Representative model. Photo: Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2018 Kia Niro recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2018 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 73
Latest campaign: Jul 31, 2023

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Hybrid propulsion system	2	Nov 11, 2022	22V836000 18V666000
Power train	1	Jul 31, 2023	23V534000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jul 31, 2023Latest campaign


Jul 31, 202323V534000	Power train: automatic transmission internal A fire increases the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V534000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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 is SC276. Filed under Niro, Niro Phev Campaign NHTSA 23V534000 · Jul 31, 2023
Nov 11, 202222V836000	Hybrid propulsion system Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 22V836000 What's wrong 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. Risk Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire. Remedy 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. Filed under Niro Campaign NHTSA 22V836000 · Nov 11, 2022
Sep 25, 201818V666000	Hybrid propulsion system The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V666000 What's wrong 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. Risk The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire. Remedy 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. Filed under Niro Campaign NHTSA 18V666000 · Sep 25, 2018

Jul 31, 202323V534000

Power train: automatic transmission internal

A fire increases the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 23V534000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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 is SC276.
Filed under: Niro, Niro Phev
Campaign: NHTSA 23V534000 · Jul 31, 2023

Nov 11, 202222V836000

Hybrid propulsion system

Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire.

DetailsHide details for campaign 22V836000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Filed under: Niro
Campaign: NHTSA 22V836000 · Nov 11, 2022

Sep 25, 201818V666000

Hybrid propulsion system

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

DetailsHide details for campaign 18V666000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Filed under: Niro
Campaign: NHTSA 18V666000 · Sep 25, 2018

Merged from NHTSA model names: Niro, Niro Phev. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2018 Kia Niro? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component73

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

73Complaints filed

6Involving a crash

0Involving a fire

4Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Injuries
Power train	25	34	0	0
Engine	21	29	0	0
Electrical system	20	27	2	1
Unknown or other	13	18	1	1
Service brakes	7	10	4	3
Vehicle speed control	6	8	0	0
Structure	5	7	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	3	4	0	0
Exterior lighting	2	3	0	0
Air bags	2	3	1	0
Seats	1	1	0	1
Engine and engine cooling	1	1	0	0
Forward collision avoidance	1	1	0	0
Suspension	1	1	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	1	0	0

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

Latest reports

Power train
“The dealership is falsely reporting to Kia Corporate and the NHTSA that Recall SC276 is 'completed' by only replacing a fuse.”
Filed 09/15/2026 · ODI 11764305
Unknown or other
“My 2018 Kia Niro had the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) replacement in 2024 due to a recall. About two years later, it failed again causing the call to completely stop working creating safety issues for me.”
Filed 09/15/2026 · ODI 11764588
Electrical system
“My kia niro 2018 backup camera takes a few seconds to start up when the vehicle is put in reverse. the time it takes differs from a second to sometimes 5 seconds.”
Filed 09/03/2026 · ODI 11761999

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2018 Kia Niro recall questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Niro have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Niro. The most recent, 23V534000 (reported July 31, 2023), concerns power train. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2018 Kia Niro recalls for?

The largest group is hybrid propulsion system, with 2 campaigns. Others: power train (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Kia Niro?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 25 complaints out of 73 filed with NHTSA (34%). Across all complaints, owners reported 6 crashs and 0 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2018 Kia Niro?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Kia dealer.

Check a specific Kia by VIN

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