2018 KIA NIRO PHEV — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report

N/A

Safety Rating

21

Owner Complaints

1 Crash

1

Recall

ACTIVE RECALL

8

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV

The 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV has received a total of 21 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS. 8 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Train (6 complaints), Engine (3 complaints), and Electrical System (2 complaints).

Recalls for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV

NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV, potentially affecting up to 364,233 vehicles.

Recall 23V534000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS

| 121,411 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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...

View full details →

Recall 23V534000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS

| 121,411 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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...

View full details →

Recall 23V534000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS

| 121,411 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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...

View full details →

Owner Complaints for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV

21 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11572995 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles
I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days later, I was on the road, slowing down at the intersection and the car suddenly lost power, the Dashboard show the message for 'EV System failed'. My battery was fully charged at work, which is 2 miles away. My gas tank was full and I couldn't start my car again. Lucky enough, I was 1/4 mile away entering a Freeway. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I was on Freeway. Police stopped by, put road warning while I scrambled to get a tow truck. An hour later, they was able to move my car off the road. The first Kia Dealer is 3 miles away. They, however, refused to service my car because the other Dealer in San Jose already checked my car for recall before. I had to tow my car 36 miles to San Jose Kia Dealer. I asked them to check again if it was the issue with the recall. Kia Dealer diagnosed and concluded that the 'Relay Assembly Power' unit, Fuse-High Voltage failed for whatever reason. I asked for picture of the damage part and haven't received them. The Dealer said they still have system message which Kia's Engineers haven't figured out why. I am on the 3rd week without a car. I don't have a car to go to work and pick up my kids. I am renting a car at $300/week for my family and work tasks.
#11572995 | POWER TRAIN | | N/A miles
I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days later, I was on the road, slowing down at the intersection and the car suddenly lost power, the Dashboard show the message for 'EV System failed'. My battery was fully charged at work, which is 2 miles away. My gas tank was full and I couldn't start my car again. Lucky enough, I was 1/4 mile away entering a Freeway. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I was on Freeway. Police stopped by, put road warning while I scrambled to get a tow truck. An hour later, they was able to move my car off the road. The first Kia Dealer is 3 miles away. They, however, refused to service my car because the other Dealer in San Jose already checked my car for recall before. I had to tow my car 36 miles to San Jose Kia Dealer. I asked them to check again if it was the issue with the recall. Kia Dealer diagnosed and concluded that the 'Relay Assembly Power' unit, Fuse-High Voltage failed for whatever reason. I asked for picture of the damage part and haven't received them. The Dealer said they still have system message which Kia's Engineers haven't figured out why. I am on the 3rd week without a car. I don't have a car to go to work and pick up my kids. I am renting a car at $300/week for my family and work tasks.
#11572995 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | | N/A miles
I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the recall SC276. However, they did not replace the fuse as stated in Kia's recall instructions. Ten days later, I was on the road, slowing down at the intersection and the car suddenly lost power, the Dashboard show the message for 'EV System failed'. My battery was fully charged at work, which is 2 miles away. My gas tank was full and I couldn't start my car again. Lucky enough, I was 1/4 mile away entering a Freeway. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I was on Freeway. Police stopped by, put road warning while I scrambled to get a tow truck. An hour later, they was able to move my car off the road. The first Kia Dealer is 3 miles away. They, however, refused to service my car because the other Dealer in San Jose already checked my car for recall before. I had to tow my car 36 miles to San Jose Kia Dealer. I asked them to check again if it was the issue with the recall. Kia Dealer diagnosed and concluded that the 'Relay Assembly Power' unit, Fuse-High Voltage failed for whatever reason. I asked for picture of the damage part and haven't received them. The Dealer said they still have system message which Kia's Engineers haven't figured out why. I am on the 3rd week without a car. I don't have a car to go to work and pick up my kids. I am renting a car at $300/week for my family and work tasks.
I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise control" - i am not sure of the exact warning. I've had a warning similar, im not sure if its the exact same, when the adaptive cruise control turns off in traffic and it slows down and turns itself off. But when it turned off this time after the puddle I tried to take control of the car and the gas pedal was completely unresponsive. Pedal to the metal, nothing. I was, thankfully, the only car in sight, so i was able to change lanes and check my brakes, which worked, and coasted/braked my way off the shoulder. I turned the car off and then back on and the car and pedal responded normally.
#11564643 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | | N/A miles
I was driving myself and two passengers on a highway at night in the rain. I was using the adaptive cruise control and was maintaining speed when i went through a puddle and I think the car hydroplaned a little. A warning sign flashed up on the dash that said something towards "deactivating cruise control" - i am not sure of the exact warning. I've had a warning similar, im not sure if its the exact same, when the adaptive cruise control turns off in traffic and it slows down and turns itself off. But when it turned off this time after the puddle I tried to take control of the car and the gas pedal was completely unresponsive. Pedal to the metal, nothing. I was, thankfully, the only car in sight, so i was able to change lanes and check my brakes, which worked, and coasted/braked my way off the shoulder. I turned the car off and then back on and the car and pedal responded normally.

View all Power Train complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV

Kia America, Inc. has issued 8 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

TSB_ELE231_R3 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: FRONT VIEW CAMERA REPLACEMENT FOR DTC C160449 & C160649 - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information on the inspection and replacement of the front camera...

TSB_CHA084_R6 — STEERING

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of the...

TSB_ENG212 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT FOR LEAN MISFIRE - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the engine cylinder head on some 2017-2019MY Niro (DE HEV/PHEV) vehicles produced from January 1, 2016 through November 13, 2018 These vehicles may exhibit a MIL with misfire DTC’s and/or experience a slight...

TSB_ELE186_R2 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: ELECTRIC WATER PUMP INSPECTION AND REPAIR (SA394) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and repair the Electric Water Pump(s) (EWP) on some 2018-2019MY Niro (DE) HEV, PHEV, and EV vehicles produced between November 24,...

PS626 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PITSTOP: CHARGE PORT STICKING AND/OR INTERMITTENT FAILURE TO CHARGE (PHEV/EV) - This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect the emergency charging door release cable on some 2018-2019MY Niro (PHEV/EV) vehicles when one of the following symptoms occur. * Vehicle does not charge or experiences an intermittent malfunction while charging. *...

TSBBOD195 — STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

TSB: SERVICE ACTION: TAILGATE STRIKER AND OVER-SLAM ENHANCEMENT (SA399) - This bulletin provides the procedure to adjust the tailgate striker and over-slam bumpers to improve the closing of the tailgate on some 2018MY Niro (DE, DE PHEV) vehicles produced between July 24, 2017 through January 16, 2018.

TSBELE163 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

TSB: PARASITIC DRAW INSPECTION AND REAR DOOR LATCH REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect for a parasitic draw and, if necessary, replace one or both rear door latches on some of the following vehicles which may experience a discharged 12v battery.

TSBELE146 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

TSB -SERVICE ACTION - FRONT WIRING HARNESS SECURING AND/OR REPAIR (SA343) - This bulletin provides information to secure and/or repair the front wire harness on some 2017-2018MY Niro (DE P/HEV) vehicles, produced from November 1, 2016 through April 26, 2018, which may exhibit a dash warning light(s) ON while driving,...

NHTSA Investigations for the 2018 KIA NIRO PHEV

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the KIA NIRO PHEV

View all KIA NIRO PHEV model years →

Other KIA Models

View all KIA models →

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report