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2018 Kia Niro Phev

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2024
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days later, I was on the road, slowi…

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I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days later, I was on the road, slowing down at the intersection and the car suddenly lost power, the Dashboard show the message for 'EV System failed'. My battery was fully charged at work, which is 2 miles away. My gas tank was full and I couldn't start my car again. Lucky enough, I was 1/4 mile away entering a Freeway. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I was on Freeway. Police stopped by, put road warning while I scrambled to get a tow truck. An hour later, they was able to move my car off the road. The first Kia Dealer is 3 miles away. They, however, refused to service my car because the other Dealer in San Jose already checked my car for recall before. I had to tow my car 36 miles to San Jose Kia Dealer. I asked them to check again if it was the issue with the recall. Kia Dealer diagnosed and concluded that the 'Relay Assembly Power' unit, Fuse-High Voltage failed for whatever reason. I asked for picture of the damage part and haven't received them. The Dealer said they still have system message which Kia's Engineers haven't figured out why. I am on the 3rd week without a car. I don't have a car to go to work and pick up my kids. I am renting a car at $300/week for my family and work tasks.

NHTSA ODI #11572995

15,000 miles · Mar 21, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE RANDOMLY FLASHES MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR AFTER VEHICLE RESET BUT THE MESSAGE HAS REPEATEDLY COME UP VERY OFTEN NOW. MESSAGE POPS UP DURING MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS: AFTER CHARGING, BEFORE CHARGING, WHILE CHARGING, AND DURING OPERATION.

NHTSA ODI #11190496

Official recalls

1

23V534000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:internal:clutches/bands:actuators/solenoids

Jul 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.