2021 Kia Niro Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2021 Kia Niro, and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2021 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…
9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Kia Niro have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I own a 2021 Kia Niro. The rear backup camera intermittently fails to operate. When shifting into reverse, the display screen will either go completely black or the camera will not activate at all. Th”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 13, 2026 · Unknown or other
“This is a hybrid vehicle. It has Dual clutch transmission. Since I have owned it, intermittently the clutch does not disengage completely. This causes the vehicle to try to pull ahead but my foot is o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 10, 2026 · Power train
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 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 2021 Kia Niro
How do I know if my 2021 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2021 Kia Niro; 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.