2017 Kia Niro Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2017 Kia Niro, and owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2017 Kia Niro
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…
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Hybrid propulsion system
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.
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…
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Hybrid propulsion system
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.
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…
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Hybrid propulsion system
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.
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…
82 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2017 Kia Niro have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 59,905 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 21 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“September 18th I had to jump the battery from the 12 volt switch at the drivers side dash. Going to the dealership where I had bought it on August 27th I noticed smoke rolling out from behind the car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 20, 2026 · Electrical system
“On XXX, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a friend and I were driving on XXX near [XXX], when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. As I pulled over to the side of the road, a warning light a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 16, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2017 Kia Niro (Niro FE, Niro Touring). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 43–50 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 46–52 / 40–49 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM6) |
Compare Kia Niro model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Niro model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Kia Niro | 4 | 82 |
| 2018 Kia Niro | 3 | 60 |
| 2019 Kia Niro | 1 | 56 |
| 2020 Kia Niro | 1 | 39 |
| 2021 Kia Niro | 1 | 9 |
| 2022 Kia Niro | 1 | 31 |
| 2023 Kia Niro | 2 | 44 |
| 2024 Kia Niro | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 Kia Niro | 1 | 17 |
| 2026 Kia Niro | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 2017 Kia Niro
How do I know if my 2017 Kia Niro 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2017 Kia Niro; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
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 18V257000).
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.