2020 Kia NIRO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2020 Kia NIRO has 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: the service engine valve with "check active air flap system" error message is displayed. the diagnostic error that comes up is aaf - p059f. according to the dealer air compression test were completed and properly functioning. i have submitted 3 pictures with the same error message code to the de. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 4 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

9 complaints

19%

• THE SERVICE ENGINE VALVE WITH "CHECK ACTIVE AIR FLAP SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED. THE DIAGNOSTIC ERROR THAT COMES UP IS AAF - P059F. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AIR COMPRESSION TEST WERE COMPLETED AND PROPERLY FUNCTIONING. I HAVE SUBMITTED 3 PICTURES WITH THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE CODE TO THE DE
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE SERVICE ENGINE VALVE WITH "CHECK ACTIVE AIR FLAP SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED. THE DIAGNOSTIC ERROR THAT COMES UP IS AAF - P059F. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AIR COMPRESSION TEST WERE COMPLETED AND PROPERLY FUNCTIONING. I HAVE SUBMITTED 3 PICTURES WITH THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE CODE TO THE DE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

19%

• 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 pre
• 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
• 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 no

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“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 pre”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

15%

• 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 not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated 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
• 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 for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made

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

“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 not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

13%

• 2020 Kia Niro was driving fine until one day while driving down the highway at highway speeds (65-70 mph), the car began to lose power and as we switched lanes to get to the side of the highway, the car began to smoke and caught on fire. Our safety was at risk due to the car catching on fire. The pr
• What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The component that failed was the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator, which is part of the hybrid transmission system. This component was already replaced in May 2024 under recall SC276, but it failed again. Th
• There were no symptoms prior to the warning message and warning symbol on the dash. Warning message was "Check EV System". I took my car to the dealer immediately. The dealer has had my car for 3 1/2 months, since Sept 12, 2025. Now the field tech from Kia, on 12/22/25, says that the Electric Power

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“2020 Kia Niro was driving fine until one day while driving down the highway at highway speeds (65-70 mph), the car began to lose power and as we switched lanes to get to the side of the highway, the car began to smoke and caught on fire. Our safety was at risk due to the car catching on fire. The pr”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

5 complaints

11%

• I was involved in a collision 11/2021. I had just left a stop sign and was starting to go when a semi hit my front end and spun my vehicle around. I do not understand why my air bags did not deploy and I feel like emergency braking did not work. I have had it work when someone get close to my bumpe
• Hi my name is [XXX] I had an accident on a red light, I was on a highway took a ramp for the exit the car who was ahead of me like 30 feet make a right turn and as next on turn I look on my left side then when I turn on the right the car ahead of me stop again so I heat with the right corner of my
• The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact stated while reversing, the back over prevention camera failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the screen displayed a black image. In addition, the contact stated that the back over prevention system was inoperable. The vehicle was taken

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I was involved in a collision 11/2021. I had just left a stop sign and was starting to go when a semi hit my front end and spun my vehicle around. I do not understand why my air bags did not deploy and I feel like emergency braking did not work. I have had it work when someone get close to my bumpe”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 47 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE SERVICE ENGINE VALVE WITH "CHECK ACTIVE AIR FLAP SYSTEM" ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED. THE DIAGNOSTIC ERROR THAT COMES UP IS AAF - P059F. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AIR COMPRESSION TEST WERE COMPLETED AND PROPERLY FUNCTIONING. I HAVE SUBMITTED 3 PICTURES WITH THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE CODE TO THE DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
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 pre
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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 not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2020 Kia Niro was driving fine until one day while driving down the highway at highway speeds (65-70 mph), the car began to lose power and as we switched lanes to get to the side of the highway, the car began to smoke and caught on fire. Our safety was at risk due to the car catching on fire. The pr
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)