- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- A fire increases the risk of injury.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2018 Kia Niro Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2018 Kia Niro have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in July 2023 for the actuators / solenoids.
NHTSA data checked
AFar fewer problems than a typical Niro year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2018 Kia Niro recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2018 Kia Niro yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Kia Niro: every year compared
All Niro years2018 Kia Niro vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Niro | 0 | 3 | A | |
| 2018 Kia Sorento | 255 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2018 Kia Optima Plug-IN Hybrid | 246 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2018 Kia Optima | 235 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2018 Kia Soul EV | 225 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2018 Kia Soul | 222 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2018 Kia Sportage | 166 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2018 Kia Forte | 136 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid | 61 | 0 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2018 Kia Niro
Does the 2018 Kia Niro have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Kia Niro: actuators / solenoids (July 2023); hybrid propulsion system (November 2022); hybrid propulsion system (September 2018). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2018 Kia Niro had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2018 Kia Niro a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 90 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Kia Niro year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Kia Niro years have the most complaints?
2023 (44), 2022 (31), 2025 (17). See every Kia Niro year compared.
What should I do if my 2018 Kia Niro has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data