Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 17 safety complaints
about the 2019 Kia Niro EV with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the power train,
named in 8 complaints, 47% of the total.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers January 2020 to June 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
17 complaints on file
17
Complaints
1
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
0
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 8 · 47%
8 47%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 · 35%
6 35%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 18%
3 18%
ENGINE 2 · 12%
2 12%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 12%
2 12%
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY 1 · 6%
1 6%
TIRES 1 · 6%
1 6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 · 6%
1 6%
048
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 17.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2024 at 8.
12 9 6 3
202020212021222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not crash tested the 2019 Kia Niro EV. Its New Car Assessment Program
tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach
motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so
an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It
is not a low score.
What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a
different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people
inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke
during ordinary use.
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
DP22005
Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
the electrical 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.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
SERVICE BRAKES
crash · towed · 6,000 miles
MY BRAKES FAILED AS I TRIED TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. THERE WAS A CAR ALREADY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT, WHICH I BUMPED INTO. AS I WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT 'GAVE', AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD; I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. LUCKILY, I HAD ALREADY SLOWED CONSIDERABLY PRIOR TO THE BRAKES FAILING, SO NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE. THE OTHER DRIVER LEFT THE SCENE WITHOUT EXCHANGING INFORMATION, AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE KIA SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE: NO CODES SHOWED UP REGARDING ANY PROBLEMS; NOTHING WAS IN THE ONLINE HISTORY REPORT; NO LEAKS OR DAMAGED BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE OBSERVED; TEST DRIVING …
NHTSA complaint 11300024, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
towed · 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine seized. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The check regenerative braking system message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transition motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint 11518843. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
Our 2019 Kia Niro EV (approximately 138,000 miles) exhibits an abnormal rumble/growling noise from the front drive unit while driving slowly in "D" range and when accelerating or decelerating between 0–25 mph. This symptom matches exactly the condition described in Kia Technical Service Bulletin ELE234 (Rev. 1, April 2021): "Drive Unit Inspection & Replacement for EV Motor Rumble Noise," which covers all 2019MY Niro EV vehicles produced from December 5, 2018. To our knowledge, TSB ELE234 has never been performed on this vehicle. The repair involves replacement of motor/roll mount brackets and, if necessary, traction motor or reduction gear replacement. Kia has a documented, tiered repair …
NHTSA complaint 11745044, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
This complaint supplements a previously submitted report filed today, June 18, 2026, (Original is Complaint Number: 11845044) regarding the same vehicle and condition (TSB ELE234 drive unit rumble noise). The correct VIN for this vehicle is [XXX] — a 2019 Kia Niro EV EX Premium, 138,457 miles. I am filing on behalf of the vehicle owner, [XXX], who has authorized me to act as his advocate. The owner is a Ukrainian speaker and I am assisting with all documentation and communications. In addition to TSB ELE234 (drive unit motor rumble, April 2021), this vehicle is also subject to Kia Service Action SA512 (April 2023): Inverter Coolant/Debris Flushing for the "Refill Inverter Coolant" cluster …
NHTSA complaint 11745054, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. Failed Component/System: EV plastic charging door does not open using the electronic unlock mechanism on the key. Unable to charge EV vehicle due to this fundamental failure. IMPORTANT: There are no manual override mechanisms provided by the manufacturer - KIA to open this charging door. This makes the EV both unsafe and unusable since it cannot be charged. 2. Safety Risk: Unable to charge an EV vehicle is a fundamental EV electrical system component failure that can create an unsafe situation since it occurs without any warning and leave the car owner stranded. The Manufacturer - KIA has not provided any manual fail safe/override mechanism to open the charging door manually. This is …
NHTSA complaint 11687183, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While I’m driving a turtle light randomly illuminates and the car shuts off. The car shuts off from a few seconds up to a minute so far. I have taken it to Kia McDonough Ga and to no avail nothing: they had my car 2 months and by the time they did the diagnostic “the computer box reset”. Why let it sit for a diagnostic when all they are doing is connecting to a computer. I provided them videos and pictures and nothing. This is a danger any passengers, other drivers, as well as myself. The times are random and once the light comes on it’s off. Battery is new, battery is charged.
NHTSA complaint 11630030. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
Car made loud whinning noise for 6 months, due to defective transmission. KIA refused to fix because car was out of warranty- but has TSB: ELE234. My extended warranty did not cover because it was a known defect from KIA.' Car stopped working, transmission was repaired. Please see below attached 16k invoice.
NHTSA complaint 11625464. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
On June 28, 2022, I set my Juicebox Pro 40 charger to charge my car overnight. The car did not charge and I discovered that the breaker had tripped. I tried resetting the breaker and it immediately tripped again. I noticed a burning smell in the garage in the vicinity of the charger after attempting to reset the breaker. There was discoloration on the unit box. I then unplugged the unit at which point I was able to reset the breaker without it tripping. I concluded that the unit was unsafe to use and I returned it to ENEL. I bought a new one while I waited for warranty service on the old unit. I have not tested the old unit since it was repaired by ENEL. It was my judgment at the time, and …
NHTSA complaint 11618747, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst