2017 Kia Niro
The 2017 Kia Niro appears in 4 NHTSA recall campaigns (power train and hybrid propulsion system) and in 6 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is electrical system: 400 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 109.6 per 1,000 across all 2017 model-year vehicles and against 285.7 per 1,000 for the Kia Niro line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 1.6 complaints per model year across the 9 Kia Niro model years on this register; 1 complaint reported a crash and 1 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2018 (4); the most recent in the file is dated 29 Jan 2019.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
- 23V534000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDSReported 31 Jul 2023 · 121,411 units
Defect, as filed: 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 is SC276.
Filed by Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign SC276).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: 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 by Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign SC256).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: 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 by Kia Motors America (manufacturer campaign SC168).
Defect, as filed: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Kia Niro vehicles. The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) inner oil seal may leak, allowing oil to accumulate in the cap area, possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Consequence: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HCA caps for leaked oil and replace the HCA assembly if needed, or replace the HCA cap with additional sealant. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC163.
Filed by Kia Motors America (manufacturer campaign SC163).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2017 Kia Niro (black) against all 2017 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2017 | Niro line | All 2017 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 400 | 285.7 | 109.6 |
| Air Bags | 200 | 95.2 | 44.7 |
| Steering | 100 | 47.6 | 60.8 |
| Unknown or Other | 100 | 238.1 | 127 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 100 | 47.6 | 22.8 |
| Structure | 100 | 95.2 | 46.8 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 | 400 | 285.7 | 109.6 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 200 | 95.2 | 44.7 |
| Steering | 1 | 100 | 47.6 | 60.8 |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 100 | 238.1 | 127 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 1 | 100 | 47.6 | 22.8 |
| Structure | 1 | 100 | 95.2 | 46.8 |
6 unique complaints, 10 component mentions; 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Kia Niro model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4 | 6 | 202,500 |
| 2018 | 3 | 8 | 175,471 |
| 2019 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 121,411 |
| 2020 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 121,411 |
| 2021 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 121,411 |
| 2022 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 121,411 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 189,191 |
| 2024 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 80,255 |
| 2025 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 80,255 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Kia Niro model years · Kia: 34 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Niro have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 23V534000, was reported to NHTSA on 31 Jul 2023 and concerns power train:automatic transmission:internal:clutches/bands:actuators/solenoids. Across all model years the Kia Niro line has 6 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2017 Kia Niro?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2017 Kia Niro complain about most?
Electrical System: 4 of 10 component mentions (400 per 1,000). Next is air bags with 2. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.