YearToAvoid

2023 Kia Niro Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 9 Niro years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2023 Kia Niro ranks worst among 9 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 44 complaints covering 8 crashes and 6 injuries. Electrical System issues lead with 14 complaints (32%), and NHTSA lists 2 recalls, both tied to electrical faults.

Complaints
44
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
8 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
51
53 city / 50.5 hwy

Top 2023 Kia Niro problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other16 (36%)
  2. Electrical System14 (32%)
  3. Engine7 (16%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (16%)
  5. Airbags6 (14%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain6 (14%)
  7. Fuel System5 (11%)
  8. Brakes4 (9%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (7%)
  10. Steering2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of motive power and inability to accelerate above 43 MPH, with the vehicle briefly returning to normal before failing again.
  • Some describe the vehicle stopping completely mid-road with a hybrid system failure warning, unable to move or shut off.
  • Airbags have deployed unexpectedly during minor collisions, causing injuries including a concussion and leg wounds.
  • At least one owner reports sudden, unintended acceleration while parking at low speed, resulting in a collision with a building or wall.
  • Touchscreen and control panel malfunctions include random beeping, HVAC activating on its own, and illuminated buttons without being touched.
  • Brake pedal reportedly went to the floor with no stopping power while the vehicle rolled backward on an incline.
2023 Kia Niro complaints: complaints filed per month6Mar 2023Sep 2023Mar 2024Jul 2024Mar 2025Sep 2025Feb 2026Sep 2026
73 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2023 (6).

2023 Kia Niro recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V024000Jan 17, 2025Electrical System80,255 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment.

    Risk: Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC332.

  2. NHTSA 23V298000Apr 26, 2023Electrical System108,936 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen.  The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

    Risk: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.

2023 Kia Niro fuel economy and fuel cost

City
53 MPG
Highway
50.5 MPG
Combined
51 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,250
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.

2023 compared with other Niro years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Best09149
2022Avoid7531149
2023Avoid10044251
2024Avoid889153
2025Good3817151

All Kia Niro years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Kia Niro reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 Niro ranks worst among the 9 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and a verdict of Avoid. Electrical System problems account for 32% of its complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Niro?
Electrical System issues make up 32% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 16% and Collision Avoidance & Camera issues also at 16%. Airbags and Transmission & Powertrain each account for 14%.
Does the 2023 Kia Niro have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 Niro, both related to the Electrical System. One covers a floor wiring assembly that may prevent airbag deployment, and the other covers a digital instrument cluster software update; neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2023 Niro compare to other Niro model years?
The 2023 Niro has the highest complaint index (100) of any year from 2017 to 2025, ranking worst overall. By contrast, 2021 has a complaint index of 0 and is rated Best.
How many crashes and injuries were reported for the 2023 Kia Niro?
NHTSA data shows 8 crashes and 6 injuries linked to complaints about the 2023 Niro, with 0 fires and 0 deaths reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.