Problems · NHTSA complaints
2023 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid problems
Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2023 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid with NHTSA between May 2023 and Sep 2025. The most-cited component is power train (2).
Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Lane departure1
- Other / unknown4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
2 reports
“Unknown which component exactly as it does not throw a fault. I believe it to be transmission related as the behavior seems like a clutch to me, but dealership has not been able to confirm. Vehicle rolls freely in directions other than what is selected and does not respond to throttle input. Described the issue to dealer numerous times and they claim to have seen it. I do not believe they actually have. It is currently at the dealer for the fourth time about the issue. Currently claiming engine issues but the engine isnt even on when it experiences the problem. (PHEV) Has been occurring since purchase but very intermittent. Could not reproduce until enough trial and error when it did occur that I could reliably reproduce it. During my own testing and diagnostic is how I found it can roll freely in the wrong directions and is much more dangerous than just shaking was. Description: Within the first few minutes of the vehicle being turned on it can shudder against the brakes when stopped. It can stop responding to throttle inputs and roll freely in directions other than the selected gear while throttle input is ignored. It will start responding again after some…”
Vehicle speed control
1 report
Forward collision avoidance
1 report
“2023 Kia Niro electronic dash went blank, no speed indication, no adaptive cruise, no lane departure warning, no forward collision warning capabilities.”
Lane departure
1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.