2020 KIA NIRO EV

2 recalls — 26 complaints

25V426000 Jun 20, 2025
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Niro EV vehicles. The circuit board for the rearview camera may become damaged and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numb... Read more
Consequence
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC342.
11,327 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
22V899000 Dec 6, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:THERMAL MANAGEMENT:FLUID/COOLANT
Defect Description
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Niro EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally.
Consequence
Coolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the EPCU as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC258.
872 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

Complaint Statistics

26 total complaints 1 crashes

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN3
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST2
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
WHEELS1
SERVICE BRAKES1
STEERING1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Feb 9, 2026
Incident date: Dec 6, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro EV. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under an undisclosed recall on two separate occasions; however, the part failed a third time after the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer declined to offer additional repairs under the recall. The contact refer... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Sep 14, 2025
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
I had just left my doctor after a protracted visit and was almost late for dinner guests. I noticed a thumping and thought it was the road, but it was a 3/8" bolt in my tire tread.I pulled up at Costco, hoping they could repair it quickly but was told I had to wait 2.5 hours when I had guests comin... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Jul 21, 2025
Incident date: Nov 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Niro. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the refill inverter coolant warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the refill inverter warning light illuminated while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it wa... Read more
VISIBILITY/WIPER Jun 5, 2025
Incident date: Jun 4, 2025
There is a silver strip that runs horizontally along the middle of the dashboard from one side to the other. It’s made out of a very reflective material. During the midday hours, it brightly shines the sun directly into the driver’s and passenger’s eyes—it’s very blinding!–and makes it d... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jun 5, 2025
Incident date: Jun 4, 2025
There is a silver strip that runs horizontally along the middle of the dashboard from one side to the other. It’s made out of a very reflective material. During the midday hours, it brightly shines the sun directly into the driver’s and passenger’s eyes—it’s very blinding!–and makes it d... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jan 1, 2025
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
About 7 months ago, "Refill Inverter Coolant" warning came up. Since then, I've scheduled service appoitment wtih Van Nuys Kia dealership 5 times to resolve this issue, but even after recent appoitment 2 weeks ago, this warning is still came up on my dashboard. Every time I start the car, the persis... Read more
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Jan 1, 2025
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
About 7 months ago, "Refill Inverter Coolant" warning came up. Since then, I've scheduled service appoitment wtih Van Nuys Kia dealership 5 times to resolve this issue, but even after recent appoitment 2 weeks ago, this warning is still came up on my dashboard. Every time I start the car, the persis... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Jan 1, 2025
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
About 7 months ago, "Refill Inverter Coolant" warning came up. Since then, I've scheduled service appoitment wtih Van Nuys Kia dealership 5 times to resolve this issue, but even after recent appoitment 2 weeks ago, this warning is still came up on my dashboard. Every time I start the car, the persis... Read more
STEERING Nov 30, 2024
Incident date: Nov 30, 2024
vehicle started jerking suddenly and uncontrollably. It jerked to the side almost gliding into another vehicle there is a smell also coming from the car and wheels have extensive loss of threading due to abrupt change of speed and direction. Controlling the vehicle does this more regularly but this ... Read more
SERVICE BRAKES Nov 30, 2024
Incident date: Nov 30, 2024
vehicle started jerking suddenly and uncontrollably. It jerked to the side almost gliding into another vehicle there is a smell also coming from the car and wheels have extensive loss of threading due to abrupt change of speed and direction. Controlling the vehicle does this more regularly but this ... Read more
WHEELS Nov 30, 2024
Incident date: Nov 30, 2024
vehicle started jerking suddenly and uncontrollably. It jerked to the side almost gliding into another vehicle there is a smell also coming from the car and wheels have extensive loss of threading due to abrupt change of speed and direction. Controlling the vehicle does this more regularly but this ... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER May 22, 2024
Incident date: May 21, 2024
The interior instrument panel horizontal angled trim has a shiny metal surface that when the sun shines on it, reflects into the driver's eyes causing a blinding experience. The driver cannot see the instrument panel, the display, the controls, and causes a total white out/ washout of visibility. Du... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Mar 16, 2024
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
Car lost power, turtle warning lamp came on with “power limited” warning. This happened as I was slowing down in the fast lane of [XXX] just outside Novato CA. Fortunately, the cars behind me slowed down and stopped while I turned off the power and restarted the car. The car was fine after that... Read more
POWER TRAIN Feb 2, 2024
Incident date: Oct 14, 2023
Faulty EPCU and circuit board damaged from coolant leak, as described by Kia technician. Other components have been affected. Estimated $3,000 in parts left to replace. Total repair cost is looking to exceed $13,000. On last failure of car, I was driving as the Electical Vehicle Systems error occur... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Feb 2, 2024
Incident date: Oct 14, 2023
Faulty EPCU and circuit board damaged from coolant leak, as described by Kia technician. Other components have been affected. Estimated $3,000 in parts left to replace. Total repair cost is looking to exceed $13,000. On last failure of car, I was driving as the Electical Vehicle Systems error occur... Read more
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Feb 2, 2024
Incident date: Oct 14, 2023
Faulty EPCU and circuit board damaged from coolant leak, as described by Kia technician. Other components have been affected. Estimated $3,000 in parts left to replace. Total repair cost is looking to exceed $13,000. On last failure of car, I was driving as the Electical Vehicle Systems error occur... Read more
POWER TRAIN Dec 19, 2023
Incident date: Dec 19, 2023
Drive unit defect in EV motor/reduction gear. These vehicles have a manufacturing defect that causes a percentage of them to experience a loud noise while under acceleration, loudest at around 30mph. It is described as a "card in spokes", "motor rumble", "wheel of fortune", "clicking/tapping" sound.... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Nov 28, 2023
Incident date: Sep 20, 2023
-Abnormal Reduction Gear and/or EV motor Rumble noise as identified in KIA TSB-234. The car is available for inspection. -Car not working properly/increasing the risk of stall or breakdown while driving and therefore increasing the risk of collision/accident. There is a loss of power and increas... Read more
POWER TRAIN Nov 28, 2023
Incident date: Sep 20, 2023
-Abnormal Reduction Gear and/or EV motor Rumble noise as identified in KIA TSB-234. The car is available for inspection. -Car not working properly/increasing the risk of stall or breakdown while driving and therefore increasing the risk of collision/accident. There is a loss of power and increas... Read more
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Nov 28, 2023
Incident date: Sep 20, 2023
-Abnormal Reduction Gear and/or EV motor Rumble noise as identified in KIA TSB-234. The car is available for inspection. -Car not working properly/increasing the risk of stall or breakdown while driving and therefore increasing the risk of collision/accident. There is a loss of power and increas... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Jan 10, 2023
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact stated that after charging the battery to 80 percent, the vehicle immediately turned off while reversing out of the charging station. After restarting the vehicle and driving, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who cleared the fa... Read more
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST Nov 23, 2021
Incident date: Nov 16, 2021
Driving in my 2020 Kia Niro EV EX in the right lane of a 2-lane northbound highway at 3PM on a weekday, clear-weather, I changed lanes into the left lane when all of the sudden the Lane Keeping Assist malfunctioned and startlingly and abruptly jerked me across the double yellow lines into oncoming s... Read more
Crash
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST Nov 22, 2021
Incident date: Oct 29, 2021
My husband and I have both experienced an abrupt jolt when the Lane Keeping Assist is activated. It's not the "normal" tug that alerts you when drifting. And sometimes this startling jolt is activated when not changing lanes. Also, for a split second when the Lane Keeping Assist has this unexpected ... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Nov 22, 2021
Incident date: Oct 29, 2021
My husband and I have both experienced an abrupt jolt when the Lane Keeping Assist is activated. It's not the "normal" tug that alerts you when drifting. And sometimes this startling jolt is activated when not changing lanes. Also, for a split second when the Lane Keeping Assist has this unexpected ... Read more
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL Nov 7, 2021
Incident date: Nov 7, 2021
The Adaptive Cruise Control System is not working. It is available for inspection upon request. The cruise control system does not reset, but rather retains the last set point. When I start the car and touch the accelerator, the car assumes the last set speed setting. In my case that is 60mph. It do... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Dec 14, 2020
Incident date: Dec 11, 2020
VOLUME ON VESS AND BACKUP ALERT SYSTEM GREATLY EXCEEDS RECOMMENDED LEVELS, TO THE POINT WHERE BACKING UP OUT OF GARAGE CAN ANNOY NEIGHBORS IN THEIR HOMES. WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT A LOCAL STRIP MALL, THE VOLUME OF THE BACKUP ALERT FROM THE VESS WAS SO SHOCKING THAT IT STARTLED A PEDEST... Read more

KIA NIRO EV — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the KIA NIRO EV across all model years (2020–2025).

23 Total Recalls
128 Total Complaints
0 Investigations
14 Reported Crashes
0 Reported Fires
0 Reported Deaths

KIA NIRO EV — Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year Recalls Complaints
2025 4 0 View
2024 6 8 View
2023 8 27 View
2022 2 43 View
2021 1 2 View
2020 (current) 2 26
2019 0 22 View

Other KIA Models

Model Recalls Complaints
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OPTIMA 100 10,128 View
TELLURIDE 70 2,186 View
SOUL 66 7,233 View
SORENTO HYBRID 62 159 View
SOUL EV 62 50 View