Common Faults Of The Kia Niro: Problems, Disadvantages And Opinions

Common failures of the Kia Niro

Inside, the new Kia Niro has an immaculate cabin that has everything a driver on the go needs. From ultra-comfortable seats to an intuitive touchscreen and numerous driver assistance features.

Despite this, the Kia Niro is not a perfect car. In this article, we take a closer look at some of the Niro’s flaws.

1. Possibility of overheating of an electrical relay

Most 2016 and 2017 model year Niro car owners report an electrical relay overheating problem. Those car owners were asked to contact their dealers. But others were not contacted by dealers.

If your car has this problem, the dealership will inspect your vehicle for heat damage and replace the old part with a new one.

Possible causes and solutions

Kia engineers discovered that most of the overheating electrical relays within the power relay assembly may have bad connections. Therefore, this is significant resistance.

If this problem is not corrected, it can overheat the rear seat and increase the risk of fire.

When you take your Kia Niro to your dealer, they will inspect the power relay assembly for damage. If there is a problem, they will fix it immediately.

Here are some solutions to electrical relay overheating:

1. A mechanic will check for damage.

First of all, the mechanic should check the cooling fan relay problem. The mechanic will need to open the shortcut relay to do this.

2. Remove the cooling fan relay.

The mechanic will remove the cooling fan relay from the relay box. Next, he will examine it closely.

3. Check the connection of the cooling fan relay.

You need to be sure that your Niro has a functional cooling fan relay. To do this, they will install it by aligning the pins.

4. Evidence

Once the mechanics install everything, they will be able to test the cooling fan relay. To do this, they will start the engine and turn on the air conditioning. The price to replace a Cooling Fan Relay can vary from mechanic to mechanic.

2. Problems with the hydraulic clutch actuator housing

There are at least 27,000 Kia Niros that had faulty clutch components. There are also burrs on the hydraulic clutch actuator housing of those Kia Niro’s. You will find most Niros produced circa 2016 to 2017 with this problem.

If you don’t take care of the problem, you can damage the oil seal . Or even cause oil leaks. Also, it can cause a fire. Undoubtedly this is one of the common faults on the Kia Niro, which can cause more problems.

You will usually know you have this problem when you see the light on your instrument panel.

Possible causes and solutions

Around December 2017, Kia stated that some Kia Niro hybrid SUVs had a problem with the hydraulic clutch actuator.

After extensive testing, Kia confirmed that there was an oil leak inside the actuator housing. As a result, every Kia Niro was generating an error code with that problem.

You can make use of the following solutions:

1. You will need to inspect the hydraulic clutch actuator.

You can have your dealer inspect the hydraulic clutch actuator assemblies.

2. You need to install in the reverse order of disassembly.

But first, you should check the assembly state of the O-rings. To make sure the reverse order is removed correctly, Kia recommends turning off the ignition switch and disconnecting the battery terminal.

From there, you have to remove the crankcase. Than disconnect the connector and hose from the engine clutch actuator.

3. Use GDS or KD equipment.

It will allow you to inspect the line learning and diagnostic information. When using a vacuum pressure hydraulic fluid injection device, you should change the maximum vacuum to 2.5 torr and injection pressure to 2.3-2.5 bar.

3. Problems in the braking system and in the powertrain

The Kia Niro Hybrid 2019 is another of the models that presents problems in the braking system. In some cases, Kia Niros owners have also experienced no pressure on the brake pedal when applying the brake. Also in certain cases, this has led to accidents.

A faulty braking system is another common problem. A couple of Kia Niro users have confirmed the following problem with the powertrain:

If you park the car on a moderate slope, the car may roll backwards even if it is in ” parking ” mode. Sometimes it rolls backwards until the brake is applied. Most Kia Niro owners say they experience this problem occasionally.

Possible causes and solutions

It is not clear what the cause of the transmission and braking system may be. And Kia has not issued any statement to acknowledge or prove the claims.

If you experience any of these issues, we recommend that you take it to your Kia dealer. They should check your car to see if they can fix the problems.

Fix the problem of the powertrain or the braking system of the Kia Niro.

1. Schedule an appointment with your mechanic.

Your mechanic will take a look at the problems. If you have a problem with the powertrain, you should not delay in fixing it.

2. Check the transmission oil.

Kia recommends that all Kia owners perform a routine driveline check for wear. And make sure the fluid is Kia approved.

3. Check the kilometers.

As soon as you reach 30,000 to 60,000 miles (48,000 – 96,000 kilometers), it’s best to have your mechanic check or change your transmission fluid. The service intervals will depend on the use you give to your car.

4. Avoid hitting the brakes in your 2017 Kia.

Using the brakes or keeping your foot on the pedal can cause transmission problems.

Remember that it is always crucial to have your brakes checked regularly . And when you’re driving on rough terrain, use the engine braking system instead of the parking system.

5. The solution

When the braking system regenerates, do the following:

• Schedule your car with a mechanic to inspect the braking system of your Kia Niro Hybrid.
• The mechanic will also check the braking system for leaks under pressure. If there is a leak, the mechanic will fix the problem.

If a brake hose is loose, the mechanic will tighten it and add brake fluid to your car.

4. Engine problems

Another of the most common problems that the Kia Niro have is the engine. If you have the Kia Niro Hybrid, expect it to have a different problem than the gasoline engine. Most Niro Hybrids won’t start below 10 degrees .

When you bring your car to Kia dealers. They will likely tell you that most Kia Niro Hybrids have this common problem.

Unfortunately, Kia does not do replacement on Kia Hybrids that have an engine problem. That being said, they are fully aware of this.

Normally, when there is an engine failure, the check engine light on the instrument panel comes on. When you see that light flashing, have your car serviced immediately.

Possible causes and solutions

There are a couple of factors that can cause engine problems in your Kia Niro.

Let’s take a look at the following:

1. engine injector

First of all, there may be a problem with the clogged injector. It would help if you would consider cleaning your injector thoroughly. When the engine injector is dirty, the gas will have trouble flowing.

If the underlying cause is the engine’s injector, your Kia Niro will start to function normally.

2. Lambda no longer works

If the Lambda of your Kia Niro stops working, it will affect the engine. In addition, the computer will not be able to modulate the injection to reduce emissions if the lambda does not work.

Remember that sometimes the check engine light can come on for other reasons. For example, the engine light may blink because the car warns you that the coil and spark plugs pollute.

3. overheating

If you drive your Kia Niro at a normally high speed, this can cause the check engine light to come on.

4. sensor position

When a good position sensor stops working properly, that may be enough for your check engine light to come on.

The sensor must produce the correct mixture of fuel and oxidizer.

5. A dirty particulate filter

Another cause of engine problems is a clogged particulate filter. Consider taking your vehicle to the mechanic to confirm if your Kia Niro has a clogged Particulate Filter.

6. Solution

If you see the light come on on your instrument panel, it’s hard to tell what the problem might be. It is advisable to take your Kia Niro for review. The mechanics will confirm the cause of the engine problem and fix it immediately.

Advantages and disadvantages

Since you know the common faults of the Kia Niro, it is good that you know more about the advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

• The Kia Niro is affordable for all budgets.
• It has a functional and user-friendly design.
• The Kia Niro is fuel efficient.
• This car comes with a wide range of safety features.
• The Kia Niro comes with comfortable seats.
• The Kia Niro has a spacious cabin. It offers 19.4 cubic feet of space.

Contras:

• The Kia Niro’s braking system is weak.
• It is not one of the safest cars.
• The engine of the Kia Niro is not of high quality.

What do the reviews and opinions say?

If user feedback and feedback on the Kia Niro is anything to go by, there are several other issues that Kia needs to address. Based on Edmunds’ comments, the Kia Niro’s touchscreen software isn’t as interactive as it should be.

A dissatisfied user claims that the touch screen is poorly organized. The user revealed that the touch screen has too many unnecessary icons. Also, it is impossible to return to the home screen once an attempt is made to access the Kia software via Android Auto. Still, you have to pay an annual license fee to use the software.

Meanwhile, CarBuzz also confirms that the 2022 Kia Niro’s powertrain feels unrefined. That makes the Niro’s ride quality even more mediocre.

To finish

Finally, Kia is working tirelessly to improve the Kia Niro. For example, the 2022 Kia Niro is slightly better than the 2017 Niro model. Although, car owners still report some powertrain issues.