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2019 Kia Niro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Kia Niro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 34.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 19 of 56 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2026
Electrical SystemService Brakes

2019 Kia Niro. While driving normally on the street, the driver attempted to brake & the brakes would not respond. This is a very scary situation and Kia needs to handle immediately!! The message "Stop the Vehicle and Check Regenerative Brakes" was displayed. Thankfully the driver was able to come to a stop without crashing but …

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2019 Kia Niro. While driving normally on the street, the driver attempted to brake & the brakes would not respond. This is a very scary situation and Kia needs to handle immediately!! The message "Stop the Vehicle and Check Regenerative Brakes" was displayed. Thankfully the driver was able to come to a stop without crashing but if this was during heavy traffic time it definitely would've resulted in a crash. Could be even that much worse on the freeway, especially in Los Angeles. The vehicle was towed to the drivers home. After checking again, the vehicle was in limp mode & would not go over 15mph. The driver was able to get it to a Kia shop to be checked & they quoted a $9,000 repair!! This is horrible that Kia is allowing this issue to go on!!!

NHTSA ODI #11762422

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2026
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

While traveling from upstate New York, the vehicle displayed an engine overheating warning shortly after startup while the engine was still cold. Because I was away from home, I stayed overnight and the next morning took the vehicle to a Kia dealership for inspection. The dealership inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a problem…

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While traveling from upstate New York, the vehicle displayed an engine overheating warning shortly after startup while the engine was still cold. Because I was away from home, I stayed overnight and the next morning took the vehicle to a Kia dealership for inspection. The dealership inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a problem with the exhaust heat recovery system pipe. According to the service department, coolant is leaking internally through this component and is being burned in the exhaust system. The cooling system was pressure tested and held pressure externally, indicating the coolant loss is occurring internally through the exhaust heat recovery system rather than from an external leak. This condition can cause coolant loss and overheating while driving. If the engine overheats while the vehicle is in operation, it could create a safety risk due to sudden loss of power or engine damage. The dealership confirmed the diagnosis after inspection and testing and provided a repair estimate to replace the affected exhaust heat recovery system component. The overheating warning message was the first symptom observed prior to diagnosis. The problem was confirmed by the dealership after inspection and testing. This issue may indicate a defect in the exhaust heat recovery or thermal management system used in this hybrid vehicle, as coolant is entering the exhaust stream internally rather than leaking externally. If this type of failure occurs in other vehicles, it could lead to overheating while driving and potential engine damage.

NHTSA ODI #11724340

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2026
Electrical System

Hydraulic fluid is leaking onto the hydraulic clutch actuator’s circuit board, creating a potential fire hazard. The vehicle requires replacement of the dual clutch and slave cylinder. This failure occurred just over one year after Kia replaced the dual clutch and performed a full engine replacement at a Kia dealership. This c…

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Hydraulic fluid is leaking onto the hydraulic clutch actuator’s circuit board, creating a potential fire hazard. The vehicle requires replacement of the dual clutch and slave cylinder. This failure occurred just over one year after Kia replaced the dual clutch and performed a full engine replacement at a Kia dealership. This condition is identical to a known safety recall affecting 2019–2022 Kia Niro vehicles involving hydraulic clutch fluid leaking onto the actuator circuit board and creating a fire risk. Although my VIN is not listed under the recall, the vehicle is the same year, make, model, and drivetrain and is exhibiting the same defect described in the recall. This appears to be a recurring safety defect involving the hydraulic clutch system.

NHTSA ODI #11715377

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2025
Electrical System

Continuing and worsening motor rumbling noise and ticking/clicking at slow speeds. Spent a couple of months and without car for weeks just to have kia confirm and have gearbox changed. This has existed in some form for a couple years now.

NHTSA ODI #11698695

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2025
Back Over PreventionElectrical System

The rear backup camera works intermittent, checked wiring and still having issues, could cause backing issues for people that don't use their mirrors

NHTSA ODI #11663439

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2025
Electrical SystemEngine

Car brought to dealership on 12/2 due to check engine light. scan showed cylinder 4 misfire. Car in shop for 1 week to fix cylinder head replacement. stated "operating as designed". Car returned to shop due to car turning off in the highway. All light were on. now showing hybrid system fault. Dealership had to open kia tech tic…

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Car brought to dealership on 12/2 due to check engine light. scan showed cylinder 4 misfire. Car in shop for 1 week to fix cylinder head replacement. stated "operating as designed". Car returned to shop due to car turning off in the highway. All light were on. now showing hybrid system fault. Dealership had to open kia tech ticket [XXX]. CONFIRMED LIGHTS ON DASH, HYBRID SYSTEM FAULT. DTC SCAN FOUND MCU,BMS DTC'S. REMOVED CONNECTIONS FROM THE HPCU TO INSPECT WIRING AND FOUND CENTER PIN IS MELTED AND THERE IS THERMAL DAMAGE TO WIRING. P0A3E DTC, OPEN TA#[XXX] TA HPCU REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. CABLE REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. 1/6 - now advised another part is needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11634268

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2024
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

Car has warning message and several engine lights on dash come up and asks to stop car and check the regenerative brake system. Car loses all systems that are electrical, car is very hard to drive, even not operative. This has happened many times over the past four years. Each time the car has been taken to a authorized KIA Deal…

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Car has warning message and several engine lights on dash come up and asks to stop car and check the regenerative brake system. Car loses all systems that are electrical, car is very hard to drive, even not operative. This has happened many times over the past four years. Each time the car has been taken to a authorized KIA Dealership and they have not been able to fix the problem. It happened almost a week ago and dealership told us that they couldn't find anything wrong and were told to pick it up. Happened again today and it was while driving. Same issue, same warnings on dash.

NHTSA ODI #11589434

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2024
Electrical SystemStructureFire

Car caught fire

NHTSA ODI #11575526

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2024
Electrical SystemService Brakes

KIA NIRO 2019 SAFETY RECALL As described in the safety recall (previous page), my KIA Niro 2019 alarm went off with the following error message "Engine Overheating". Kia of America and its dealership refused to fix the problem. The car dealership -said- has no direction as to how or when to fix the problem, and the KIA consume…

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KIA NIRO 2019 SAFETY RECALL As described in the safety recall (previous page), my KIA Niro 2019 alarm went off with the following error message "Engine Overheating". Kia of America and its dealership refused to fix the problem. The car dealership -said- has no direction as to how or when to fix the problem, and the KIA consumer hotline is out of business.

NHTSA ODI #11571191

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2023
Electrical SystemPower Train

I’ve had this repaired by Kia and immediately failed again, but a component to the alternator and ac unit is attached to the drive train and will cause an alarm that hybrid battery failure and sudden power loss(they told me this with the first “fix” but failed within an hour of leaving Kia. It’s happened again tonight and nearly…

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I’ve had this repaired by Kia and immediately failed again, but a component to the alternator and ac unit is attached to the drive train and will cause an alarm that hybrid battery failure and sudden power loss(they told me this with the first “fix” but failed within an hour of leaving Kia. It’s happened again tonight and nearly caused a crash on the freeway and I’ve seen many others with this issue and I want to drive my kid home safely so any help would be wonderful with this issue. Thank you!!

NHTSA ODI #11551515

Official recalls

1

23V534000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:internal:clutches/bands:actuators/solenoids

Jul 31, 2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.

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

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.