2020 Kia NIRO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 38 complaints (23.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 15.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
Engine: 9; Power Train: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Electrical System: 7; Service Brakes: 4; Air Bags: 2; Back Over Prevention: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2020: 1; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 8; 2025: 8; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11343051 · 2020-08-03 (August 3, 2020)
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 DEALER AND THEY STATE NOT ALL SAVED IN THE CAR'S ECM. THE LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN STARTING AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING. NOTICED THAT THE CAR TAKES LONGER TO CHANGE GEARS OR GO INTO EV MODE.
Owner-reported narrative. 958 miles reported. Look up ODI 11343051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11450471 · 2022-02-04 (February 4, 2022)
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 bumper in the past.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11450471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455280 · 2022-03-04 (March 4, 2022)
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 pressed the gas pedal my RPMs go up to five to seven but the car doesn't really go it's like it's barely even going 10 miles an hour. This to me is a huge safety concern considering what if you were trying to get out of the way of a semi and you have th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11455280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11484418 · 2022-09-14 (September 14, 2022)
The contact’s wife owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The contact stated that during the failure the regenerative brake warning light illuminated. The contact stated that his wife was able to coast into a parking lot. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacture was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11484418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11485034 · 2022-09-18 (September 18, 2022)
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 spoken to or taken it to the dealer with this same issue multiple times as it is covered under warranty. They keep telling me that’s just how the car drives but in the 8 cars I’ve owned in my life, I have never had a car that behaves this way before…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11485034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11492683 · 2022-11-08 (November 8, 2022)
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 not find the error. Lastly about two weeks before the car caught on fire. It was service for oil change and a catalytic converter replacement. After that while I was driving on the parkway in New Jersey I heard a loud bang in the engine and I pulled ov…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11492683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523754 · 2023-05-24 (May 24, 2023)
I have been a Lyft driver for over 2 years, and because of the mileage I put on mile personal vehicle. I had to result to renting a vehicle from Lyft Flex Drive Rental, located at 2214 Century Center Blvd Irving, TX 75062. 0n 05/15/2023 at approximately 8:15 p.m. Right after dropping off passenger, and on my way to pick up another one. The vehicle mentioned hereof suddenly blew up out of no where. My personal property in the vehicle was destroyed , and almost loss my life! However, Lyft is suggesting I pay over a thousand dollars. When it wa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11552803 · 2023-10-31 (October 31, 2023)
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 manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11552803 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
23V534000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Internal:Clutches/Bands:Actuators/Solenoids
Reported: 2023-07-31 (July 31, 2023)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.
Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.
NHTSA campaign record ↗