2019 Kia Niro EV Recalls & Complaints

Incident: September 15, 2026 · Filed: October 12, 2026

My 2019 Kia Niro EV, with approximately 75,000 miles, continuously displays a “Refill inverter coolant” warning. While driving, the vehicle intermittently displays the turtle-shaped reduced-power warning and experiences a significant loss of acceleration. The vehicle does not respond normally to accelerator input. The condition sometimes clears after a period of driving, but when traveling uphill, the warning and reduced acceleration persist. This creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle may be unable to maintain speed or accelerate sufficiently on hills or when merging into traffic. The vehicle has been at an authorized Kia dealership for approximately seven days. The dealership has not yet identified the cause and has reportedly contacted Kia corporate technical support. The dealer has also indicated that another vehicle has presented with a similar issue. I am requesting an investigation into the potential coolant-circulation or thermal-management defect and its relationship to unexpected propulsion-power reduction.

Incident: July 17, 2026 · Filed: October 11, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2020 Kia Niro EV because of recurring inverter coolant warnings, a coolant restriction documented by a Kia dealership, and a subsequent repair estimate exceeding $12,000 that includes the Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU). Vehicle information Year/Make/Model: 2020 Kia Niro EV VIN: [XXX] Kia Customer Care Case: XXX Kia Techline Case: XXX After purchasing this used vehicle, I experienced a recurring “Refill Inverter Coolant” warning. On XXX AutoStream Reisterstown performed an inverter coolant fluid exchange. I paid $376.41 for this service. The warning returned, and I subsequently took the vehicle to Buchanan Kia. On XXX the Kia dealership documented the following in its repair order: “Coolant is congealed and is restricting cooling system causing system to think coolant level is low.” The dealership flushed and bled the cooling system, and its documentation stated that no codes were found. However, the warning returned within days. The vehicle then remained at the dealership for further evaluation. Kia subsequently prepared a repair estimate totaling $12,030.52. The estimate includes the EPCU assembly, part number 36601-0E190, as well as the onboard charger and multiple cooling-system components. I am concerned about the cause of the coolant restriction, the recurrence of the warning after service, and whether the EPCU condition in my vehicle is related to Safety Recall SC258. I have not received a definitive written explanation establishing the cause of the failure or confirming the applicable recall coverage. My vehicle has been unavailable to me for an extended period, and despite repeated contacts with Kia Customer Care, I have not received a definitive resolution. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this complaint for a potential vehicle safety defect, including any relationship between the reported coolant condition and the EPCU assembly identified in the repair INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: February 1, 2026 · Filed: June 18, 2026

This complaint supplements a previously submitted report filed today, June 18, 2026, (Original is Complaint Number: 11845044) regarding the same vehicle and condition (TSB ELE234 drive unit rumble noise). The correct VIN for this vehicle is [XXX] — a 2019 Kia Niro EV EX Premium, 138,457 miles. I am filing on behalf of the vehicle owner, [XXX], who has authorized me to act as his advocate. The owner is a Ukrainian speaker and I am assisting with all documentation and communications. In addition to TSB ELE234 (drive unit motor rumble, April 2021), this vehicle is also subject to Kia Service Action SA512 (April 2023): Inverter Coolant/Debris Flushing for the "Refill Inverter Coolant" cluster warning, affecting 2019–2022 Niro EVs produced May 10, 2019 through October 4, 2021. SA512 has also not been confirmed as completed on this VIN. CARFAX records document multiple authorized Kia dealer visits — at Roseville Kia and Folsom Lake Kia — between 2019 and 2022, during the period both ELE234 and SA512 were active and applicable. Neither service action was applied during those visits. This filing requests that NHTSA investigate both the safety implications of the ELE234 drivetrain defect and the broader pattern of authorized Kia dealers failing to notify owners of and apply active service bulletins during routine service visits on affected VINs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: February 1, 2025 · Filed: June 18, 2026

Our 2019 Kia Niro EV (approximately 138,000 miles) exhibits an abnormal rumble/growling noise from the front drive unit while driving slowly in "D" range and when accelerating or decelerating between 0–25 mph. This symptom matches exactly the condition described in Kia Technical Service Bulletin ELE234 (Rev. 1, April 2021): "Drive Unit Inspection & Replacement for EV Motor Rumble Noise," which covers all 2019MY Niro EV vehicles produced from December 5, 2018. To our knowledge, TSB ELE234 has never been performed on this vehicle. The repair involves replacement of motor/roll mount brackets and, if necessary, traction motor or reduction gear replacement. Kia has a documented, tiered repair procedure for this exact issue with assigned labor operation codes. The failure presents a safety concern because drivetrain noise at low speed can precede loss of drive power or sudden drivetrain failure, which creates a hazard in traffic, intersections, and during highway merging. Despite the existence of this TSB since April 2021, NHTSA appears to have few or no formal complaints logged for this specific defect, meaning it has not triggered the regulatory scrutiny it warrants given the documented widespread nature of the issue. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether a formal recall of affected 2019 Kia Niro EV vehicles is warranted for this drivetrain defect.

Incident: August 15, 2025 · Filed: September 14, 2025

1. Failed Component/System: EV plastic charging door does not open using the electronic unlock mechanism on the key. Unable to charge EV vehicle due to this fundamental failure. IMPORTANT: There are no manual override mechanisms provided by the manufacturer - KIA to open this charging door. This makes the EV both unsafe and unusable since it cannot be charged. 2. Safety Risk: Unable to charge an EV vehicle is a fundamental EV electrical system component failure that can create an unsafe situation since it occurs without any warning and leave the car owner stranded. The Manufacturer - KIA has not provided any manual fail safe/override mechanism to open the charging door manually. This is also a fundamental safety issue since the failure occurred without any warning lamp/other indication to the owner. IMPORTANT: Other KIA NIRO EV owners have complained about the same issue in online forums. Refer attachment - [XXX] 3. Dealer Problem Reproduction: NO since dealer demands a $299.99 diagnostic fee. Multiple attempts to contact the dealer and manufacturer KIA to waive the diagnostic fee were unsuccessful. 4. Manufacturer/Police/Insurance Inspection: No. KIA refused to deal with this issue under the KIA 10-year/100,000-Electric vehicle (EV) system warranty even though the warranty description mentions all internal parts. Reference: KIA Case No. [XXX]. NOTE: KIA does not allow the case history to be retrieved from their manufacturer portal because they have closed the case. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure? NO 6. When did they first appear? [XXX] (approximately) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: October 8, 2024 · Filed: December 11, 2024

While I’m driving a turtle light randomly illuminates and the car shuts off. The car shuts off from a few seconds up to a minute so far. I have taken it to Kia McDonough Ga and to no avail nothing: they had my car 2 months and by the time they did the diagnostic “the computer box reset”. Why let it sit for a diagnostic when all they are doing is connecting to a computer. I provided them videos and pictures and nothing. This is a danger any passengers, other drivers, as well as myself. The times are random and once the light comes on it’s off. Battery is new, battery is charged.

Incident: June 15, 2024 · Filed: November 15, 2024

Car made loud whinning noise for 6 months, due to defective transmission. KIA refused to fix because car was out of warranty- but has TSB: ELE234. My extended warranty did not cover because it was a known defect from KIA.' Car stopped working, transmission was repaired. Please see below attached 16k invoice.

Incident: March 14, 2024 · Filed: September 4, 2024

There’s motor rumble due to a misalignment of the traction motor and reduction gear. It’s a known issue with these vehicles and a technical bulletin was issued but no recall. I’ve brought the vehicle in twice and the first time the dealer told me there was nothing wrong. Now a year later they admit it is wrong and is unsafe to drive without a $10k replacement.

Incident: July 4, 2024 · Filed: July 6, 2024

EV battery cooling system displayed the warning, "LOW INVERTER COOLANT LEVEL." I checked and it is not low.

Incident: May 14, 2024 · Filed: May 14, 2024

- While driving, we received a notice on the dashboard to "stop driving and check regenerative brakes". Simultaneously we lose 95% of our braking power and all of the acceleration. Slamming on the brakes all the way to the floor provided some minor braking ability, but it was significantly diminished and frankly terrifying. We turn the car off, turn it back on again, and everything seems totally normal. - We cannot recreate the error, but we call the dealership. They say they can get us in in a week to service us. As this is our only car we keep driving it cautiously. - This happens again once more, before we bring it into the dealership. - The dealership runs a bunch of tests, tells us its the 12V battery, replaces the 12V battery, charges us $500 and tells us its fixed. - one week later (today) the same thing happens. Clearly it's not fixed, but even if it had been fixed, why is so much of the braking tied to the 12V? The dealership cannot get us in for days and is suggesting this may not be covered under our warranty.