2017 Kia Niro Hybrid problems

“On XXX, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a friend and I were driving on XXX near [XXX], when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. As I pulled over to the side of the road, a warning light appeared on the dashboard. Once stopped, I saw flames coming from the engine compartment. We immediately got out of the car, retrieved our dogs from the back seat, and ran away from the burning car. Another motorist who had witnessed the flames pulled over behind us. Because our cell phones were still inside the car, we used his phone to call [XXX]. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Fire Department responded to the scene. The car was completely destroyed by the fire and was declared a total loss. We were unable to retrieve anything from the car. There was no collision with another car or object. The car is now located at [XXX]. Telephone [XXX]. On XXX KIA Ourisman of [XXX] had installed a rebuilt engine, as according to them, the original engine had “thrown a rod.” An insurance claim has been filed with GEICO. Complaints have been filed with KIA of [XXX] and [XXX] KIA of [XXX].”

“September 18th I had to jump the battery from the 12 volt switch at the drivers side dash. Going to the dealership where I had bought it on August 27th I noticed smoke rolling out from behind the car. I exited off the highway 40 and checked the oil it was clean and full. Water level in radiator was also fine. It smoked several times during the trip but the service department at Parkside Kia was no longer opened so I returned the next morning when I got there they service department technician could not find anything wrong with the battery and he never seen any smoke. Now, I will take it to another Kia dealership in my area because I do not feel side driving it on the highway on a long trip anymore.”

“The vehicle's hydraulic clutch actuator (HCA) has failed and is actively leaking fluid onto the printed circuit board (PCB), creating an immediate electrical short and engine bay fire hazard. This failure is identical to the defect detailed in Safety Recall SC276 (NHTSA Campaign 23V534). As indicated by a search of my VIN, the vehicle was brought in by us previously when we learned there was a recall, and the recall was officially marked "completed" in the NHTSA database. However, the dealership at the time claimed the vehicle was not affected by the recall, stating there was nothing wrong. They simply performed the minor step of changing a fuse to mark it as completed but did not provide an actual remedy or replacement for the actuator assembly itself. The original manufacturing defect has now actively manifested, causing a severe, active fire risk. The vehicle is currently grounded at an authorized Kia dealership. The dealership and Kia Corporate have acknowledged the dangerous defect by offering a partial goodwill gesture to cover the replacement parts. However, they are refusing to cover the $750+ labor charge required to safely replace the fire-prone…”

“My 2017 Kia Niro has developed a serious hybrid system failure that causes the vehicle to shut off unexpectedly while driving. For about a month, the car would only start using the “12V Battery Reset” button. Now it starts, but after driving a short distance, the vehicle loses power and shuts off without warning. The only way to restart it is by pressing the reset button again. The AC and accessories continue to run, and the high‑voltage battery appears to charge normally, but the car cannot maintain 12V power under load. This is consistent with a DC‑DC converter or 12V subsystem failure, which is a known issue in early Kia Niro hybrids. This sudden shutdown creates a dangerous situation, especially in traffic. I am reporting this as a safety defect due to the unexpected loss of motive power. There is no recall for this issue, but many owners have reported similar failures.”

“I am making a complaint in reference to my 2017 Kia Niro. On or about June 2025 I attempted to open my back driver side door and the handle broke off the car in my hand. We had this replaced at our cost. Since this repair, the back passenger door handle has done the same thing. I have notified KIA headquarters of this and they say they cannot help with this. I am concerned of the safety concerns with the inability to access the back seat quickly in case of emergency because this is where my grandchildren ride. I saw there was a bulletin that when one handle breaks, all door handles with the exception of the drivers door, must be replaced at the same time. I notified the Kia dealership of this and they denied it and told me they had no indication this was required and advised me to take it to my nearest Kia dealership. (3 hour drive).”

“The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The message, "Turn Off the Vehicle and Stop" was displayed, and the transmission failure warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. Once the vehicle was turned off, the smoke dissipated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that there were holes in the engine, power steering, and there was an engine oil leak. The engine, transmission, and battery were replaced. However, 2 months later, the contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was scheduled to be towed to another dealer, Buster Miles Kia (1401 S Quintard Ave, Anniston, AL 36201). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and it was determined that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,500.”