Kia Niro PHEV Best and Worst Years (2018–2025)
The 2019 Kia Niro PHEV is the year to avoid, with 26 complaints and a complaint index of 100, the highest of any year, driven mainly by transmission and electrical issues at low mileage. The 2020 model year is the best, with only 5 complaints and an index of 14.
- Model years
- 8
- 2018–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 68
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 0
- Top problem area
- Transmission & Powertrain
Niro PHEV Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Kia Niro PHEV problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Caution | 57 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | 47.5 | — |
| 2019 | Avoid | 100 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2020 | Best | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | No verdict | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2022 | Caution | 71 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2023 | Good | 43 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2024 | No verdict | 86 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Engine | — | — |
| 2025 | No verdict | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | — | — |
Niro PHEV years to avoid: what went wrong
2019 Kia Niro PHEV Index 100 · 26 complaints · 1 recalls
The 2019 Niro PHEV has the highest complaint index (100) of any year, with 26 total complaints. Transmission and powertrain problems make up 35% of these, with a median failure mileage of just 800 miles. Owners also reported electrical system faults, including erratic gear behavior between drive and reverse and backup camera visibility problems, at a median of 275 miles. Engine and fuel system complaints add to the total. NHTSA recall 23V534000 covers a hydraulic clutch actuator that can leak fluid onto the printed circuit board, potentially causing an engine compartment fire. One crash was reported for this year, though no fires, injuries, or deaths.
Most common Kia Niro PHEV problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Transmission & Powertrain26 (38%)
- Other16 (24%)
- Electrical System12 (18%)
- Engine12 (18%)
- Brakes6 (9%)
- Fuel System4 (6%)
- Structure & Body4 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers4 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (4%)
- Steering3 (4%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Kia Niro PHEV should I avoid?
- The 2019 Kia Niro PHEV is the year to avoid, based on NHTSA data. It has the highest complaint index (100) of the eight model years covered, with 26 complaints, mostly tied to transmission and electrical issues at low mileage.
- What is the best year for the Kia Niro PHEV?
- The 2020 Kia Niro PHEV is the best model year based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, with a complaint index of just 14 and only 5 total complaints.
- Does the 2019 Kia Niro PHEV have a transmission recall?
- Yes. Recall 23V534000 covers 2018-2022 Niro and Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles for a hydraulic clutch actuator that can leak fluid into a circuit board, which can lead to an engine compartment fire.
- Are the 2018 and 2022 Kia Niro PHEV years risky?
- Both 2018 and 2022 are flagged as Caution years, with complaint indexes of 57 and 71 respectively, both below the 2019 model's index of 100 but higher than the best year, 2020.
- What is the most common problem across all Kia Niro PHEV years?
- Transmission and powertrain issues are the top problem area overall, accounting for 26 of 68 total complaints, or 38% of all reports across model years 2018-2025.