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC145.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2017 Kia Niro Hybrid Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year