2018 Kia Niro

I'm 59 years old never have an accident or had to slam breaks on the guy in front of me slammed his breaks on so I did the same time the brake pedal was to the floor the car didn't even slowed down and not even skid marks hit him then air bags deployed the car was totaled no one got hurt thank God I do t know if any other kia cars had this problem I got real lucky

An alert to "check regenerative brakes" popped up on the dashboard screen. My younger sister who is borrowing our car, told me it now takes her much longer to come to a stop when braking. She's having to brake really early to stop on time but traffic and animals will not always allow for that. From what I am reading online, this is a common issue due to faulty 12v battery or a loose ground from said battery. The only way to fully engaged the conventional brakes (without the regenerative brakes) is to switch the car into neutral and then brake. This is a major safety issue that Kia should address. Maybe they need to address the battery issue, but they definitely should address the fact that you have to shift into neutral to brake properly when the regenerative brakes arent working right. Seems like a common sense plan to have it default to conventional brakes when the others are having issues or at least provide a way to turn off regenerative brakes.

On 2/15/2022 around 10:00AM, I was driving my vehicle as normal. Noticed brake lights ahead, I was about 3 car lengths back, which I always try to drive since I am on the road a lot and I prefer not to have an accident. Well this time, I put my foot on the brake as normal and the vehicle felt like brakes were not even working, pushed harder with my foot and waited for that pumping feeling (which I have felt before) and literally nothing! Once I was about a car lengths away, I knew my vehicle was not stopping so I sat up straight and leaned back before the air bags deployed in my face. I have since come home and found several complaints from other 2018 Kia Niro owners that have made a complaint about this on other forums and with the NHTSA and Carcomplaints.com - This issue has been ignored by Kia about braking system.

I AM WRITING TO YOUR COMPANY IN REGARDS TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH AROUND 4PM EST. THIS ACCIDENT INVOLVED MY FAMILY AND I DRIVING THE NEW KIA NIRO HYBRID EX W/ TECH PKG WE PURCHASED FROM SANSONE DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2017. MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 22 HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING EASTWARDS AT THE SPEEDS OF AROUND 35-36 MPH AS THERE WAS A TRAFFIC FLOW AND ALSO A TRAFFIC STOP OF CARS. OUR VEHICLE (KIA NIRO) WAS ABOUT 2-3 CAR DISTANCE BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND AS WE WERE TRYING TO COME TO A STOP AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING EVEN WITH THE EQUIPPED AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM ON, IT DID NOT FUNCTION AS I STOMPED HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SAW THE BRAKE INDICATION ON THE DASH BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. WE HAD TO BRACE FOR IMPACT AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF US WHICH ALSO SLIGHTLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM TOTAL OF 3 VEHICLES INVOLVED INCLUDING MINE. IN MY CAR I WAS THE DRIVER, MY SPOUSE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT IN HER CAR SEAT. THE IMPACT CAUSED MAJOR FRONTAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. MY WIFE SUSTAINED NECK INJURY WHICH WE HAD CHECKED OUT AT AN URGENT CARE CENTER THE NEXT DAY. I SUSTAINED SOME BRUISES ON THE LEG AND MY DAUGHTER WAS OK, BUT IN SHOCK. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED CAR, POLICE REPORT. THE FACT THAT WE PURCHASE A VEHICLE WITH UPGRADES TO SAFETY FEATURES THAT DID NOT WORK FOR KEEPING MY FAMILY AND I SAFE IS UNACCEPTABLE. VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND INSURANCE HAS STORED IT IN THE FOLLOWING FACILITY: IAA, 700 FEDERAL BLVD. CARTERET, NJ 07008-1008. TEL: 732-634-5601. STOCK# 22133296. THIS INFO WAS GIVEN VIA VOICEMAIL TO RYAN AT KIA CONSUMERS WITH CASE# 12671522.