2023 Kia NIRO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2023 Kia NIRO has 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: the dash is textured. in direct sunlight, the texture reflects on the windshield and makes it difficult to see. the other day i came close to hitting a pedestrian because i didn’t them. it is so dangerous!.

12 crash reports 7 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

14 complaints

22%

• The dash is textured. In direct sunlight, the texture reflects on the windshield and makes it difficult to see. The other day I came close to hitting a pedestrian because I didn’t them. It is so dangerous!
• I was driving when I heard a very loud pop noise from above me. I looked up and noticed that the sunroof glass was broken with a hole on one side. I checked behind me and in the car but nothing had hit the glass. The sunroof had broken on its own for no reason. I have contacted the dealership but th
• 1st noticed when parking car, beeping from control panel as if touchscreen buttons were being pressed when they were not. Day or 2 later, AC and/or heat started coming on randomly, would not turn off, all touchscreen buttons illuminating as if pressed. Dealership found crack in screen. No knowledge

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

“The dash is textured. In direct sunlight, the texture reflects on the windshield and makes it difficult to see. The other day I came close to hitting a pedestrian because I didn’t them. It is so dangerous!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

15%

• The components and systems failing are the brakes, adaptive cruise control, smart stop n go cruise control and electrical. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. The auto cruise control doesn’t give a safe distance to stop at (u r close enough to not see there tires) from the car in fro
• 1st noticed when parking car, beeping from control panel as if touchscreen buttons were being pressed when they were not. Day or 2 later, AC and/or heat started coming on randomly, would not turn off, all touchscreen buttons illuminating as if pressed. Dealership found crack in screen. No knowledge
• The contact owns a 2023 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost significant motive power and was unable to accelerate above 43 MPH. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle briefly returned to normal fun

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

“The components and systems failing are the brakes, adaptive cruise control, smart stop n go cruise control and electrical. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. The auto cruise control doesn’t give a safe distance to stop at (u r close enough to not see there tires) from the car in fro”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

9 complaints

14%

• The components and systems failing are the brakes, adaptive cruise control, smart stop n go cruise control and electrical. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. The auto cruise control doesn’t give a safe distance to stop at (u r close enough to not see there tires) from the car in fro
• Forward Collision System: When stopped or at low speeds, the vehicle’s forward collision warning will activate for short intervals (roughly 1-2 seconds) randomly. Hybrid Battery: The vehicle won’t go below 50% battery on the hybrid battery and the engine unnecessarily turns on to charge back to 90
• I backed out of my drive and began to go forward. Five times in my 2023 Kia Niro HEV within one block the dashboard began to flash red, beeping sounds were emitted, and then the brakes slammed rapidly bringing the car to a stop. My attempts to accelerate were futile until the car let me accelerate

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

• I was in a very light two-car collision on 08-09-2023. Both cars had little to no damages, just very minute scratches that are very hard to see. But two of the airbags on my KIA Niro (front and knee) deployed suddenly, causing me to black out for a couple of minutes and later have a concussion, and
• The contact owns a 2023 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while making a left turn a second vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that during the crash the front driver side air bag, the driver's side curtain airbag and driver's side lower leg air bags all d
• My dashboard screen has turned off completely 3 different times in the 14 months I have had the vehicle. It is normally off for several days at a time. When it is off, I have no access to my speed, gas, or any other controls shown on that display. When I run the KIa diagnostic tool, it tells me ther

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I was in a very light two-car collision on 08-09-2023. Both cars had little to no damages, just very minute scratches that are very hard to see. But two of the airbags on my KIA Niro (front and knee) deployed suddenly, causing me to black out for a couple of minutes and later have a concussion, and ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

5 complaints

• The components and systems failing are the brakes, adaptive cruise control, smart stop n go cruise control and electrical. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. The auto cruise control doesn’t give a safe distance to stop at (u r close enough to not see there tires) from the car in fro
• My dashboard screen has turned off completely 3 different times in the 14 months I have had the vehicle. It is normally off for several days at a time. When it is off, I have no access to my speed, gas, or any other controls shown on that display. When I run the KIa diagnostic tool, it tells me ther
• While entering into a parking spot at minimal speed, the vehicle experienced an unexpected spontaneous acceleration, causing it to lunge forward, climb onto the curb, and collide with the adjacent building. This resulted mainly in damage to the front end and front passenger door, and the shattering

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 65 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: The dash is textured. In direct sunlight, the texture reflects on the windshield and makes it difficult to see. The other day I came close to hitting a pedestrian because I didn’t them. It is so dangerous!
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: The components and systems failing are the brakes, adaptive cruise control, smart stop n go cruise control and electrical. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. The auto cruise control doesn’t give a safe distance to stop at (u r close enough to not see there tires) from the car in fro
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The components and systems failing are the brakes, adaptive cruise control, smart stop n go cruise control and electrical. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. The auto cruise control doesn’t give a safe distance to stop at (u r close enough to not see there tires) from the car in fro
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I was in a very light two-car collision on 08-09-2023. Both cars had little to no damages, just very minute scratches that are very hard to see. But two of the airbags on my KIA Niro (front and knee) deployed suddenly, causing me to black out for a couple of minutes and later have a concussion, and
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)