IllustrationVEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (PARKED AND UNLOCKED). UPON PULLING THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR (BACKSEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE), THE HANDLE BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE GROUND. I RETRIEVED THE HANDLE AND A (BROKEN) PLASTIC CONNECTING PIECE.
2017 Kia Niro Hybrid
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Other model years Selected year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reportsI HAD THIS CAR 2 MONTHS WHEN I REALIZED I AM NOT GETTING MPG AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING OFF. MPG ON HIGHWAY IS ABOUT 35 MPG AND ABOUT 40 IN STREET. ABOUT TRANSMISSION EVERY TIME I AM ABOUT SLOWING DOWN I HEAR NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH OF CAR AND SOME TIMES I FEEL SHAKE, AND ALSO FEW TIMES VERY HARD KICK. I HAVE BROUGHT T…
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I HAD THIS CAR 2 MONTHS WHEN I REALIZED I AM NOT GETTING MPG AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING OFF. MPG ON HIGHWAY IS ABOUT 35 MPG AND ABOUT 40 IN STREET. ABOUT TRANSMISSION EVERY TIME I AM ABOUT SLOWING DOWN I HEAR NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH OF CAR AND SOME TIMES I FEEL SHAKE, AND ALSO FEW TIMES VERY HARD KICK. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE WITH SERVICE AT CARSON, AND GLENDALE KIA AND BOTH SERVICE REP GAVE ME SAME ANSWER ABOUT THIS CLUTCH IS COMPUTER AND IT IS NORMAL IF JERKS. AND ALSO ONCE I ASKED SERVICE TECH TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HE SAID SAME THING.
NEW KIA NIRO ROLLS BACK ON INCLINES IN DRIVE AFTER REMOVING FOOT OFF OF BREAK AND RIGHT BEFORE PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, ON PAVED, CITY STREETS. NEVER HAD THIS WITH OTHER AUTOMATICS. NEW KIA NIRO JUMPS FORWARD/ACCELERATES SHARPLY WHILE IN DRIVE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY (1-3 MILES PER HOUR) UP AN INCLINE.…
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NEW KIA NIRO ROLLS BACK ON INCLINES IN DRIVE AFTER REMOVING FOOT OFF OF BREAK AND RIGHT BEFORE PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, ON PAVED, CITY STREETS. NEVER HAD THIS WITH OTHER AUTOMATICS. NEW KIA NIRO JUMPS FORWARD/ACCELERATES SHARPLY WHILE IN DRIVE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY (1-3 MILES PER HOUR) UP AN INCLINE. THIS OCCURRES ON PAVED, CITY STREETS.
REVERSING (BACKUP) LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, AND MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF SECTION 571.108 OF THE CFR TITLE 49 CH. 5 (10-1-04 EDITION)
EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES POP OFF, JUST FROM PULLING ON THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOOR.
I ACCELERATED TO 65MPH.I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. 2 SECONDS LATER I SEE THAT I AM ACCELERATING. I PRESS CANCEL AT 72 MPH. I PRESS THE CRUISE BUTTON AGAIN, TURNING OFF THE CRUISE, THEN ON AGAIN. SLOW TO 65, PRESS THE - SET AND IT IMMEDIATELY STARTS SPEEDING UP. SECOND REPORT. 4TH AND 5TH TIME TO HAPPEN. DASHCAM RECORDED EVENTS.
WHEN PRESSING THE RESUME BUTTON THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION WIDE OPEN THROTTLE WELL BEYOND THE SET SPEED OF THE SPEED CONTROL. MOST OF THE TIME THE RESUME DOES NOTHING BUT SET A NEW SPEED, THE CURRENT SPEED.
WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE RIGHT REAR FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE LOOSE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE HARD LINE. I TIGHTENED THE FITTING ADDED APPROXIMATELY 6OZ OF BRAKE FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR AND LEAK CHECKED THE SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS T…
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WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE RIGHT REAR FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE LOOSE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE HARD LINE. I TIGHTENED THE FITTING ADDED APPROXIMATELY 6OZ OF BRAKE FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR AND LEAK CHECKED THE SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS QUALITY ASSURANCE FACTORY ESCAPE WHICH COULD HAVE CREATED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
LEASED THE CAR ON SUNDAY AND DROVE HOME 10+ MILES. ODOMETER HAD 15 MILES ON IT. LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT EARLY WEDNESDAY. (DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL WEDNESDAY, AND ONLY ATTEMPTED ONCE. OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 DAYS.) BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WAS STEERING ONTO THE STREET WH…
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LEASED THE CAR ON SUNDAY AND DROVE HOME 10+ MILES. ODOMETER HAD 15 MILES ON IT. LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT EARLY WEDNESDAY. (DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL WEDNESDAY, AND ONLY ATTEMPTED ONCE. OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 DAYS.) BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WAS STEERING ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND NOISY - VIBRATING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL ITSELF. PULLED BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RETRIED SEVERAL TIMES. WAITED WITH THE CAR IDLING. BATTERY WARNING CAME ON. LET THE CAR SIT AND LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR ANSWERS. TRIED BACKING UP AGAIN AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, AND STEERING WAS AGAIN VERY DIFFICULT. DROVE BACK INTO THE GARAGE. CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND THE FLATBED TRUCK TOOK THE 2017 KIA NIRO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOPING TO HAVE OUR LEASE VOIDED AND WILL SEARCH SAFERCAR.GOV FOR A NEW VEHICLE CHOICE. NO FAITH IN THE KIA BRAND NOW.
Official recalls
117V159000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Mar 10, 2017
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.