2017 Kia Niro Hybrid SUV FWD

On January 30, 2022 I was driving my 2017 Kia Niro (133,500 miles) when my car broke down. I was driving along at 45 MPH when I had three or so warning lights flash on my dash. I don't clearly remember what they said, but it was something about the hybrid system and then the check engine light came on along with the warning label for the hybrid system again and the car died. I managed to get off the highway and come to a safe stop into a parking lot of a hotel. I tried turning my car off and back on but nothing happened except for the dash panel lights going on saying check hybrid. The last time I did it I waited a couple of minutes before attempting to turn it back on and again, no change. At this point I ended up having to call AAA and had my car towed to my dealership. (40 miles away) Besides being scary to have this happen, I learned that this problem is common in Kia Niro’s. The part I am talking about is the “high voltage fuse”. Evidently manufacturer installs a 125amp fuse and the fuse needed is 175amps. I feel this is a huge problem and will eventually if not already end up causing a serious accident. I look forward to a response and hopefully a solution to get this $434.72 service charge recovered plus tow fees.

On 12/03/2021 I noticed white steam coming from the exhaust of my vehicle. Very shortly after noticing this issue I lost all heat and the engine temperature began to rise. I immediately checked the engine coolant level and noticed the reservoir was empty. On 12/04/2021 an authorized dealer diagnosed the issue as a cracked catalytic converter/heat recovery unit. This assembly allows exhaust gases to heat up engine coolant to improve gas efficiency. When the system fails it allows engine coolant to burn off an causes the vehicle to unexpectedly over heat, hence putting the occupants at great risk. Simple internet research has shown that this is a common problem with this vehicle yet the dealer is refusing to pay for the replacement of this defective part.

The contact had a loaner 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving and stopping at a red light when the light turned green the contact depressed on the accelerator pedal and was going about 5 MPH when suddenly the power steering failed. The contact manually steered the vehicle and caused the driver to rear-end and crash the vehicle in front of her that also caused that vehicle to rear-end the vehicle in front of them which caused a 3 car accident. There were no warning lights illuminated from the vehicle, The air bag did not deploy. No one was injured. There was no medical treatment needed at the scene. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the local dealer where they loaned the vehicle to have it returned. The contact was informed a week after the accident there was a recall for that year and model of vehicle for power steering and the contact reached out to a local dealer to inquire if that particular vehicle was part of the recall but did not get any response. The vehicle was repaired. However, the contact was told the vehicle was sold shortly after the repair to an individual without knowing if the vehicle had a recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel intermittently made an abnormal clicking sound upon turning the steering wheel in either direction without warning. Over time, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle with the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V159000 (Steering) however, the Vin was not included. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, an abnormal sound was heard, and the vehicle lost forwards momentum. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. As the contact exited the vehicle, an abnormal odor appeared under the hood. There were no flames present. The contact stated that oil was seen leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The vehicle was unable to drive. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V257000 (Hybrid Propulsion System) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where the vehicle was being serviced. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER RK KIA OF VINELAND LOCATED AT 612 N. DELSEA DR BUILDING 1, VINELAND, NJ 08360 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2 DOOR HANDLE COVER BROKE UNDER NORMAL USE.

WHILE PARKED AND ENGINE OFF, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, IT WAS STILL SHOWING IT IN PARK AND OFF.

SITTING IN VEH. READY TO START.VEH. WILL TURN ON BUT NOT TURN OVER. BATTERY STRONG, LIGHTS ON AND BRIGHT BUT NO PETAL FOR A GAS START. THE VEH. WAS SITTING STILL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2017 KIA NIRO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVEN SAFETY RECALLS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED DUE TO NOT HAVING THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME SLUGGISH. THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE TIRE WAS FILLED.*JS

MY 2017 KIA NIRO HYBRID SEEMS TO NOT BE STORING CODES WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD 3 SEPARATE PROBLEMS WITH BY NIRO IN 3 WEEKS WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH THE HEV HYBRID FUSE AND WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO POWER AND YET BY THE TIME IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP IT RESET ITSELF BUT DIDN'T STORE ANY CODES FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.. THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEMS AND HAD NO WERE TO START FROM. I'M NOW DRIVING IT AND JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO GO WRONG WITH IT

WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 KIA NIRO ON REGULAR ROADS, IT HAD A DRAMATIC DOWN SHIFT IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. CONTINUED FOUR MORE STOPS WHEN APPROACHING A HILL, THE SPORT MODE DID NOT WORK AND BARELY MADE IT UP HILL, NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER LIGHTS. SHOP COULDN'T RECREATE PROBLEM. THE RECALIBRATED THE TRANSMISSION. DROVE FINE 1 DAY. 3/4 OF MY WAY ON 200 MILE TRIP ON HIGHWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL THE HEV LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE AND BLINKING GREEN CAR CAME ON. DEALER REPLACED THE HYBRID SYSTEM FUSE. 5 DAYS LATER ON 74 MILE TRIPP'S HIGHWAY ENGINE, (!) AND TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, LOST POWER AND BARELY MADE IT UP A HILL. OH AND THE HOOD POPPED OPEN, HELD BY LATCH WHILE DOING 65 ON HIGHWAY . NOW IT SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP

THE CAR MISFIRES DUE TO THE EGR VALVE AND THE ENGINEER'S OF THE CAR CAN'T COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THE MISFIRE PROBLEM THE CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IS UNSAFE

MY 2017 KIA NIRO CAUGHT ON FIRE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. NO COLLUSION WAS INVOLVED. I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE TO STOP THE ENGINE DUE TO A PROBLEM BEING DETECTED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I PULLED OFF OF THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING HAD JUST HAPPENED TO THE ENGINE. I STAYED IN THE CAR AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AS I DID NOT WANT TO STAND ON THE SHOULDER OF THIS BUSY HIGHWAY. A MAN THEN JUMPS OUT OF HIS TRUCK AND STARTS RUNNING TOWARD ME YELLING AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. I GOT OUT, WE RAN DOWN THE SHOULDER AND WE STOOD WATCHING MY CAR BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2018.

I HAVE TRIED ON THREE OCCASIONS TO HAVE THIS RECALL FIXED. EACH TIME, I LEFT THE CAR WITH THE DEALER, WAITED ALL DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WORK WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THAT THEY HAS TO ORDER THE PART. THE FIRST TIME, COVINA KIA, SENT ME AN E-MAIL TELLING ME THAT I HAD CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT, WHEN THEY CANCELLED IT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE PART. THE SECOND TIME, THE PART WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN STOCK BUT WAS AGAIN NOT AVAILABLE. THE LAST TIME WAS WITH CITRUS KIA. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER CARE, REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND WAS PROMISED THAT IT WOULD BE RESOLVED. AS OF THIS DATE IT HASN'T. I BELIEVE, KIA IS STALLING THIS RECALL BECAUSE THEY DON'T KEEP PARTS IN STOCK. CURRENTLY, I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FEB. 6, TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. THIS IS LOS ANGELES WITH THOUSANDS OF CARS. I AM ESPECIALLY SUSPICIOUS OF THE E-MAIL AS IT MADE ME LOOK LIKE I HAD CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT.

THE STEMS THAT THE HEADREST SETS ON ARE SHARP. MY DAUGHTER CUT HER FINGER WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST THE HEADREST. IT WAS MINOR, BUT STILL UNEXPECTED.

THE ACCELERATION RAPIDLY FLUCTUATES AND IT FEELS LIKE IT IS VIBRATING.

DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING THE CAR SKIDS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE CAR GOING INTO A SIDEWAYS SKID. I ENCOUNTERED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IN SLIGHTLY WET/SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN PANIC BRAKING FROM ~35 MPH.

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE COMING BACK FROM AUSTIN AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS I HEARD A SOUND OF SOMETHING RATTLING ABOVE MY HEAD. MY PASSENGER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM THE SUNROOF AREA. HE CRACKED OPEN THE SUNROOF ACCESS DOOR AND HE SAID HE COULD SEE THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND HE CLOSED IT IMMEDIATELY. WE STOPPED AS SOON AS WE COULD AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE SHATTERED SUNROOF. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS AROUND US. AND WE DID NOT GO UNDER ANY BRIDGES OR OVERPASSES.

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (PARKED AND UNLOCKED). UPON PULLING THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR (BACKSEAT, DRIVER'S SIDE), THE HANDLE BROKE OFF AND FELL TO THE GROUND. I RETRIEVED THE HANDLE AND A (BROKEN) PLASTIC CONNECTING PIECE.

PASSAGER DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY CAME APART WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR; RENDERING THE DOOR INOPERABLE. IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS CAN LEAVE A PASSENGER STUCK IF THE DRIVER OR FIRST RESPONDERS CANNOT ACCESS THEM. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN (TSBBOD173) ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD, THIS SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN FEBRUARY 2017. THE AIRBAG SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPAIRED. THE CAR MALFUNCTIONS OVER A BRIDGE CONSTANTLY ON MY WAY TO WORK. KIA DOESN'T KNOW WHY IT DOES THIS. THE LATEST ISSUE IS THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IN TRAFFIC AND THERE BEING NO ACCELERATION. I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES. KIA CORPORATION HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND A TECH HAS BEEN FLOWN OUT TO INVESTIGATE MY CAR. I'M CURRENTLY SUING THEM TO REPURCHASE IT AS A LEMON. THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL. THEY HAVE HAD AIRBAG AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH SEVERAL OTHER MODELS HISTORICALLY. NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY MY CAR KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. I HAVE SEVERAL INVOICES AND PICTURES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA NIRO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT LOOKED OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE WERE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FIRE AND DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.

I HAD THIS CAR 2 MONTHS WHEN I REALIZED I AM NOT GETTING MPG AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING OFF. MPG ON HIGHWAY IS ABOUT 35 MPG AND ABOUT 40 IN STREET. ABOUT TRANSMISSION EVERY TIME I AM ABOUT SLOWING DOWN I HEAR NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH OF CAR AND SOME TIMES I FEEL SHAKE, AND ALSO FEW TIMES VERY HARD KICK. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE WITH SERVICE AT CARSON, AND GLENDALE KIA AND BOTH SERVICE REP GAVE ME SAME ANSWER ABOUT THIS CLUTCH IS COMPUTER AND IT IS NORMAL IF JERKS. AND ALSO ONCE I ASKED SERVICE TECH TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HE SAID SAME THING.

THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED AND TOTALED MY CAR.. WHILE.SITTING AND WAITING FOR GREEN LIGHT ON A ROAD(STATIONARY).THE NEW KIA ARE NOT SAFE. IF YOU ARE REAR ENDED.THERES NO PROTECTION.THE AIR BAGS DON'T WORK EVEN IF YOU GET HIT AT 35 MPH.I AM COMPLAINING TO MAKE THE CONSUMERS TO BE AWARE OF THE KIA BRAND.THAT THEY ARE NOT TESTING CARS ON REAR END COLLISIONS.MY CAR WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD.I HOPE YOU INVESTIGATE THIS AND MAKE CARS MORE SAFER.

NEW KIA NIRO ROLLS BACK ON INCLINES IN DRIVE AFTER REMOVING FOOT OFF OF BREAK AND RIGHT BEFORE PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, ON PAVED, CITY STREETS. NEVER HAD THIS WITH OTHER AUTOMATICS. NEW KIA NIRO JUMPS FORWARD/ACCELERATES SHARPLY WHILE IN DRIVE WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY (1-3 MILES PER HOUR) UP AN INCLINE. THIS OCCURRES ON PAVED, CITY STREETS.

REVERSING (BACKUP) LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, AND MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE STIPULATIONS OF SECTION 571.108 OF THE CFR TITLE 49 CH. 5 (10-1-04 EDITION)

EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES POP OFF, JUST FROM PULLING ON THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOOR.

I ACCELERATED TO 65MPH.I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. 2 SECONDS LATER I SEE THAT I AM ACCELERATING. I PRESS CANCEL AT 72 MPH. I PRESS THE CRUISE BUTTON AGAIN, TURNING OFF THE CRUISE, THEN ON AGAIN. SLOW TO 65, PRESS THE - SET AND IT IMMEDIATELY STARTS SPEEDING UP. SECOND REPORT. 4TH AND 5TH TIME TO HAPPEN. DASHCAM RECORDED EVENTS.

WHEN PRESSING THE RESUME BUTTON THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION WIDE OPEN THROTTLE WELL BEYOND THE SET SPEED OF THE SPEED CONTROL. MOST OF THE TIME THE RESUME DOES NOTHING BUT SET A NEW SPEED, THE CURRENT SPEED.

WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE RIGHT REAR FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE LOOSE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE HARD LINE. I TIGHTENED THE FITTING ADDED APPROXIMATELY 6OZ OF BRAKE FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR AND LEAK CHECKED THE SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS QUALITY ASSURANCE FACTORY ESCAPE WHICH COULD HAVE CREATED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

LEASED THE 2017 KIA NIRO EX HYBRID CAR, LATE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017 AND DROVE HOME 10+ MILES. ODOMETER HAD 15 MILES AT START. LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT EARLY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017 AT 4AM. BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WAS STEERING ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND NOISY (GROWLING) - VIBRATING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL ITSELF. PULLED BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RETRIED SEVERAL TIMES. WAITED WITH THE CAR IDLING. BATTERY - HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LET THE CAR SIT AND LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR ANSWERS. TRIED BACKING OUT AGAIN AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, AND STEERING WAS AGAIN VERY DIFFICULT. DROVE BACK INTO THE GARAGE. CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND THE FLATBED TRUCK TOOK THE 2017 KIA NIRO EX BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOW DRIVER HAD MUCH TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND MANEUVERED ONTO THE FLATBED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO US BECAUSE OF A CATASTROPHIC STEERING FAILURE. RECEIVED CALL FROM SERVICE AT KIA CERRITOS SAYING POWER STEERING MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT KOREAN ENGINEERS WERE FLYING OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR PERSONALLY. STILL DO NOT HAVE A CAR, BUT WE ARE IN LIMBO NOW ABOUT THE BRAND ITSELF. WE DO NOT WANT THIS CAR OR A KIA PRODUCT.

LEASED THE CAR ON SUNDAY AND DROVE HOME 10+ MILES. ODOMETER HAD 15 MILES ON IT. LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT EARLY WEDNESDAY. (DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL WEDNESDAY, AND ONLY ATTEMPTED ONCE. OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 DAYS.) BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WAS STEERING ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND NOISY - VIBRATING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL ITSELF. PULLED BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RETRIED SEVERAL TIMES. WAITED WITH THE CAR IDLING. BATTERY WARNING CAME ON. LET THE CAR SIT AND LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR ANSWERS. TRIED BACKING UP AGAIN AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, AND STEERING WAS AGAIN VERY DIFFICULT. DROVE BACK INTO THE GARAGE. CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND THE FLATBED TRUCK TOOK THE 2017 KIA NIRO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOPING TO HAVE OUR LEASE VOIDED AND WILL SEARCH SAFERCAR.GOV FOR A NEW VEHICLE CHOICE. NO FAITH IN THE KIA BRAND NOW.