2020 Kia Niro Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
13/100
#8 most-complained of 9 Niro years
The 2020 Kia Niro ranks 8th out of 9 model years for owner complaints, with a complaint index of 13 and a Best verdict relative to other Niro years. It has 38 complaints, 1 recall, and no do-not-drive recalls on file with NHTSA.
- Complaints
- 38
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 49
- 51 city / 46 hwy
Top 2020 Kia Niro problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine11 (29%)
- Other8 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (21%)
- Electrical System7 (18%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (16%)
- Brakes5 (13%)
- Fuel System3 (8%)
- Airbags2 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (5%)
- Structure & Body1 (3%)
What owners report
- Engine loses power at highway speed and can smoke or catch fire without warning.
- A check engine light appears with an air flap system error code that dealers struggle to diagnose.
- Engine sputters, jerks, and chugs, sometimes right at startup, with the check engine light coming on later.
- Vehicle unexpectedly decelerates while the regenerative brake warning light illuminates, forcing the driver to coast to a stop.
- Owners report waiting for recall parts for the hydraulic clutch actuator with no repair available yet.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a crash despite a significant impact.
2020 Kia Niro recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V534000Jul 31, 2023Transmission & Powertrain121,411 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:internal:clutches/bands:actuators/solenoids
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.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.
2020 Kia Niro fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 51 MPG
- Highway
- 46 MPG
- Combined
- 49 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other Niro years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Kia Niro reliable?
- Among Niro model years, 2020 ranks 8th out of 9 for owner complaints with a complaint index of 13, earning a Best verdict relative to other Niro years.
- What problems does the 2020 Kia Niro have?
- NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Niro are led by the Engine area (11 complaints, 29% share), followed by Transmission & Powertrain (8 complaints, 21%) and Electrical System (7 complaints, 18%).
- Does the 2020 Kia Niro have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 23V534000) covers 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles for fluid leaking into the hydraulic clutch actuator circuit board, which can cause an engine compartment issue. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2020 Niro compare to other years?
- The 2020 Niro's complaint index of 13 is much lower than the 2023 Niro's index of 100 or the 2022 Niro's index of 75, both rated Avoid, and lower than the 2017 Niro's index of 63, rated Caution.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Kia Niro?
- The 2020 Niro is EPA-rated at 49 mpg combined (51 city / 46 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,300.