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2017 Kia Niro Recalls & Complaints

4

open safety recalls on record

Critical

116 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.39 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical18V666000

Hybrid Propulsion System

The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, raises the risk of a fire.

Remedy & full details

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) for damage. If no damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. If damage is found, the PRA will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began November 23, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC168.

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid electric vehicles. The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance.

Critical18V257000

Hybrid Propulsion System

electrical short can raises the risk of a fire.

Remedy & full details

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HCA caps for leaked oil and replace the HCA assembly if needed, or replace the HCA cap with additional sealant. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC163.

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Kia Niro vehicles. The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) inner oil seal may leak, allowing oil to accumulate in the cap area, possibly resulting in an electrical short.

Critical22V836000

Hybrid Propulsion System

Overheated rear seats raises the risk of a fire.

Remedy & full details

Dealers will inspect the PRA and replace either the PRA or the Main Relay, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC256. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 18V-666. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid electric vehicles previously recalled under recall 18V-666. The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance, which can overheat the rear seats.

Critical23V534000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Internal:Clutches/Bands:Actuators/Solenoids

fire raises the risk of injury.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Complaint volume

116 this model-year 7 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

4Crashes
7Fires
4Injuries
0Deaths

Across 116 complaints. Severity Index 0.39.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Engine28 · 24%Power Train18 · 16%Electrical System17 · 15%Unknown Or Other12 · 10%Fuel/Propulsion System8 · 7%Steering7 · 6%Structure · Body5 · 4%Engine And Engine Cooling3 · 3%
  1. Engine — 28 reports
  2. Power Train — 18 reports
  3. Electrical System — 17 reports
  4. Unknown Or Other — 12 reports
  5. Fuel/Propulsion System — 8 reports
  6. Steering — 7 reports
  7. Structure:Body — 5 reports
  8. Engine And Engine Cooling — 3 reports
  9. Air Bags — 2 reports
  10. Service Brakes — 2 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2017 · 2018 (3) · 2019 (1) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (1) · 2022 (1) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (1) · 2026

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.