2023 Kia NIRO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 44 complaints (34.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 15.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 11.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Unknown Or Other: 15; Electrical System: 14; Air Bags: 6; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 6; Power Train: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 39 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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2023: 12; 2024: 10; 2025: 11; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11514541 · 2023-03-30 (March 30, 2023)
While slowing down (without bringing it to a full stop) to make a left turn, car dies, losses all propulsion power just coasts. First it happened intermittently than more often. First it happened in low speed later even with highway speed. After bringing it to a park position and restarting car it will run fine until another incident.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11514541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523135 · 2023-05-22 (May 22, 2023)
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!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11530655 · 2023-07-06 (July 6, 2023)
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 front of u in case someone hits u from behind. It also doesn’t stop at the same distance it’s set at for the speed distance option. The car also doesn’t emergency brake itself when getting super close to the car in front of u. It only gives u warning s…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11530655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11530772 · 2023-07-06 (July 6, 2023)
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 they told me to file a claim with insurance. I have put a claim in with my insurance company and am still waiting for their response. I took pictures of the sunroof and there were no warning lights or any indication that the glass was going to break.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11530772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11535500 · 2023-07-31 (July 31, 2023)
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 or memory of any impact to cause damage. Dealership refused warranty coverage. Controls unusable and screen is glass, so there is now broken glass all around controls. Crack spread and expanded during normal driving conditions over next week. Control…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11535500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11536892 · 2023-08-07 (August 7, 2023)
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% when hitting 50% rather the exercising a wider range on the battery such as 20-80%
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11536892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543321 · 2023-09-08 (September 8, 2023)
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 bottom airbag caused a bruise and consistent knee pain to this day. My car is at a Kia Service facility and has been for the past 3 weeks and we haven’t gotten any information from them as to what the problem was. I visited this facility to get s…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11543321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543355 · 2023-09-08 (September 8, 2023)
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 deployed as intended but the she sustained severe flesh wounds to both lower legs due to the airbags deploying. The contact was transported to the local trauma center and required multiple surgeries and skin grafts due to the injuries sustained from t…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11543355 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
23V298000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
Reported: 2023-04-26 (April 26, 2023)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V024000 · Seats | Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2025-01-17 (January 17, 2025)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment.
Consequence: Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC332.
NHTSA campaign record ↗