2020 Kia NIRO PHEV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2020 Kia NIRO PHEV has 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: we purchased a new 2020 kia niro ex premium phev on 10/10/2020 and regret it. less than a week and 50 miles in we had the "check active air flap system" warning. apparently this a known problem, https://www.kianiroforum.com/threads/2020-phev-check-active-air-flap-system.9142/ how ridiculous that .

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

40%

• WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 KIA NIRO EX PREMIUM PHEV ON 10/10/2020 AND REGRET IT. LESS THAN A WEEK AND 50 MILES IN WE HAD THE "CHECK ACTIVE AIR FLAP SYSTEM" WARNING. APPARENTLY THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HTTPS://WWW.KIANIROFORUM.COM/THREADS/2020-PHEV-CHECK-ACTIVE-AIR-FLAP-SYSTEM.9142/ HOW RIDICULOUS THAT
• The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer w

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

“WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 KIA NIRO EX PREMIUM PHEV ON 10/10/2020 AND REGRET IT. LESS THAN A WEEK AND 50 MILES IN WE HAD THE "CHECK ACTIVE AIR FLAP SYSTEM" WARNING. APPARENTLY THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HTTPS://WWW.KIANIROFORUM.COM/THREADS/2020-PHEV-CHECK-ACTIVE-AIR-FLAP-SYSTEM.9142/ HOW RIDICULOUS THAT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

1 complaints

20%

• The bearings in the steering wheel is going bad. The car is a 2020 and should not have this issue. They’re claiming it’s not covered under basic warranty since my mileage is 77,637, over the 60,000 mileage. Even with this many mileage, a steering wheel bearing should not go bad this quickly.

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

“The bearings in the steering wheel is going bad. The car is a 2020 and should not have this issue. They’re claiming it’s not covered under basic warranty since my mileage is 77,637, over the 60,000 mileage. Even with this many mileage, a steering wheel bearing should not go bad this quickly.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

1 complaints

20%

• The vehicle locks the left wheel when braking. It skids and brakes in one simultaneous action. It doesn't happen often but occasionally if I'm in heavy traffic. I reported this problem to the Kia dealer who found no problem. I really feel that this requires investigation as it could cause an acciden

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

“The vehicle locks the left wheel when braking. It skids and brakes in one simultaneous action. It doesn't happen often but occasionally if I'm in heavy traffic. I reported this problem to the Kia dealer who found no problem. I really feel that this requires investigation as it could cause an acciden”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

1 complaints

20%

• On [XXX], Flakes of paint starting peeling away and flew over the windshield while simply driving along an interstate highway at 65 MPH on a calm, dry and sunny day in CO. (A factory paint application defect of the SWP paint color is a common owner complaint) Issue reported to Kia Customer Service o

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

“On [XXX], Flakes of paint starting peeling away and flew over the windshield while simply driving along an interstate highway at 65 MPH on a calm, dry and sunny day in CO. (A factory paint application defect of the SWP paint color is a common owner complaint) Issue reported to Kia Customer Service o”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 5 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 KIA NIRO EX PREMIUM PHEV ON 10/10/2020 AND REGRET IT. LESS THAN A WEEK AND 50 MILES IN WE HAD THE "CHECK ACTIVE AIR FLAP SYSTEM" WARNING. APPARENTLY THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HTTPS://WWW.KIANIROFORUM.COM/THREADS/2020-PHEV-CHECK-ACTIVE-AIR-FLAP-SYSTEM.9142/ HOW RIDICULOUS THAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: The bearings in the steering wheel is going bad. The car is a 2020 and should not have this issue. They’re claiming it’s not covered under basic warranty since my mileage is 77,637, over the 60,000 mileage. Even with this many mileage, a steering wheel bearing should not go bad this quickly.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: The vehicle locks the left wheel when braking. It skids and brakes in one simultaneous action. It doesn't happen often but occasionally if I'm in heavy traffic. I reported this problem to the Kia dealer who found no problem. I really feel that this requires investigation as it could cause an acciden
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: On [XXX], Flakes of paint starting peeling away and flew over the windshield while simply driving along an interstate highway at 65 MPH on a calm, dry and sunny day in CO. (A factory paint application defect of the SWP paint color is a common owner complaint) Issue reported to Kia Customer Service o
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)