The AC compressor failed due to an isolation resistance failure at the high voltage inverter. Freon leaked from the AC system into the battery chiller coolant loop, causing crystallization and blockages in the inverter coolant circuit. This is a battery thermal management system failure. The failure was confirmed and diagnosed b…
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The AC compressor failed due to an isolation resistance failure at the high voltage inverter. Freon leaked from the AC system into the battery chiller coolant loop, causing crystallization and blockages in the inverter coolant circuit. This is a battery thermal management system failure. The failure was confirmed and diagnosed by an authorized Kia dealer. Warning lights appeared on the dashboard including an inverter coolant warning. The vehicle was driven in ambient temperatures exceeding 108 degrees Fahrenheit in Arizona with no cabin cooling and a compromised battery thermal management system, creating a safety risk to the driver. The dealer quoted repair including AC compressor replacement, battery chiller replacement, and inverter coolant flush. Kia Consumer Affairs denied warranty coverage under the federal emissions warranty despite the vehicle being within the 8 year/80,000 mile coverage window at approximately 58,309 miles. No written explanation for the denial was provided. This failure appears to be a known pattern on this platform based on owner reports. The battery chiller and inverter coolant system are integral to battery thermal management and should be covered under the federal emissions warranty. The vehicle is currently unsafe to operate in extreme Arizona heat without functioning thermal management.
NHTSA ODI #11741696
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2025
EngineUnknown Or Other
AS AT 11/07/2023 KIA AMERICA KNEW OF HCV/HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ACTUATOR -HEV/HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAUSED TRANMSISSION PROBLEM IN KIA NIRO HYBRID 2020 AND KIA AMERICA REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. RECALL COMPLETED 5/27/2025 AFTER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED.
NHTSA ODI #11697442
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2024
Unknown Or Other
My key fob works perfectly fine. I came out from work and my car was dead, I pressed my key fob to unlock and nothing happened. I tried the key attached to the key fob and it’s strange because it doesn’t even fit to open the door. It was so hot outside because I’m in Texas and when I called KIA roadside assistance an hour passed…
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My key fob works perfectly fine. I came out from work and my car was dead, I pressed my key fob to unlock and nothing happened. I tried the key attached to the key fob and it’s strange because it doesn’t even fit to open the door. It was so hot outside because I’m in Texas and when I called KIA roadside assistance an hour passed by and they still hadn’t arrived. I could’ve had a heat injury, but I was able to hide under a tree for some shade. This is the second time my car just dies and doesn’t turn on without having to get help from roadside assistance. I took it to the dealership and they did a diagnostic on my car. They said nothing is wrong with it. This is crazy, it’s making KIA look bad. I attached the service copy of the diagnostic test. They didn’t have extra vehicles to rent so I had to take Lyft to work. They were kind enough to drop me off home, but I still had to pay to get to work.
NHTSA ODI #11597580
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
My vehicle was the victim of attempted theft and reported to City of Cincinnati police 8/11/23. It then underwent repairs and delays before it was returned to me on 9/22/23. The left side rear door is basically detached from the system, causing the alarm to go off or not even work. The back seat lock is completely malfunction…
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My vehicle was the victim of attempted theft and reported to City of Cincinnati police 8/11/23. It then underwent repairs and delays before it was returned to me on 9/22/23. The left side rear door is basically detached from the system, causing the alarm to go off or not even work. The back seat lock is completely malfunctional, and there is glass remaining inside the car. I was informed by two separate Kia locations that they would contact me about repairs. On 9/29, notice attached here, I was informed that when a remedy is available, they will repair and cover the costs. No one has contacted me, and I have called multiple times over the last several months, including leaving voicemails, asking for any updates. I have phone logs I can provide as well. NOTE: The "Upload Files" button is not working below. Each time I click it, it just vanishes. This makes it impossible to attach anything.
NHTSA ODI #11563391
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2023
Unknown Or OtherFire
I have been a Lyft driver for over 2 years, and because of the mileage I put on mile personal vehicle. I had to result to renting a vehicle from Lyft Flex Drive Rental, located at 2214 Century Center Blvd Irving, TX 75062. 0n 05/15/2023 at approximately 8:15 p.m. Right after dropping off passenger, and on my way to pick up anoth…
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I have been a Lyft driver for over 2 years, and because of the mileage I put on mile personal vehicle. I had to result to renting a vehicle from Lyft Flex Drive Rental, located at 2214 Century Center Blvd Irving, TX 75062. 0n 05/15/2023 at approximately 8:15 p.m. Right after dropping off passenger, and on my way to pick up another one. The vehicle mentioned hereof suddenly blew up out of no where. My personal property in the vehicle was destroyed , and almost loss my life! However, Lyft is suggesting I pay over a thousand dollars. When it wasn't my fault the car blew up. Moreover, their stagnating me from getting back to work, and not allowing me to rent a car from Lyft Fleet . Because supposedly the car hasn't been totaled out yet. Despite it as been weeks since the incident occurred. I also took my vehicle to Lyft Flex shop for a check up the previous week before the incident occurred. My Please see photos attached! THE INSURANCE COMPANY HANDLING THE MATTER IS LIBERTY MUTUAL CLAIM # 241398210 / Phone Number: 888.638.3564
NHTSA ODI #11523754
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2022
Unknown Or OtherFire
I first bought the car brand new from the car dealership and the first problem was a check engine light came on when I bought it. I took it to the car dealership and could not find the problem. I bought the car in December 2020. And off and on the check engine light comes and goes. And they could not find the error. Lastly about…
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I first bought the car brand new from the car dealership and the first problem was a check engine light came on when I bought it. I took it to the car dealership and could not find the problem. I bought the car in December 2020. And off and on the check engine light comes and goes. And they could not find the error. Lastly about two weeks before the car caught on fire. It was service for oil change and a catalytic converter replacement. After that while I was driving on the parkway in New Jersey I heard a loud bang in the engine and I pulled over and I saw a fire starting underneath the engine. The whole car is consumed in fire. The fire department came and put it out.
NHTSA ODI #11492683
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2022
EngineUnknown Or Other
My Niro has been having issues with sputtering, jerking, chugging, and feeling like it’s about to stall. Sometimes it happens right when I start the car and sometimes it happens while I am driving. The check engine light just started coming on yesterday. I believe the transmission is faulty and have spoken to or taken it to the …
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My Niro has been having issues with sputtering, jerking, chugging, and feeling like it’s about to stall. Sometimes it happens right when I start the car and sometimes it happens while I am driving. The check engine light just started coming on yesterday. I believe the transmission is faulty and have spoken to or taken it to the dealer with this same issue multiple times as it is covered under warranty. They keep telling me that’s just how the car drives but in the 8 cars I’ve owned in my life, I have never had a car that behaves this way before. An internet search of “Kia niro transmission problems” proves that this is a common and known issue with this car that Kia is doing nothing to resolve. I have a daily 20 mile commute to work and feel incredibly unsafe driving my car and letting my teenage daughter drive it.
NHTSA ODI #11485034
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2022
Unknown Or Other
I've had my Kia Niro EV approximately 1yr. I'm the only owner so far was brand new but it had set for a year or so. (Purchase Date: March 2021). I noticed about 6 mo./8k miles that listening the same thing that my 2012 Kia Sorento that was involved in the class action lawsuit was having. When I pressed the gas pedal my RPMs go …
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I've had my Kia Niro EV approximately 1yr. I'm the only owner so far was brand new but it had set for a year or so. (Purchase Date: March 2021). I noticed about 6 mo./8k miles that listening the same thing that my 2012 Kia Sorento that was involved in the class action lawsuit was having. When I pressed the gas pedal my RPMs go up to five to seven but the car doesn't really go it's like it's barely even going 10 miles an hour. This to me is a huge safety concern considering what if you were trying to get out of the way of a semi and you have the gas pressed all the way to the floor in your car is not going fast enough this really worries me considering how much I spent on the car I bought it new and traded in my old one that was having the crankshaft issue that would stall out no matter what speed you were going numerous times a day so that way I would be safe. Now here I am with a 20/20 vehicle and experiencing the same issues. Then the other day we are now March of 2022 and I start up my car and it says service vehicle immediately take it to your nearest dealership try to take a picture then this message disappears so then I turn off the car turn it back on to see if the message would reappear and it says service car in 20 something days but yeah I'm still having the same problem so then I'd use my new my UVO diagnostic thing button and it tells me there's no issues with the vehicle. I drove the vehicle every day and it doesn't do it all the time but this is exactly how my Sorrento started out too I would sit there and tell my husband that I couldn't get enough power and the vehicle wasn't going shifting gears it's something with the gears I can feel it underneath the vehicle it's almost like something's blocking it or something's not connecting this could be a very serious issue and I feel like that you guys really do need to investigate this to prevent casualties 1 report of the issue should open an investigation. Not once innocent ppl get injured/die
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.
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