NHTSA campaign 18V257000 · Kia campaign SC163
Kia Recall 18V-257: Clutch Actuator Oil Leak may cause Fire
NHTSA recall 18V257000 (Kia campaign SC163) was reported by Kia Motors America on April 20, 2018, with 27,029 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Kia Niro for the 2017 model year. Owners were notified on June 15, 2018, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 18V257000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 18V257000 (also written 18V-257 or 18V257)
- Filed by
- Kia Motors America
- Kia campaign number
- SC163
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 27,029 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Hybrid Propulsion System
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 91% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 18V257000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Kia
Kia Niro
- 2017 · Vehicles built November 1, 2016 – September 11, 2017 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 18V257000.
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
Manufacturer 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 recall is expected to begin June 15, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC163.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 18V257000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.