2021 Kia Niro problems
The Kia Niro (Korean: 기아 니로) is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) manufactured by Kia since 2016. It is an electrification-focused vehicle, offering three versions: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric variants.
First generation (DE; 2016)
The first-generation Niro was introduced in 2016. Based on the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia opted to use dual-clutch transmission instead of the more traditional continuously variable transmission found in most other hybrids to offer a more engaging driving experience.
The size is between the Stonic and Sportage, and very close to the XCeed. In Europe, the Niro was launched in a choice of seven colours and either 16- or 18-inch wheels. It was the first Kia model to feature Android Auto, available from its launch, while Apple CarPlay was made available towards the end of 2016. Seven airbags were included as standard, along with other safety features including autonomous braking, smart cruise control and lane departure warning to name a few. Noise reduction was a key development focus, with Kia achieving a quieter cabin by use of increased front structure insulation and the use of acoustic windshield glass.
Full production started in May 2016 in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, South Korea, with European sales from the third quarter of 2016.
A plug-in version was launched in the United Kingdom in the end of 2017, and in the United States in the beginning of 2018, with an electric version launched in 2018. Towards the end of 2018 and start of 2019, sales of the Niro PHEV ranked highly in Denmark and Sweden in a list of top plug-in car sales.
The Niro received a facelift in 2019 which included changes to the front and rear bumpers, as well as new headlights and color choices. Unlike the prototypes, no production version was ever offered with four wheel drive.
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Common 2021 Kia Niro problems
The Kia Niro, including the 2021 model, has been commended for its exceptional reliability, with very few reports of mechanical issues. However, some common problems have been reported by owners.
- Door Handle Broke Off: The most-reported problem with the 2017 Kia Niro is the door handle breaking off, with an average mileage of 12,000 miles. This issue seems to be specific to the 2017 model, as no similar complaints have been reported for the 2021 model.
- Electrical System Issues: Bodywork and electrical systems have caused the most grief for 15% of owners who reported issues with their Kia e-Niro or Niro EV. Minor electrical glitches, such as issues with the infotainment system, have been reported.
- 12-Volt Battery Issues: A small number of comments mention issues with the 12-volt battery, which can cause problems with the car's electrical system.
- Charging System Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the charging system, which can prevent the car from being charged or cause it to charge slowly.
- Transmission Problems: Transmission problems, including jerking or chook noises when taking off, have been reported by some owners. These issues may require replacement of the transmission.
- Battery Coverage / General Warranty Questions: Some owners have reported issues with battery coverage or general warranty questions, particularly with the PHEV models.
- Backup Rear Camera Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the backup rear camera, which may require replacement.
- Heat Exchanger/Catalytic Converter Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the heat exchanger or catalytic converter, which may require bypassing or replacement.
- Oil Control Valve Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the oil control valve, which may require replacement.
- Passenger Seat Belt Warning Noise: Some owners have reported issues with the passenger seat belt warning noise, which may require replacement of the seat belt or related components.
- Speed Limit Warning Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the speed limit warning, which may require replacement of the related components.
- Media Console Black Screen: Some owners have reported issues with the media console black screen, which may require replacement of the related components.
- Car Service Battery Discharging Overnight: Some owners have reported issues with the car service battery discharging overnight, which may require replacement of the battery or related components.
It is important to note that these issues are not necessarily common to all Kia Niro models, and many owners have reported no issues with their cars. Additionally, Kia has a strong reputation for reliability and offers a class-leading seven-year warranty from new as standard, which can provide peace of mind for owners.
Are there any problems with the Kia Niro?
Fuel system problems, such as fuel leaks, fuel pump failures, or fuel gauge inaccuracies have also been reported. Engine oil leaks are an issue in certain models, so you may have to top up your Kia Niro engine oil.
Are there any recalls on the 2021 Kia Niro?
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.
What are the disadvantages of the Kia Niro?
While the Niro's electric efficiency and stylish design are definite advantages, there are also some drawbacks to consider, such as slow charging speed, limited cargo space, and a less powerful engine than some of its competitors.
Are Kia Niro reliable cars?
The Kia Niro came first out of 12 cars in our rundown of the most reliable used electric and hybrid cars in 2023. Not only did it top the table with a 100% score, but not a single owner reported a fault with their car.
2021 Kia Niro car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Kia Niro problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Engine problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Kia Niro vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2021 Kia Niro complaints
The NHTSA has received 8 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Kia Niro.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-08
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: KNDCB3LC7M5
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: I was backing out of a tandem parking spot in a private garage and got too close to a pillar, and tried to pull forward into the spot. It felt like the car got snagged on the pillar, but while pulling forward slowly, the gas pedal snapped off and the car accelerated quickly and uncontrollably. I was able to avoid hitting other cars but drove straight into a concrete wall despite immediately braking. I'm relatively uninjured, but if it had happened in a less controlled environment and/or I hadn't reacted as quickly, there could have been serious injuries to myself or others. There was no indication of an issue prior, and the car is currently in storage with my insurance company and will be appraised next week. I have photos of the broken pedal.
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-18
- VIN: KNDCB3LC1M5
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: I received important safety recall letter for NHTSA recall # 23V534. the HCA & or Fuse might need to be replaced . I brought the 2021 Nero to my local Kia dealership, Eagle kia ,Riverhead NY on January 18th. The dealership still has the vehicle & claims that a code came up when they did the diagnostics That requires a part that must be secured to complete the fix for the recall. they claim they are awaiting approval from kia corporate & NHTSA to add to the technical bulletin. But their is no timeframe they have or when this additional part will be available. The dealership has the fuses & Harness for the HCA replacement, but needs this additional part. I asked what the # of this part is or name, but all they would tell me TBT.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-29
- VIN: KNDCC3LC8M5
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Problem has not been remedied. What is my recourse? How long do I have to drive around worried about the car going on fire?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-14
- VIN: KNDCB3LC4M5
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. HEV light lit up on dashboard and a warning message was displayed alerting me to immediately pull over and turn off the vehicle. At the same time the vehicle was not responding and acceleration became troubling and with marked hesitation. After waiting several minutes I attemped to turn the vehicle on again but the warning light and alarm went off. Vehicle is currently at the dealership but they have not offer a solution or even a temporary remedy.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-21
- VIN: KNDCM3LD6M5
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2021 Kia Niro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V534000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. No further information was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-14
- VIN: KNDCE3LC4M5
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: While driving on a major highway, my sunroof suddenly exploded. Luckily the screen was pulled shut otherwise I would have been covered in glass. I was able to drive to the next exit and park the vehicle to then get out and observe the damage. There was a gaping hole in the sunroof. I called a tow who brought me to a Kia dealership. I explained what happened and after inspecting the car the dealership told me it was road debris that caused the issue. I did not see or hear anything hit my car prior to the explosion of the sunroof and I question their findings that it was debris related.
BACK OVER PREVENTION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-07-29
- VIN: kndce3lg9m5
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION
- Summary: I'm a new Niro Ev driver. The VESS noise when reversing the vehicle is very loud. It is too loud, I live in close proximity to neighbors and have to get up early for work and the sound is a major nuisance, I would not want a neighbor that has this car . I understand VESS in place for safety but the reverse backup beeping is just a step down from a garbage truck backing up, especially in the silence of a residential neighborhood in the early AM hours. Furthermore, I and others as seen on web forums will reverse faster than we normally would do to be able to take the car out of reverse as quickly as possible to stop the blaring beeping. This creates its own risk, as if there is less time to react if there is a pedestrian behind the vehicle. The volume of the noise should be greatly reduced. It is also unnecessary noise pollution. Kia, please fix this.
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-07-04
- VIN: KNDCB3LC6M5
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: There is a silver strip of "trim" running completely across the dashboard just above the radio controls. It is so reflective that a glare occurs periodically throughout the day when the sun hits it. It's so bad that it blocks the left side mirror with the reflection and can even blind the driver. This needs to be addressed by Kia. Easy solution is to have Kia remove the strips, paint them black, and re-install them.
2021 Kia Niro recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2021 Kia Niro.
- Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS
- Summary: 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.
Negative 2021 Kia Niro car reviews
Positive 2021 Kia Niro car reviews
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This is a great first hybrid! It's affordable and comes with a lot of safety features. The only downside is that it's a bit smaller than I would prefer.
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12k miles and a year of ownership; this car has been an excellent value for the money. It gets a crazy 46-54 MPG [depending on temperature] and has plenty of room inside with great comfort and safety features. The seats are comfortable for long hauls and the Harmon system is rocking. The android auto is also quick to respond. Both the interior and exterior are holding up well and the new car smell is still present even after a year. The surface and buttons still look new and the ride has softened a little as it has settled over 12k miles of driving.
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This small car has plenty of space inside and ample headroom. It's a quality build with great features, although it doesn't have a motorized lift gate option that many competitors offer. The compact size and reasonable handling make it a great choice, although the ride can be a little stiff with no alternative drive modes. Overall, it's a great car with excellent mileage performance.
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It's great to see that you have a good looking car that gets 50 miles/g and has a lot of iPhone functions!
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This car has a lot of great features, rides smoothly, and is spacious. It will save me a lot of money on gas, which is perfect for my daily commute to work.👍🙌
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Kia Niro problems:
2021 Kia Niro Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2021 Kia Niro? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
2023 Kia Niro Issues : r/KiaNiro
Nov 15, 2022 ... I have had a 2023 Niro Niro Touring for 37 days. In the first 4 weeks, my car's malfunction lights would come on, reverse wouldn't work and ...
Kia Niro Issues | Kia Niro Forum
Sep 12, 2021 ... Since owning our Kia Niro EX we purchased in July of 2018, we have had numerous issues with it. Our engine was replaced three month after ...
Debating this car : r/KiaNiro
Apr 20, 2023 ... I have a 2023 Kia Niro SX Hybrid with 22k miles on it. I love the lane assist. You can easily turn it off but I really enjoy it. I drive a ton ...
Common issues with E-niro 2020 | Kia Owners Club Forum
Jan 2, 2024 ... Looking to buy a used E-Niro 4+ 2020/2021 vehicle. Was wondering what are common issues to look out for with the car? I already know there's ...
Other years of Kia Niro
Are you having problems with your 2021 Kia Niro?
Ellis Schowalter 2024-10-06
I've been driving this car for 3 years now and it has an impressive fuel efficiency of 543 Mpg. However, I've been experiencing some technical issues lately and unfortunately, Kia is no longer covering the repairs since it has exceeded 60k miles. Despite this setback, I have taken this car on some amazing adventures, from California to New York and back, and it has performed well. Overall, it's a good car with some minor annoyances.
Miller Rath 2024-04-03
I was hoping to use this car for my daily errands around town. I had read that the 2019 Kia Niro had an average city rating of 51 mpg, but unfortunately, I have only been getting an average of 25 mpg for short trips (such as my 3-mile roundtrip to work). For slightly longer commutes (like my 12-mile roundtrip to school), I have been getting 39 mpg, even though I have been driving very conservatively. I have noticed that the instant fuel economy is 9.8 mpg and I have had to drive very slowly, causing a line of cars to form behind me. I am planning to check the gas mileage manually to see if there is an instrumentation problem. It seems like the engine is being used when the electric motor should be running the vehicle at slow speeds. I took the car to the dealer to have it checked out, but they found nothing wrong with it. While I am not sure if I will keep this car, I am definitely not happy with the Kia Niro.
Royal Bayer 2024-01-20
I recently reviewed the LX with standard package. While the car is great for city driving, the cargo space is quite small. I was only able to fit 2-24 pack bottled water and 2-24 pack Pepsi, and the rest of my groceries struggled to fit. It may not be the best option for big grocery trips for a family of 5, as even my compact Hyundai Accent has twice the trunk space of the Kia Niro. Additionally, it may not be the best option for Ikea trips, as a compact car would be able to carry much more. The acceleration is also poor in comparison to other SUVs of the same size, and you will have to really step on it to reach the normal tollway speed of 70-75 mph here in North Texas. Furthermore, there is no extra charger/usb port for back seat passengers, unlike other new vehicles. The car does come with a Sirius package, but it's only free for 3 months, and there is no other entertainment option. The 3 seats in the back are quite small, and 3 normal weight teenagers would struggle to fit. While this may not be the best option for a road trip or for a family of 5, it is still a great car for city driving. It may not be the most efficient option for rideshare due to the lack of cargo space. However, the warranty is good, as Hyundai/Kia have great warranties. I hope this review helps you make an informed decision. Remember to shop around and do your research before making a purchase.