4.9

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,670 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2019 Kia Niro engine problems

engine problem

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2019 Kia Niro Owner Comments

problem #13

Jan 162025

Niro

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a Kia Niro Hybrid. I had the check engine light come on. I took it to Kia dealership in Cicero, NY (Driver's Village/ Burdick Kia. Upon inspection, the dealership stated the following: "CONFIRM CUSTOMER CONCERN CEL ON, P0401 EGR INSUFFICIENT FLOW EGR PORT BECOMES CLOGGED AT HIGH MILEAGE, EGR REPLACEMENT WOULD CORRECT LIGHT TEMPORARILY HOWEVER CASUAL CONDITION WILL STILL REMAIN, CLOG IN EGR FROM ENGINE ITSELF. LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT MAY BE NEEDED FOR FULL CORRECTION OF CONDITION"

- Canastota, NY, USA

problem #12

Dec 022024

Niro

  • miles
Car brought to dealership on 12/2 due to check engine light. scan showed cylinder 4 misfire. Car in shop for 1 week to fix cylinder head replacement. stated "operating as designed". Car returned to shop due to car turning off in the highway. All light were on. now showing hybrid system fault. Dealership had to open kia tech ticket [XXX]. CONFIRMED LIGHTS ON DASH, HYBRID SYSTEM FAULT. DTC SCAN FOUND MCU, BMS DTC'S. REMOVED CONNECTIONS FROM THE HPCU TO INSPECT WIRING AND FOUND CENTER PIN IS MELTED AND THERE IS THERMAL DAMAGE TO WIRING. P0A3E DTC, OPEN TA#[XXX] TA HPCU REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. CABLE REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. 1/6 - now advised another part is needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Venice, FL, USA

problem #11

Dec 122024

Niro

  • 32,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #1. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the cylinder #4 injector. The dealer also informed the contact that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 32,000.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #10

Nov 052024

Niro

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Service bulletin eng212. 4th cylinder misfire. Diagnostic has been done at Dennis Dillon 9501west Fairview ave Boise id 83704. Engine shaking when increasing speeds above 30 mph. Started without warning while driving. It was recently serviced for routine items on October 16th 2024. On November 5th it had diagnostic performed. Check engine light and display showed automatic diagnostics, engine control system, possible engine condition. I was on my way to vote. Yes it is available for inspection. I am currently not driving it but unsure what to do with it since the value of the car and amount of repairs needed are close in range.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #9

Jul 262024

Niro

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a ticking and a popping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact's friend who was following behind noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was driven to the destination. The following day, the oil level was checked, and the contact stated that the oil level was low; however, there was no sign of an oil leak. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started and made a rattling sound. The contact turned the vehicle off and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a hole in the crankcase. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Deer Lodge, MT, USA

problem #8

May 052022

Niro

  • miles
On 7-31-2022 while traveling on the freeway the gas engine shut down, HEV triangle came on and the information center on the car displayed "turn off car restart" on this trip it happened three times. I took the car to the dealer and they had it for a month and could not get it to act up. On 5-5-2023 it did it again twice, I called the dealer and they did not have a loaner car, they said they would let me know when they do. On the 6-30-2023 it did it eleven times. I called the dealer and they checked the car into service a mouth later 7-2023. The car has been at the dealer since then, now it is 12-2023. The dealer has not been able to get it to act up. I call KIA customer service and they told me they would not do the recall unless the dealer can repeat the problem. When this happens, I have only a limited amount of room to get the car off the road. This problem has only happened on freeways and the mountain pass with limited pull outs. This exposes me and any passenger's to a rear end collision. I feel the manufacture is playing roullet with me and my passenger's lives. All my dealer paper work is in my car a two hour trip at Sunset KIA 3317 Auburn way N Auburn WA 98002

- Lakewood, WA, USA

problem #7

Dec 122023

Niro

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Recall letter from KIA states "WARNING: You may experience illumination of the HEV warning light. If this occurs, pull over to a safe location and contact Kia Roadside Assistance... to request to have your vehicle towed to the nearest authorized Kia dealership as soon as possible." This implies that the car is not safely driveable if the HEV warning light illuminates. My HEV warning light illuminated, but neither of two local Kia dealerships is willing to take responsibility since the "remedy is not available" from Kia. This means I have lost the safe use of my car for an indefinite period without any compensation from Kia.

- Teaneck, NJ, USA

problem #6

Apr 172023

Niro

  • 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.

- Belmont, MA, USA

problem #5

Dec 032022

Niro

  • miles
I have a used 2019 Niro PHEV. I started getting a loud jerk when starting from a full stop. At first it started happened in EV mode only but I've had it happen in Hybrid mode a couple of times ( not sure if the engine is actually working or just on for Heating). The sound and jerk can best be described as what happens when you drive a stick shift and you pull the clutch too quickly in first gear without any gas and the car jerks forward. It also feels like I've been rear ended. The car feels unsafe the drive. There were no warning lights. Dealer hasn't reproduced it yet. I just brought it in. Please see these forum posts about this issue. Many others are experiencing this: https://www.kianiroforum.com/threads/brand-new-2019-phev-loud-jerking-noise-when-starting-from-full-stop.8740/ https://www.kia-forums.com/threads/occasional-hard-loud-shift-from-start-on-new-niro-phev.342780/

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #4

Feb 062021

Niro

  • miles
I don't know what components are involved. When attempting to move forward from a stop the car does not respond immediately. Then there is clunk noise and a lurch forward. Sometimes when this happens it feels like the car has been hit from behind. The problem began about a year ago and has been into the dealer's service center several times. I believe during one of those service visits a reset of something was done that seemed to resolve the issue for several months. The problem is intermittent. Dealer has been unable to reproduce the issue, but stated the last time the car was in for service that another customer with the same year and make was having the same symptoms and a tech that had been allowed to use the car for over a week did not experience the issue. No warning lights or codes are associated with the issue. A car that fails to move forward on a green light is in danger of being rear-ended placing the people in the vehicle and surrounding vehicles at risk of bodily injury. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than service staff at the FOlsom Lake Kia dealership. On February 18, 2022, the vehicle had no power (automatic doorlocks didn't work, etc) could not be started and was towed to the dealership where it is now.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #3

Apr 122020

Niro

  • 200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact leased a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure was experienced twice. The vehicle was taken to kaearny mesa Ford Kia dealer (7303 clairemont mesa boulevard, san diego, ca 92111, (858)560-6965, and the vehicle was test driven however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 192019

Niro

  • 5 miles
The problem that I'm I'm having is a code P0456 (evaporative emission system leak detected, which is a small leak. The reason why I'm worried is because the gauge for the rpms goes all the way across as far as it can go, in other words it's like as if I'm pushing down on the gas pedal as far as it can go, it does this when I'm driving on the highway, when I'm about to leave a signal light from a complete stop, when I'm driving up a hill is when it's worst.

- Canyon Country, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 132019

Niro

  • 26,500 miles
First the air conditioner stopped working for 2 days. Then on the 3rd day, 8/13/19, the hev light and oil lights went on. The engine slowed down. The car was towed to the Kia dealership in Ontario, ca. Initially they said it may not be covered by warranty. Then on 8/17 they told me the air conditioner needs a new compressor. Then on 8/23 I was told that oil and metal shards had leaked into the engine and the entire engine needs to be replaced. It is unknown when the repair will be done.

- Upland, CA, USA

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