2019 Kia NIRO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 55 complaints (38.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 16.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 21 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Power Train: 21; Electrical System: 13; Engine: 10; Service Brakes: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Air Bags: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 6; 2023: 10; 2024: 9; 2025: 11; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11245045 · 2019-08-19 (August 19, 2019)
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE AC STOPPED WORKING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, ALARMS OR INDICATORS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS IS NOT RIGHT. AS I BRAKED ON THE RAMP, THE CAR STILL WORKED, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE LEAVING THE RAMP, THERE WAS NO POWER. I GOT INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON, IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I CALLED AAA, THEY GAVE IT A JUMP, BUT EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS FULL, WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE IT WO…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,140 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453100 · 2022-02-20 (February 20, 2022)
Starting battery (which operates the safety systems) was getting progressively worse until vehicle could not be started. Upon inspection it was determined that the 1.5 year old starting battery was swollen and defective. NOTE: Vehicle did sit for 12 months in estate litigation.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413613 · 2021-04-23 (April 23, 2021)
SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2020, OUR NIRO HAS BEEN AT A KIA SERVICE CENTER 12 TIMES AT 4 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET OUR NIRO TO REPLICATE, WHAT I THINK IS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE, DURING THE MILE OR TWO THE TECH TEST-DRIVES THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS. WHEN I AM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, ONCE IN A WHILE I HEAR A VERY LOUD BANG OR A MOMENTARY LOUD SCRAPING NOISE AS IF A METAL SPATULA IS BEING SWIFTLY DRAGGED ACROSS A SLAB OF CONCRETE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR ALSO SEEMS TO LUNGE FORWARD AS IF I AM SLIPPING ON ICE OR WET LEAVES…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11454862 · 2022-03-02 (March 2, 2022)
Twice the vehicle has lost all ability to brake or accelerate suddenly while driving speeds over 60 mph. The brake sticks in the up position, emergency brake doesn't work, and the gas pedal goes to the floor but does not work. The vehicle electrical panel goes haywire, battery of hybrid shows dead, then all gauges flash and change going up, down, and changing erratically. Vehicle lost all control in February and had to collide into something to stop.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11454862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406006 · 2021-04-01 (April 1, 2021)
I BOUGHT MY 2019 CAR ON DECEMBER 2020. WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED, AND I START FORWARD, THE CAR JERKS AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME RANDOMLY, BUT ONCE VERY 15 STOPS IN AVERAGE, ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 DAYS. I WENT TO AN ONLINE FORUM OF KIA OWNERS AND IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM COMES FROM THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING PUT INTO THE CAR DURING PRODUCTION. THERE IS A KIA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT DEALS WITH CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2020/MC-10174520-0001.PDF BUT WHEN I CALLED KIA USA, THEY TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11546776 · 2023-09-27 (September 27, 2023)
Driving to work and all of a sudden my front right side tilts down and scares me to death. This starts to effect my steering. This also happened to the side only 1 time. I believe this maybe a front lower control arm issue.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11546776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11655978 · 2025-04-22 (April 22, 2025)
Ever since the car was purchased 2nd hand, I reported an issue with the car within the 30 day warranty period that the vehicle was steering towards the right and would not go in a straight line, also it popped when steering right, 2 days ago the rod that connects to the bar in the middle that moves in and out as you steer came undone and was chipped
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11655978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11724340 · 2026-03-14 (March 14, 2026)
While traveling from upstate New York, the vehicle displayed an engine overheating warning shortly after startup while the engine was still cold. Because I was away from home, I stayed overnight and the next morning took the vehicle to a Kia dealership for inspection. The dealership inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a problem with the exhaust heat recovery system pipe. According to the service department, coolant is leaking internally through this component and is being burned in the exhaust system. The cooling system was pressure tested and…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11724340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11727300 · 2026-03-26 (March 26, 2026)
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The vehicle was successfully restarted and moved over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket, a misfire in the engine, and coolant mixing with the engine oil; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11727300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11631681 · 2024-12-19 (December 19, 2024)
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #1. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the cylinder #4 injector. The dealer also informed the contact that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11631681 at NHTSA ↗