2018 Kia NIRO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Kia NIRO has 79 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: engine/transmission becomes very sluggish as temperatures drop and the transmission seems to be "engine braking" the vehicle, making coasting nearly impossible. putting the vehicle in neutral allowed the car to normally coast but once back in drive, acceleration was taxing. the vehicle lacks any pow.

6 crash reports 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

17 complaints

22%

• ENGINE/TRANSMISSION BECOMES VERY SLUGGISH AS TEMPERATURES DROP AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE "ENGINE BRAKING" THE VEHICLE, MAKING COASTING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALLOWED THE CAR TO NORMALLY COAST BUT ONCE BACK IN DRIVE, ACCELERATION WAS TAXING. THE VEHICLE LACKS ANY POW
• I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED COMPLETELY, SUDDENLY IT LOSE POWER TO RUN. TRYING TO STEP DEEPER THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NO REACTION AT ALL. AFTER TURN OFF AND TURN ON ENGINE FEW TIMES, IT CAN RUN AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, THE REAL PROBLEM OCCUR. THE ENGINE SOUNDS SO LOUD..IT'S HY
• On Kia Niro, there is a part called the Exhaust Heat Recovery System (EHRS). This part pumps coolant into the exhaust system. If this particular piece fails, coolant in then pumped into the exhaust, burned up, and exits through the tail pipe. This piece failed on my car, which lead to coolant being

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

“ENGINE/TRANSMISSION BECOMES VERY SLUGGISH AS TEMPERATURES DROP AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE "ENGINE BRAKING" THE VEHICLE, MAKING COASTING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALLOWED THE CAR TO NORMALLY COAST BUT ONCE BACK IN DRIVE, ACCELERATION WAS TAXING. THE VEHICLE LACKS ANY POW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

22%

• WIRING HARNESS CHEWED UP BY RODENTS 6 WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR NEW. ONLY 1900 MILES ON CAR. CAR WAS PARKED BETWEEN '01 TOYOTA TACOMA AND '04 F250 DIESEL, WHICH HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE NEW WITHOUT PROBLEMS, AS WAS A '06 VW DIESEL, AND A '12 VW DIESEL, ALSO PARKED THERE SINCE NEW. THE USE OF SOY BASED IN
• REAR HATCH INDICATOR SUDDENLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND REAR HATCH OPENS ON OWN. EVEN AFTER HARD SLAMMING SHUT HATCH IS NOT LATCHING ALL THE TIME AND RANDOMLY LOOSENING AND OPENING ON ITS OWN. LOUD RATTLE IS ALSO COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A NEWLY PURCHASED AUTOMOBILE.
• On 2/15/2022 around 10:00AM, I was driving my vehicle as normal. Noticed brake lights ahead, I was about 3 car lengths back, which I always try to drive since I am on the road a lot and I prefer not to have an accident. Well this time, I put my foot on the brake as normal and the vehicle felt like b

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WIRING HARNESS CHEWED UP BY RODENTS 6 WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR NEW. ONLY 1900 MILES ON CAR. CAR WAS PARKED BETWEEN '01 TOYOTA TACOMA AND '04 F250 DIESEL, WHICH HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE NEW WITHOUT PROBLEMS, AS WAS A '06 VW DIESEL, AND A '12 VW DIESEL, ALSO PARKED THERE SINCE NEW. THE USE OF SOY BASED IN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

16 complaints

20%

• I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED COMPLETELY, SUDDENLY IT LOSE POWER TO RUN. TRYING TO STEP DEEPER THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NO REACTION AT ALL. AFTER TURN OFF AND TURN ON ENGINE FEW TIMES, IT CAN RUN AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, THE REAL PROBLEM OCCUR. THE ENGINE SOUNDS SO LOUD..IT'S HY
• The power train, engine, and breaks are defective. The vehicle has malfunctioned over 10 times in the past 5 months and it happens randomly. The same issues occur each time which where the car will not drive or will be extremely jolty, the gears will not shift, the breaks are delayed, and the engine
• The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The hybrid system warning was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was then towed to a second deale

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

“I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED COMPLETELY, SUDDENLY IT LOSE POWER TO RUN. TRYING TO STEP DEEPER THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NO REACTION AT ALL. AFTER TURN OFF AND TURN ON ENGINE FEW TIMES, IT CAN RUN AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, THE REAL PROBLEM OCCUR. THE ENGINE SOUNDS SO LOUD..IT'S HY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

10 complaints

13%

• PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH SAFETY TECH PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES AEB (AUTO EMERGENCY BRAKING) AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I APPLIED FULL BRAKES TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THE MAIN REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WAS FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE.
• NO INCIDENT TO REPORT. DESIGN SAFETY ISSUE. THE DESIGN OF THE EMERGENCY LIFTGATE SAFETY RELEASE REQUIRES THE USE OF THE VEHICLE'S MECHANICAL KEY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR LIFTGATE IN AN EMERGENCY (SEE OWNERS MANUAL PAGE 4-26. THE NEED TO HAVE A KEY IN HAND UTTERLY DEFEATS THE INTENDED CO
• BOTH THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE AND REAR DRIVES SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAVE COME OFF, IN BOTH CASES A PASSENGER WAS OPENING THE DOOR TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE FAILED AND CAME OFF. THE LAST INCIDENT BACK DOOR OCCURRED 9/7

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH SAFETY TECH PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES AEB (AUTO EMERGENCY BRAKING) AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I APPLIED FULL BRAKES TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THE MAIN REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WAS FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

6 complaints

• I AM WRITING TO YOUR COMPANY IN REGARDS TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH AROUND 4PM EST. THIS ACCIDENT INVOLVED MY FAMILY AND I DRIVING THE NEW KIA NIRO HYBRID EX W/ TECH PKG WE PURCHASED FROM SANSONE DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2017. MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED
• PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH SAFETY TECH PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES AEB (AUTO EMERGENCY BRAKING) AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I APPLIED FULL BRAKES TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THE MAIN REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WAS FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE.
• CAR FAILED TO STOP TWICE - ALMOST RAN A RED LIGHT. BRAKES DEPRESSED AND FELT NO PRESSURE IN BRAKE LINE. DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED BRAKE ISSUES WITH CAR ONLY BEING 6 MONTHS OLD IN 2018 - SAME BRAKE ISSUES BUT NOW THE CAR IS NOT STOPPING SOMETIMES.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“I AM WRITING TO YOUR COMPANY IN REGARDS TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED ON THE DATE OF SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH AROUND 4PM EST. THIS ACCIDENT INVOLVED MY FAMILY AND I DRIVING THE NEW KIA NIRO HYBRID EX W/ TECH PKG WE PURCHASED FROM SANSONE DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2017. MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 79 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ENGINE/TRANSMISSION BECOMES VERY SLUGGISH AS TEMPERATURES DROP AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE "ENGINE BRAKING" THE VEHICLE, MAKING COASTING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALLOWED THE CAR TO NORMALLY COAST BUT ONCE BACK IN DRIVE, ACCELERATION WAS TAXING. THE VEHICLE LACKS ANY POW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WIRING HARNESS CHEWED UP BY RODENTS 6 WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR NEW. ONLY 1900 MILES ON CAR. CAR WAS PARKED BETWEEN '01 TOYOTA TACOMA AND '04 F250 DIESEL, WHICH HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE NEW WITHOUT PROBLEMS, AS WAS A '06 VW DIESEL, AND A '12 VW DIESEL, ALSO PARKED THERE SINCE NEW. THE USE OF SOY BASED IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED COMPLETELY, SUDDENLY IT LOSE POWER TO RUN. TRYING TO STEP DEEPER THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NO REACTION AT ALL. AFTER TURN OFF AND TURN ON ENGINE FEW TIMES, IT CAN RUN AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, THE REAL PROBLEM OCCUR. THE ENGINE SOUNDS SO LOUD..IT'S HY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH SAFETY TECH PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES AEB (AUTO EMERGENCY BRAKING) AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I APPLIED FULL BRAKES TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THE MAIN REASON I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WAS FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)