2018 Kia Niro PHEV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV, and owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV
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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Actuators/solenoids (power train)
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.
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…
13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Kia Niro PHEV have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 12,675 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Year/Make/Model: 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid Mileage at time of incident: approximately 69,000 Component: Hybrid Propulsion System / Powertrain My 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid has experienced five recurring "Hybrid”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 1, 2026 · Vehicle speed control
“I received KIA letter about the recall SC276 for HCA issue around 1/15/24. I brought my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV to Kia Dealer in San Jose. They inspected and concluded that the vehicle is safe with the rec”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 20, 2024 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Kia Niro (Niro FE, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Touring). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 43–50 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 46–52 / 40–49 |
| Fuel | Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM6) |
Compare Kia Niro PHEV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Niro PHEV model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Niro PHEV | 1 | 13 |
| 2019 Kia Niro PHEV | 1 | 26 |
| 2020 Kia Niro PHEV | 1 | 5 |
| 2021 Kia Niro PHEV | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 Kia Niro PHEV | 1 | 12 |
| 2023 Kia Niro PHEV | 2 | 6 |
| 2024 Kia Niro PHEV | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 Kia Niro PHEV | 1 | 2 |
Checking a specific 2018 Kia Niro PHEV
How do I know if my 2018 Kia Niro PHEV 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 2018 Kia Niro PHEV; 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 23V534000).
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.