Kia Niro EV Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Kia Niro EV model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2021 drew the fewest (2) and the 2020 the most (19).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
1 | 1 | Vehicle speed control | — | — |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 1 | Back over prevention | — | — |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
6 | 2 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2023 | 15 | 3 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2019 Among the fewest complaints |
17 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
19 | 2 | Unknown or other | — | — |
| 2022 | 30 | 2 | Unknown or other | — | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Kia Niro EV years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2020 Kia Niro EV: 19 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 6 (32%); Fuel/propulsion system 3 (16%); Power train 3 (16%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Kia Niro EV: 17 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 8 (47%); Electrical system 6 (35%); Service brakes 3 (18%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2021 Kia Niro EV: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Back over prevention 1 (50%); Service brakes 1 (50%).
1 recall campaign listed.
The Kia Niro EV years with the fewest complaints
2021 Kia Niro EV: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Back over prevention 1 (50%); Service brakes 1 (50%).
1 recall campaign listed.
2019 Kia Niro EV: 17 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 8 (47%); Electrical system 6 (35%); Service brakes 3 (18%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Kia Niro EV: 19 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 6 (32%); Fuel/propulsion system 3 (16%); Power train 3 (16%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Kia Niro EV owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Kia Niro EV recalls
- Improper Air Bag Deployment from Damaged Wiring (2023–2025 model years; 80,255 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2025; 25V024000)
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 (2020–2022 model years; 11,327 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2025; 25V426000)
- High Voltage Battery Safety Plug May Overheat (2022 model year; 2,209 vehicles across all models; filed May 2024; 24V358000)
- Loss of Drive Power from Faulty Driveshaft (2023–2024 model years; 1,243 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2024; 24V057000)
- Coolant Leak in EPCU may Cause Loss of Drive Power (2020 model year; 872 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2022; 22V899000)
All 6 Kia Niro EV recall campaigns · Kia Niro EV problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Kia Niro EV years FAQ
Which Kia Niro EV year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2021 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Kia Niro EV years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2020, 2019 and 2021 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Kia Niro EV problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (35 of 90 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Kia Niro EV have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the Kia Niro EV. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Kia Niro EV recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.