2018 Kia NIRO PHEV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Kia NIRO PHEV has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: the transmission fails to engage immediately to the gear shifted to. when stationary and with the vehicle in reverse, if you proceed to press the accelerator and the vehicle starts to move backwards, the vehicle will continue to roll in the reverse direction even after switching the gear selector to.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

25%

• THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY TO THE GEAR SHIFTED TO. WHEN STATIONARY AND WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IF YOU PROCEED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARDS, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION EVEN AFTER SWITCHING THE GEAR SELECTOR TO
• 2018 KIA NIRO PLUG-IN HYBRID, 16,235MI. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES IN LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 30 DAYS IN SHOP. TRANSMISSION WILL DO A VERY HARD DOWNSHIFT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPING. MAKES VEHICLE DIP HARD..NOTICEABLE ON DASH CAM VIDEO. ON HARDER ACCELERATION, POWER TRAIN HAS TROUB
• The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the ma

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY TO THE GEAR SHIFTED TO. WHEN STATIONARY AND WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IF YOU PROCEED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARDS, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION EVEN AFTER SWITCHING THE GEAR SELECTOR TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

17%

• VEHICLE RANDOMLY FLASHES MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR AFTER VEHICLE RESET BUT THE MESSAGE HAS REPEATEDLY COME UP VERY OFTEN NOW. MESSAGE POPS UP DURING MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: AFTER CHARGING, BEFORE CHARGING, WHILE CHARGING, AND DURING OPERATION.
• 2018 KIA NIRO PLUG-IN HYBRID, 16,235MI. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES IN LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 30 DAYS IN SHOP. TRANSMISSION WILL DO A VERY HARD DOWNSHIFT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPING. MAKES VEHICLE DIP HARD..NOTICEABLE ON DASH CAM VIDEO. ON HARDER ACCELERATION, POWER TRAIN HAS TROUB
• In July 2023, Kia identified a defect that can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire while driving; namely that the printed circuit board in the hydraulic clutch actuator may become contaminated with fluid and lead to an electrical short circuit. To date, there is still no remedy available

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE RANDOMLY FLASHES MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR AFTER VEHICLE RESET BUT THE MESSAGE HAS REPEATEDLY COME UP VERY OFTEN NOW. MESSAGE POPS UP DURING MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: AFTER CHARGING, BEFORE CHARGING, WHILE CHARGING, AND DURING OPERATION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

3 complaints

13%

• I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise c
• I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise c
• Year/Make/Model: 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid Mileage at time of incident: approximately 69,000 Component: Hybrid Propulsion System / Powertrain My 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid has experienced five recurring "Hybrid System Failure — Turn Off Engine" errors occurring without warning while the vehicle was being ope

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise c”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

• I WENT TO A KIA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS THEN INFORMED THERE WERE 3 OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION BY MAIL, EMAIL OR PHONE. THE REPAIRS WERE TO TAKE 5 HOURS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO DO THE REPAIRS AND LEFT THE CAR THERE THE ENTIRE DAY AND HAD TO BE SHUTTLED 20 MIL
• DOOR HANDLE CANE OFF AND VEHICLE SOMETIMES CAN NOT BE LICKED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WENT TO A KIA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS THEN INFORMED THERE WERE 3 OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION BY MAIL, EMAIL OR PHONE. THE REPAIRS WERE TO TAKE 5 HOURS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO DO THE REPAIRS AND LEFT THE CAR THERE THE ENTIRE DAY AND HAD TO BE SHUTTLED 20 MIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

• VEHICLE RANDOMLY FLASHES MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR AFTER VEHICLE RESET BUT THE MESSAGE HAS REPEATEDLY COME UP VERY OFTEN NOW. MESSAGE POPS UP DURING MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: AFTER CHARGING, BEFORE CHARGING, WHILE CHARGING, AND DURING OPERATION.
• I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days l

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY TO THE GEAR SHIFTED TO. WHEN STATIONARY AND WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IF YOU PROCEED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARDS, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION EVEN AFTER SWITCHING THE GEAR SELECTOR TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: VEHICLE RANDOMLY FLASHES MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR AFTER VEHICLE RESET BUT THE MESSAGE HAS REPEATEDLY COME UP VERY OFTEN NOW. MESSAGE POPS UP DURING MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: AFTER CHARGING, BEFORE CHARGING, WHILE CHARGING, AND DURING OPERATION.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise c
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: I WENT TO A KIA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS THEN INFORMED THERE WERE 3 OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION BY MAIL, EMAIL OR PHONE. THE REPAIRS WERE TO TAKE 5 HOURS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO DO THE REPAIRS AND LEFT THE CAR THERE THE ENTIRE DAY AND HAD TO BE SHUTTLED 20 MIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)