2021 Kia Niro Ev problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (1) · Back Over Prevention: Back-Up Alarm (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Niro Ev model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2025-06-20 · campaign 25V426000 · 11,327 vehicles
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Niro EV vehicles. The circuit board for the rearview camera may become damaged and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC342.
Service bulletins (43)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-08-28 · TSB_CLI049_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 provides information regarding the partial repair of the air
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-07-08 · PI2603Y_TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: bsa replacement (pi2603y) - this bulletin provides information related to the technical service bulletin previously published under pi2603, titled “bms battery diagnostic logic improvement.” if one or more of the diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) listed in the bulletin are
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-06-17 · PI2603_OWNR · Other
product improvement campaign: owner notification (pi2603) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting a product improvement campaign to update the battery management system (bms) software to enhance battery diagnostic performance in certain 2020-2022 my niro ev vehicles
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-06-15 · PI2603_QA · Other
product improvement campaign: question and answer (pi2603) - this document is the question and answer guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the product improvement campaign pi2603.
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-06-15 · PI2603_DPSM · Other
product improvement campaign: dealer parts and service manager memo (pi2603) - this document is the announcement to the dealer parts and service managers advising that kia is conducting a product improvement campaign to update the battery management system (bms) software to enhance battery diagnost
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-06-15 · PI2603_DP · Other
product improvement campaign: dealer principal memo (pi2603) - this document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that kia is conducting a product improvement campaign to update the battery management system (bms) software to enhance battery diagnostic performance in certain 2020-20
Showing the 6 most recent of 43 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-05-28 · Service Brakes“the rear brake rotors on the vehicle are pitted, as confirmed by a local repair shop. the "incident" is ongoing. kia refuses to repair or replace them under warranty (25,500 miles on the car), claiming they are wear item. however, pitting is not wear, in fact quite the opposite. my analysis (30+ yrs in the auto business): as an ev, regenerative …”
2021-07-30 · Back Over Prevention: Back-Up Alarm“i'm a new niro ev driver. the vess noise when reversing the vehicle is very loud. it is too loud, i live in close proximity to neighbors and have to get up early for work and the sound is a major nuisance, i would not want a neighbor that has this car . i understand vess in place for safety but the reverse backup beeping is just a step down from a …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.