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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2026
Unknown Or Other

The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator has caused functional driving issues and caused my vehicle to go into limp mode. I was never informed of the recall issue prior to purchase, and the recall was marked as complete, when it was not. The fix for KIA NIRO Recall SC276 was incomplete in January 2024, and I purchased my vehicle in April…

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The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator has caused functional driving issues and caused my vehicle to go into limp mode. I was never informed of the recall issue prior to purchase, and the recall was marked as complete, when it was not. The fix for KIA NIRO Recall SC276 was incomplete in January 2024, and I purchased my vehicle in April 2024. My issues started in November 2025, and the incomplete recall issue has been ongoing. KIA offers only a 1/2-way fix, and this is simply not acceptable.

NHTSA ODI #11743671

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2025
Unknown Or Other

I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding the mishandling of a recall repair (Recall SC276) by the authorized dealership KIA of Lincolnwood, located in Illinois. In October 2024, I contacted the dealership in relation to Recall SC276. A diagnostic inspection confirmed the issue, related to the HCA system, and was supp…

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I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding the mishandling of a recall repair (Recall SC276) by the authorized dealership KIA of Lincolnwood, located in Illinois. In October 2024, I contacted the dealership in relation to Recall SC276. A diagnostic inspection confirmed the issue, related to the HCA system, and was supported by multiple error codes: U1010, U1011, P17ED, P17EE. I was informed that the required parts were not available at the time and would be ordered. Despite the known fire risk associated with this recall, the dealership allowed me to drive the vehicle home, which clearly contradicts the safety procedures outlined in Kia’s own recall regulations. I waited approximately two months for a follow-up, but received no communication from the dealership. I called them myself and was informed, after repeated inquiries, that the replacement part had allegedly been damaged during delivery, and that I would need to wait longer. Weeks later, I was contacted and asked to bring the vehicle in. By that time, the car could no longer operate under its own power and had to be transported to the dealership. I left it for repairs. Shockingly, within an hour I received a call saying the car was “ready for pickup.” Upon returning, I discovered that nothing had been done. The vehicle was parked exactly where I had left it. After further discussions, the dealership admitted that the repair had not been performed and the part had not been replaced. I have photographic evidence to confirm this. They assured me the part would be ordered again. My vehicle remained at the dealership from early January until late April 2025. Eventually, I was told that I must pick up the vehicle or face storage fees. Still, no repairs had been completed. This dealership has twice returned the vehicle to me without making the required safety repairs, despite the known risk of fire and potential harm to life. They also misled me about the repair status on multiple occasions.

NHTSA ODI #11666341

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 · Sep 27, 2023
Unknown Or Other

Driving to work and all of a sudden my front right side tilts down and scares me to death. This starts to effect my steering. This also happened to the side only 1 time. I believe this maybe a front lower control arm issue.

NHTSA ODI #11546776

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2023
Unknown Or OtherFire

It caught on fire and burnt my house down when it was in my carport. Not sure why but it happened august 2,2022.

NHTSA ODI #11537776

1,500 miles · Apr 17, 2020
Unknown Or Other

PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE, BARELY MOVING, CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER AND UPHILL. THIS HAPPENED WITH ANOTHER KIA - FORTE- A FEW YEARS AGO . SAME TRAJECTORY. LOW SPEED TURN, I DID NOT ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI #11321456

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.