Is My Kia Niro a Lemon?

The Kia Niro is a crossover SUV manufactured by Korean automaker Kia. The Niro comes in several trim styles, including the base model LX, the EX, the EX Touring, the SX, and the SX Touring.

In a Los Angeles Times article, over 80,000 Kia Niros vehicles were recalled earlier this year for damaged wiring. The Kia Niro has been available since 2016. It is currently offered in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric variants throughout the United States. The vehicle is based on the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq, but it offers several variations on Hyundai’s design. The Niro was the first Kia model to offer Android Auto; Apple CarPlay was added in late 2016.

The Kia Niro is a popular choice among drivers looking for the efficiency of electric vehicles combined with the comfort and cargo options of a crossover SUV. However, the Kia Niro has also become the subject of dozens of vehicle recalls. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently lists Kia Niro vehicles in model years 2016 through 2025 as the subject of recalls, investigations, or driver complaints. 

If you suspect your Kia Niro is a lemon, talk to an experienced California lemon law attorney immediately. The team at Wirtz Law APC can help navigate the best next steps to take when filing a claim.

3 Common Kia Niro Problems CA Consumers Face

Various Kia Niro vehicles in every model year from 2016 to 2025 have been subject to recalls, investigations, or complaints recorded by the NHTSA. Several common themes appear in the NHTSA database. 

1. Damaged Air Bag Wiring

In January 2025, a recall was issued for the 2025 Kia Niro EV, including plug-in hybrids. Damaged wiring can cause airbags to deploy improperly or not at all in a crash, increasing the risk of death or serious injury to those in the vehicle.

To determine whether your Kia Niro is subject to a recall, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and search for your vehicle by VIN or make and model. If an issue arises with your vehicle, take it to the dealership for repairs as soon as possible, whether or not a recall exists. 

2. Drive Shaft Problems

The 2024 Kia Niro EV was included in the recall for damaged airbag wiring, described above. It is also the subject of a second recall, issued in January 2024. 

The second recall focuses on a drive shaft that was not heat-treated appropriately. This drive shaft may break under stress, causing a loss of drive power. When the drive power fails, a driver may be unable to control the vehicle well enough to avoid a collision. 

3. Loose Differential Bolts

In April 2024, Kia issued a recall for several 2023 Kia Niro EV and 2024 Kia Niro E9 vehicles. Bolts attached to the differential gear in the gear drive unit had not been tightened properly during manufacturing. These loose bolts could cause the differential to lock up or result in a loss of drive power. Either situation can increase the risk of a crash that causes serious or fatal injury.

The 2023 Kia Niro EV was also included in the previously mentioned recalls to fix loose airbag wiring and to replace drive shafts that could break under stress. All three recalls seek to fix potentially deadly problems with the 2023 Kia Niro EV.

How Does California’s Lemon Law Protect Me If My Kia Niro Is a Lemon?

• California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, also known as the “lemon law,” protects consumers who purchase a vehicle like the Kia Niro only to discover it has one or more significant defects.
• To qualify for lemon law protection, the defect or defects must substantially impair the usability, value, or safety of the vehicle. Also, the automaker must be unable to fix your defect or defects within a “reasonable number” of repair attempts. This “reasonable number” may be as few as two attempts. 
• If your car is a lemon, the automaker must issue a refund or replacement. The automaker may also be required to pay your out-of-pocket costs, like towing fees, and to cover your reasonable attorney’s fees. 

Contact Our Los Angeles County Lemon Law Attorneys Today

The experienced Los Angeles lemon law attorneys at Wirtz Law will help you protect your California lemon law rights. We have proudly served the LA Community for many years, as well as OC and San Diego counties. Whether you purchased your vehicle in Southern California, Central California, or Northern California, we are here to help. We travel across the Golden State to ensure CA consumers understand their rights and are represented fairly for their lemon claim. To learn more about your legal rights and the next steps to get a refund or buyback, contact us today at (858) 259-5009.