2021 Kia Niro EV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2021 Kia Niro EV, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2021 Kia Niro EV
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Camera (back over prevention)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Niro EV vehicles. The circuit board for the rearview camera may become damaged and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC342.
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Kia Niro EV have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The rear brake rotors on the vehicle are pitted, as confirmed by a local repair shop. The "incident" is ongoing. Kia refuses to repair or replace them under warranty (25,500 miles on the car), claimin”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 28, 2025 · Service brakes
“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 nuis”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 30, 2021 · Back over prevention
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Kia Niro (Niro Electric, Niro FE, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Touring). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 43–112 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 46–123 / 40–102 |
| Fuel | Electricity, Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (A1); Automatic (AM-S6) |
Compare Kia Niro EV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Niro EV model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Kia Niro EV | 0 | 17 |
| 2020 Kia Niro EV | 2 | 19 |
| 2021 Kia Niro EV | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 Kia Niro EV | 2 | 31 |
| 2023 Kia Niro EV | 3 | 15 |
| 2024 Kia Niro EV | 2 | 6 |
| 2025 Kia Niro EV | 1 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2021 Kia Niro EV
How do I know if my 2021 Kia Niro EV has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2021 Kia Niro EV; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 25V426000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.