AI Damage2022 KIA Niro: common problems
Owners of the 2022 KIA Niro filed 31 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and service brakes. The maker issued 38 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 31
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 38
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 23% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 23% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 19% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 10% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (23% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 28.
- Service brakes: 7 complaints (23% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 6 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- electric
- 1.6 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- 1.6 L · plug-in hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 1-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 31 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
No warning light illuminated. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where the contact was informed that the vehicle would be destroyed. The contact sustained an eye and face injury, body aches, and a detached ear.
I was driving on a 70mph hwy and traffic came to a full and sudden stop due to a car cutting across lanes a few cars ahead of me. There was no time for me to stop and I couldn’t see the traffic stopped. The car in front of me was able to stop without hitting anyone but I could not.
What happened next was terrifying… ( 1/3) Post 2: As I tried braking to park, the brakes failed, and the car accelerated instead! I barely avoided the shop, parked cars & trees—but I jumped a curb, went in & out of a ditch, and stopped across a major road. A red light saved me from being hit!
2022 Kia Niro EX Premium Hybrid was sold as Kia Certified Pre-Owned on August 12 2026 with an active check engine light present at time of purchase. Dealer Calavan Kia West in Lithia Springs GA represented the vehicle as passing a 165-point CPO inspection.
The contact stated that while his wife was driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormally loud grinding sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the brake pads and rotors were replaced.
The contact stated that a hardwired kill switch was installed in the vehicle, and the switch overheated to the point that the vehicle was unable to operate. An investigation was conducted by the contact, who touched a big box underneath the dashboard.
Problem 1, Check Engine Light: I purchased the used car on Jan 9 2025, around 23,400 miles from Kia Dealership, capitol Expy in San Jose. Today 05/27/2026, the odometer reads 26, 407 miles. My car is used only twice a week - 20 miles on Fridays, 12 miles on Wednesdays.
Intermittent warning to "Refill Inverter Coolant" displays on the dash screen. This is a known issue pursuant to SA512 (ELE 270 Rev 3) due to faulty coolant that crystallizes and interferes with the sensor.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,072 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 49% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Niro has 11 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 31, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: BMS BATTERY DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2603) - This bulletin provides information regarding a Battery Management System (BMS) software update for certain 2020–2022MY Niro (DE EV)…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: AEWP INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT (SC325) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in…
- PITSTOP
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
SERVICE ACTION: KIA CONNECT MODEM RESET (SA611) - This bulletin outlines the procedure for resetting the modem in certain 2016-2025MY Kia vehicles listed on page 3 that are equipped with Kia Connect Services. The…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
SERVICE ACTION: DISPLAY AUDIO 2.0/AVN5WSOFTWARE UPDATE (SA569) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
DISPLAY AUDIO 2.0V/AVN5W SOFTWARE UPDATE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
AVN 5.0 WIDE NON-RESPONSIVE RADIO ICON (AM, FM, SXM) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
DISPLAY AUDIO 2.0V/AVN5W SOFTWARE UPDATE - This bulletin provides information to update the software on Display Audio 2.0 (D2V) and 5th Generation AVN Wide (AVN5W) head units on certain 2021-2023MY Kia vehicles. The…
NHTSA lists 38 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2022 KIA Niro?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, service brakes, engine. Total complaints: 31. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (23%), smoke, burning smell, fire (10%), brake failure (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2022 KIA Niro?
NHTSA lists 38 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2022 KIA Niro from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2022 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.