Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid 2018

• Recall 249115 [USA]: A fire increases the risk of injury.
  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.
  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.
  owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.Nhtsa.Gov.

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• Recall 246532 [USA]: Overheated rear seats increase the risk of a fire.
  Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 kia niro hybrid electric vehicles previously recalled under recall 18v-666. The main relay within the power relay assembly (pra) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance, which can overheat the rear seats.
  dealers will inspect the pra and replace either the pra or the main relay, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed january 9, 2023. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc256. This recall supersedes nhtsa recall number 18v-666. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
  owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.Nhtsa.Gov.

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• Recall 140647 [USA]: The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the pra, increasing the risk of a fire.
  Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 kia niro hybrid electric vehicles. The main relay within the power relay assembly (pra) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance.
  kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the power relay assembly (pra) for damage. If no damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. If damage is found, the pra will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began november 23, 2018. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc168.
  owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.Safercar.Gov.

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• Recall 2018537 [Canada]: Electrical
  On certain vehicles, the main relay contacts in the power relay assembly located underneath the rear seat may have an inadequate connection. This could increase electrical resistance and generate heat, increasing the risk of fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: dealers will inspect the power relay assembly for signs of thermal damage. If no thermal damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. If signs of thermal damage exist, the power relay assembly will be replaced. Note: this problem may cause the illumination of the hev warning light while driving and/or an inability to start the vehicle.

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To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Pedestrian alert sounds investigation # DP22005

  Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at nhtsa.Gov under odi number 11486072.Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.The petitioner asserts that hybrid and electric vehicles to which the standard does not apply should be found to contain a safety defect. In support of the petition, the petitioner includes findings contained in a bill introduced in the house of representatives in 2009, the pedestrian safety enhancement act of 2009, h.R. 734, 111th cong. (2009). A related bill, the pedestrian safety enhancement act of 2010, became law in january 2011 (pub. L. 111-373). The petitioner requests that nhtsa require all electric and hybrid vehicles comply with fmvss 141, regardless of production date.The defect petition has been opened to evaluate the issue and determine whether to grant or deny the petition.The associated product list is not exhaustive and may contain vehicles that are equipped with pedestrian alert sounds.
  

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2018 kia niro plug-in hybrid, 16,235mi. Vehicle has been in 5 times in last several months for a total of over 30 days in shop. Transmission will do a very hard downshift intermittently when stopping. Makes vehicle dip hard..Noticeable on dash cam video. On harder acceleration, power train has trouble deciding what to do and often there is a noticeable delay in acceleration. Feels sort of like it is slipping, but is a delay in powering the electric motor fully and starting the gas motor.This has caused a couple close calls when pulling into traffic expecting the car to react appropriately. Some online research shows this is not an uncommon occurrence. Dealer has replaced a hydraulic actuator, bled system and reprogrammed pcm. This fixed a squeak noise in power train but not the harsh/erratic operations. As for the brakes, recently, depressing the brake with more than light pressure causes a rubbery groan sound from under driver's dash. This happens more when the car is cold or sitting for some time, less after it has warmed up. During these episodes, the brake pedal take more effort to push and brake engagement is delayed. The noise will happen when you step on the brake to start car or when driving. Dealer has been dismissive about the issues. We were told we would get a 'flight recorder' to help them document the transmission issues and record vehicle data from the computers. Today we were told we will not be getting it and to come pick up the car. Kia corporate in irvine, ca has been notified and a case has been opened. We are waiting on a response now.

2018 kia niro plug-in hybrid, 16,235mi. Vehicle has been in 5 times in last several months for a total of over 30 days in shop. Transmission will do a very hard downshift intermittently when stopping. Makes vehicle dip hard..Noticeable on dash cam video. On harder acceleration, power train has trouble deciding what to do and often there is a noticeable delay in acceleration. Feels sort of like it is slipping, but is a delay in powering the electric motor fully and starting the gas motor.This has caused a couple close calls when pulling into traffic expecting the car to react appropriately. Some online research shows this is not an uncommon occurrence. Dealer has replaced a hydraulic actuator, bled system and reprogrammed pcm. This fixed a squeak noise in power train but not the harsh/erratic operations. As for the brakes, recently, depressing the brake with more than light pressure causes a rubbery groan sound from under driver's dash. This happens more when the car is cold or sitting for some time, less after it has warmed up. During these episodes, the brake pedal take more effort to push and brake engagement is delayed. The noise will happen when you step on the brake to start car or when driving. Dealer has been dismissive about the issues. We were told we would get a 'flight recorder' to help them document the transmission issues and record vehicle data from the computers. Today we were told we will not be getting it and to come pick up the car. Kia corporate in irvine, ca has been notified and a case has been opened. We are waiting on a response now.

Door handle cane off and vehicle sometimes can not be licked

Door handle cane off and vehicle sometimes can not be licked

Car failed to stop twice - almost ran a red light. Brakes depressed and felt no pressure in brake line. Dealership has fixed brake issues with car only being 6 months old in 2018 - same brake issues but now the car is not stopping sometimes.

A few month ago, the front passenger door handle fell off when trying to open the door when the car was parked/stationary. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, and the handle and cover were replaced. Today, 10/22/2018, the right rear passenger door handle popped off when trying to open the door when the car was parked in the driveway. Both times the doors were unlocked, and the pressure applied to door handle was minimal (normal). The handle broke in the same place as the first. When contacting the dealership, we asked if the other handle (right rear passenger) could also be replaced, as this seems to be a defect. The service department said that they could inspect it when replacing the other handle, but could not order parts until it is determined that it is broken. Upon researching the problem on the internet, we found that kia had issued tsb #tsbbod180_r1 nhtsa id #10151899, and tsb #tsbbod186 nhtsa id #10151901 in regards to the door handles on 2017/18 niros, and said that all three passenger handles were to be replaced (not the driver). We then called back the service dept and inquired about the tbs, and were told that it wasn't for our vehicle. 2 handles in a couple of months would warrant the replacement of all handles. We don't understand why a recall hasn't been done, if this is an known issue, or why our vehicle is supposedly not included in the tsb. It is a safety issue, as access cannot be obtain from the outside of the vehicle.

I was driving on the freeway. After slowed down and stopped completely, suddenly it lose power to run. Trying to step deeper the gas pedal, but no reaction at all. After turn off and turn on engine few times, it can run again, but this time, the real problem occur. The engine sounds so loud..It's hybrid car supposed to so quiet (that's what sounds usually). Later on, i found out how to still can drove it, but with high risk suddenly lose power on the street. Later found out, when the car in motion, the hybrid system didn't worked completely, and the transmission sound very rough. Every time when come to brake or want to slow down, can feels obviously and heard the transmission is very rough making clutch loud sounds. The cruise control system also totally not function. When in stationary, very first when started the engine, made loud sounds on the engine, and can't reversed or move forward, just stayed in place. The dashboard display "check hybrid system". And on the middle screen displaying, "low voltage dc / dc converter".

Tl* the contact owned a 2018 kia niro plug-in hybrid. While driving at 30 mph and through an intersection, another vehicle ran their red light causing a collision. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was failed. The contact's insurance deemed the vehicle totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the contact should call nhtsa. The failure mileage was 25,000. The vin was not available.

Vehicle randomly flashes message to check hybrid system. Warning message disappear after vehicle reset but the message has repeatedly come up very often now. Message pops up during many different scenarios: after charging, before charging, while charging, and during operation.

Common OBD-II Error Codes

• C1604 [2] C1604
• C1606 [2] C1606
• U0456 [1] Invalid Data Received From Coolant Temperature Control Module
• P0128 [1] Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature)
• P1B77 [1] P1B77
• U029F [1] ISO/SAE Reserved
• P0605 [1] Internal Control Module Read Only Memory (ROM) Error
• P0404 [1] Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Range/Performance
• P0A0F [1] Engine Failed to Start