2023 Kia Niro Safety Report
2023 KIA NIRO Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2023 Kia Niro
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2023 Kia Niro. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (36) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 8 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Kia Niro with 6 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2022 | Check the 2022 Kia Niro before buying across this generation. |
Kia Niro Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Niro years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Kia Niro | 6 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2022 Kia Niro | 22 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2025 Kia Niro | 8 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Kia Niro | 7 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2023 Kia Niro Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2023 Kia Niro, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyElectrical System
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlyPower Train
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Kia onlyService Brakes
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Kia onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2023 Kia Niro
Reliability Score
The 2023 Kia Niro receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2023 Kia Niro
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2023 Kia Niro
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2023 Kia Niro:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument Cluster/Panel Recalled due to a damaged floor wiring assembly that may prevent proper operation of the instrument cluster, leading to potential safety issues. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Parking Brake Issues with the parking brake have been reported, where the vehicle does not respond when the parking brake is engaged. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Hybrid System Hybrid system errors have been observed, causing the vehicle to slow down unexpectedly without warning. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Suspension Clunking noises from the front left suspension have been reported, indicating potential issues with the suspension system. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2023 Kia Niro:
Issues with the instrument cluster and floor wiring assembly have been reported.
Problems with the parking brake have been noted.
Hybrid system errors have been observed.
Clunking noises from the front left suspension have been reported.
Recall Details for the 2023 Kia Niro
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Kia Niro by NHTSA:
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air bags and seat belts from deploying properly or cause an unintended side curtain air bag deployment.
Consequence: Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC332.
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitorin...
Consequence: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2023 Kia Niro
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2023 Kia Niro with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 8 complaints involved crashes. 5 reported injuries or fatalities.
I bought my Niro hybrid EX Touring new from the dealership in 2023. The first issue arose when the car shut off completely while driving and was towed to the dealership. Later, I started hearing a squeaking/rubber rubbing sound. The car would make squeaking and creaking noises when turning or going over minor bumps. The "rubber rubbing sound" happened when I was at a full stop, right after removin...
I am filing a complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Niro and Safety Recall SC332. The recall involves a damaged floor wiring assembly that may prevent proper airbag and seat belt deployment, creating a serious safety risk. I scheduled and brought my vehicle to Cowboy Kia, Conroe on Feb 2,2026 specifically to have this recall repaired, but the dealership did not complete the recall service and returned ...
When attempting to activate the parking brake there is no response from the vehicle. No matter how many times in attempting to activate the parking brake it would not activate. The only way to successfully activate the parking brake was if "auto hold" was on and i turned off the vehicle. i have a safety concern regarding this matter as the vehicle could potentially roll away if the car is unattend...
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Niro. The contact stated that the vehicle had been "Hacked" by a stalker. While driving, the vehicle was controlled by the hacker to randomly steer to the right. Additionally, the contact stated that the hacker caused several features on the instrument panel to become disabled. No additional information was available. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was u...
USB connectivity is intermittent. This involves using the USB A connection in the center console as a port for stored media (music files) on a USB drive and Android Auto. The connection will connect and disconnect randomly regardless of the car being stationary or moving. The intermittent connectivity occurs regardless for all USB cables or thumb drives that I have tried. The vehicle is availa...
My car has clunking noises coming from the front left suspension, they occur more often and getting louder. After doing some research online, I found that the symptoms are similar to the NHTSA recall number 24V-057. Unfortunately, the NHTSA recall didn't include Niro plug-in hybrid manufactured in year 2023, only Niro EV. I took it to the service center nearby. They said it's the strut, so what th...
I am experiencing the same issues as the individual who documented incident #11685147. When I turn the shifter to drive and let my foot off the brake, with auto-hold on, the will still roll backwards, even on flat ground, and not respond to me pushing the gas pedal. I have to put the vehicle back into park, and try again. Oftentimes I have to shut the vehicle completely off to be able to get the v...
Driving VA Interstate 64. Traveling right side travel lane approximately 70 mph. Had ADAS engaged. Car entering highway, moved to center travel lane to pass. As I approached entering highway car, suddenly, my car stalled, engine off and I was stopped in center travel lane. Able to start car by putting transmission in park and pressing start button. Called KIA Car Care Center - They have no r...
On multiple occasions, the car has flashed an error on the dash stating there was a problem with the hybrid system. It immediately slows down without time to merge over causing extreme danger on a busy highway several cars swerved to miss the Kia because there was nothing I can do. this has happened several times and Kia is well aware as I’ve had multiple communications with them.
I was driving my 2023 Kia Niro PHEV into my garage after running an errand, going very slowly. Suddenly the vehicle--all on its own--surged forward, slammed into the rear wall (triggering air bags), ricocheted backward across the street, and struck a neighbor's fence. I was able to get out of the car but I was in shock; paramedics were called. Ultimately, my injuries were found to be limited to br...
I received a recall notice SC332 several weeks ago. In February I visited ALM Kia in Perry, GA. The sercice advisor ordered parts, I have checked with ALM Kia several times and they keep telling me the parts have not arrived. This is a serious safety issue and I need your help. Thank You, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S...
This May of been a cause of a defective Harness Assembly that has taken a few tries to get repaired (Harness is fixed but problem still continues randomly). Since then, my car has stalling problems, randomly, sometimes multiple time in one drive. I have no way to replicate it on my own just that it "can happen" anytime and has subjected me to waiting on the side of the road for the engine compute...
On Oct 4, 2024, a driver rolled into my car on an incline. While waiting for the police, I looked inside my car and thought the engine was still on. (Flashers). I turned the power button and the car began to roll backwards. I jumped in and tried the break. Pedal went all the way to the floor and car rolled faster. Moved gear shift around and kept rolling faster and faster (incline). I had my left ...
Each time I don't drive for a few days and start driving again, the car jerks/jolts as it's shifting gears (both when I'm accelerating and decelerating). The sudden jolts is dangerous as I'm gauging cars ahead and behind me as I'm driving. But when I brought it up to the service department, they said they can't diagnose it if it isn't happening at the moment, but by the time I've driven to a deale...
My wife was in an accident on [XXX] around [XXX] at the intersection of [XXX] . She had exchanged safety information with the person whose vehicle had stalled. She went to shut off the car upon exchanging the information and after pressing the ignition button the vehicle began to roll. She was outside of the vehicle when she had pressed the ignition button. She tried physically to stop the veh...
Car makes "clicking noises" when accelerating or braking that appears coming from engine bay or front wheels. Other users reported similar issue on consumer forum: [XXX] ) Car dealership does not have availability to diagnose the issue until next month. Car currently has 55,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The air-conditioning compressor failed internally sending debris into the condenser. I have read Kia owners online forums and this is a known problem to Kia, but they have not issued a recall. See: [XXX] I was at the Dealer today and saw another Niro EV with the same AC not working problem. I have attached a picture. My car was repaired under warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREED...
Engine light indicating error code P040100. Dealership noted excessive buildup in emission tube, cooler plugged and needs replaced, EGR valve needs replaced. Car has less than 35k miles.
Last year, I purchased a new 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid and had a 24-month lease contract on it. After 9 months (5,700 miles), my car started having problems (Forward Collision Warning, random loss of power steering). My car had to be towed twice to a KIA dealership, where I was told nothing was wrong with my car. They finally agreed to run a scan on the electric syste, where they found a few communic...
My car drives forward when in reverse. This happened twice. Second time I was able to get it on video. Car Is currently at dealership
Showing 20 of 36 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2023 Kia Niro
Has the 2023 KIA NIRO been recalled?
Yes, the 2023 KIA NIRO has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2023 KIA NIRO have?
The 2023 KIA NIRO has 36 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 8 involved crashes. 6 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2023 KIA NIRO?
The 2023 KIA NIRO received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 KIA NIRO?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2023 KIA NIRO involve unknown or other (6 complaints), electrical system (3 complaints), power train (3 complaints). Other affected components include service brakes, electrical system,unknown or other, unknown or other,forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2023 KIA NIRO have?
There are 8 crash reports associated with the 2023 KIA NIRO out of 36 total complaints (22.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2023 KIA NIRO have?
There are no fire reports for the 2023 KIA NIRO in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2023 KIA NIRO?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 KIA NIRO.
How many injuries are reported for the 2023 KIA NIRO?
6 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 KIA NIRO. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2023 KIA NIRO?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 KIA NIRO is generally recommended. It has 36 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2023 KIA NIRO?
The components with the most failures on the 2023 KIA NIRO are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN (3 complaints), 4. SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 6 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2023 KIA NIRO?
Be aware of potential electrical and hybrid system issues, and regularly check the parking brake and suspension for any unusual noises or malfunctions. The 2023 KIA NIRO has 36 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2023 KIA NIRO?
The 2023 KIA NIRO receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 36 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 8 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Instrument Cluster/Panel and Parking Brake.
What are the known issues with the 2023 KIA NIRO?
Known issues with the 2023 KIA NIRO include: Instrument Cluster/Panel, Parking Brake, Hybrid System, Suspension. These are based on patterns found across 36 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues reported for the 2023 KIA NIRO?
The most common issues include electrical system problems, hybrid system errors, and parking brake malfunctions.
Are there any recalls for the 2023 KIA NIRO?
Yes, there are recalls for issues with the instrument cluster and floor wiring assembly.
What should I do if I experience unexpected shutdowns or hybrid system errors?
Contact Kia customer service immediately and have the vehicle inspected by a certified mechanic.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential electrical and hybrid system issues, and regularly check the parking brake and suspension for any unusual noises or malfunctions.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2023 Kia Niro
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023 Kia Niro. The data includes 36 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 8 reported crashes, 6 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2023 Kia Niro an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16