What are the most common problems with the 2019 Kia Niro?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is power train (22 complaints), followed by electrical system (13).

How many 2019 Kia Niro complaints mention a crash or fire?

4 of 56 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 3 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2019 Kia Niro recalls and problems

1 recall and 56 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2019 Kia Niro.

recalls

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2019 Kia Niro recalls

Power train: automatic transmission, internal, clutches/bands, actuators/solenoids

NHTSA campaign 23V534000 · reported July 31, 2023 · Kia America, Inc. · 121,411 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.
The risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Power train22
Electrical system13
Engine10
Service brakes10
Fuel/propulsion system8
Unknown or other6
Engine and engine cooling4
Air bags2
Back over prevention2
Steering2

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Sep 16, 2026 · Power train
On August 22nd, I was driving from the grocery story to my house (5 miles away) when the transmission started failing only going on 2nd gear and the check engine light came on, when I got home, I called my mechanic and he connected his code reader to my card and the error code is P090B$07E9 Clutch "B" actuator control…

Sep 6, 2026 · Service brakes
2019 Kia Niro. While driving normally on the street, the driver attempted to brake & the brakes would not respond. This is a very scary situation and Kia needs to handle immediately!! The message "Stop the Vehicle and Check Regenerative Brakes" was displayed. Thankfully the driver was able to come to a stop without…

Jul 27, 2026 · Service brakes · 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and the parking brake was engaged to keep the vehicle from moving. The message "Stop the Vehicle and Check…

Jun 23, 2026 · Service brakes
My car is a 2019 KIA Niro Hybrid. It's only 7 years old, and my husband and I have been the only owners. It only has 61,000 miles on it, and it is serviced regularly and has to pass a state emissions test each year. As I was driving the other day, the dashboard lit up with critical alerts saying "check regenerative…

Jun 12, 2026 · Unknown or other
The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator has caused functional driving issues and caused my vehicle to go into limp mode. I was never informed of the recall issue prior to purchase, and the recall was marked as complete, when it was not. The fix for KIA NIRO Recall SC276 was incomplete in January 2024, and I purchased my vehicle…

Niro model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2017	4	82	4	5
2018	3	60	5	0
2019	1	56	4	2
2020	1	39	2	3
2021	1	9	1	0
2022	1	31	5	0

Across all years, the 2017 Niro has the most complaints (82). All Kia Niro years →

Questions

Does the 2019 Kia Niro have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2019 Kia Niro, the most recent reported on July 31, 2023 (Power train: automatic transmission, internal, clutches/bands, actuators/solenoids). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Kia Niro?: Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is power train (22 complaints), followed by electrical system (13).
How many 2019 Kia Niro complaints mention a crash or fire?: 4 of 56 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 3 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received September 16, 2026.