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Kia · Compact SUV

2023 Kia Niro

Electric Plug-in hybrid Hybrid

Small Station Wagons
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4

Complaints10 crash · 9 injured reported 65

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

EV rangebest configuration, EPA 253 mi

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 53 mpg

Starting MSRP9 trims · manufacturer $26,590

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

The 2023 Kia Niro is sold in the U.S. as an electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Niro Electric, is EPA-rated at 253 miles with 113 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 65 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $26,590 to $44,550 across 9 trims.

Kia Niro — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Kia Niro · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
LX	Hybrid	FWD	$26,590	139 hp	195 lb-ft	53 mpg	5	22.8 cu-ft	16 in
EX	Hybrid	FWD	$29,190	139 hp	195 lb-ft	53 mpg	5	22.8 cu-ft	16 in
EX Touring	Hybrid	FWD	$31,490	139 hp	195 lb-ft	49 mpg	5	22.8 cu-ft	18 in
SX	Hybrid	FWD	$32,590	139 hp	195 lb-ft	53 mpg	5	22.8 cu-ft	16 in
SX Touring	Hybrid	FWD	$34,890	139 hp	195 lb-ft	49 mpg	5	22.8 cu-ft	18 in
EX	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	$33,840	180 hp	195 lb-ft	—	5	19.4 cu-ft	16 in
SX	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	$39,590	180 hp	195 lb-ft	—	5	19.4 cu-ft	18 in
Niro EV Wind	Electric	FWD	$39,550	—	—	—	—	22.8 cu-ft	17 in
Niro EV Wave	Electric	FWD	$44,550	—	—	—	—	22.8 cu-ft	17 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Niro Electric	Electric	FWD	TBD	126	101	113 MPGe	253 mi	29.3	7.5 h	$650
Niro Plug-in Hybrid	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl + 62 kW AC PMSM	49	47	48 (73 MPGe blended)	34 mi electric	31	2.8 h	$1,400
Niro FE	Hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl + 240V Li-Ion	53	54	53	—	—	—	$1,250
Niro	Hybrid	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl + 240V Li-Ion	53	45	49	—	—	—	$1,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 46008, 47221, 45674, 45673.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Niro Electric	10 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay Elite
Niro FE, Niro Plug-in Hybrid	7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Niro	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Electrical System

SC332

80,255 vehicles 85% reported repaired

Problem 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. Risk Air bags and seat belts that deploy improperly or an air bag deploying unintentionally can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V024000 reported Jan 17, 2025 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Power Train

SC308

8 vehicles 100% reported repaired Electric only

Problem Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Niro EV and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up. Risk A loss of drive power or differential lock up can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the gear drive unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC308.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V271000 reported Apr 16, 2024 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Power Train

SC295

1,243 vehicles 94% reported repaired Electric only

Problem Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Niro EV and 2023 EV6 vehicles. One of the drive shafts may have been improperly heat-treated, allowing it to break under load and resulting in a loss of drive power. Risk A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the drive shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC295.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V057000 reported Jan 31, 2024 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Electrical System

SC270

108,936 vehicles 92% reported repaired

Problem 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 Monitoring Systems." Risk 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. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V298000 reported Apr 26, 2023 Kia America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Niro

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 Kia Niro, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

65complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 9 injuries · 0 deaths reported

16 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 40,875 Niro built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2023: 20 · 2024: 17 · 2025: 14 · 2026: 14

Most-cited components

Electrical System 23

Unspecified 23

Forward Collision Avoidance 15

Fuel/Propulsion System 8

Power Train 8

Air Bags 6

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The vehicle is a rental vehicle. It experienced two incidents of sudden loss of propulsion within the first two days of operation. During both events, the vehicle became completely unresponsive to accelerator pedal input and would not move despite being placed in Drive.

Power Train Feb 21, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11719665

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.

Forward Collision Avoidance Sep 15, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11687304

Check electric vehicle system warning light indicator illuminates and car stops driving on highway! A/C and defrost won't work properly and when turned on causes the above warning light and malfunction. Car will not charge at "fast" charging stations and will leave you stranded on highway.

Electrical System Jun 15, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11744166

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.

Engine Nov 5, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11697775

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.

Air Bags Jul 18, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11674651

I have had the car since May 2023 and every winter moisture builds up on my windows on the inside of the car and over night it gets frozen from the inside. There is mold growing on the inside of the door panels, the back hatch window and under the seat and on the seat belts

Seats Jan 21, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11637340

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Kia itself: 4 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 9.8 per 100,000 built. Every Niro model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	12%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Driver-assist crash reports (2)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01

2reports filed

1 minor · 1 severity unknown

Nov 2023 to Feb 2025 · 0 with an air bag deployment · 2 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: Equipped with HDA but not in use at the time of the incident (1), HDA (1)

Crash partner: Heavy Truck 1 · SUV 1

Filed by: Kia America, Inc.

Incident	System	Struck	Injury alleged	State	Speed	Report
Feb 2025	Level 2 · Equipped with HDA but not in use at the time of the incident	SUV	minor	OR	65 mph	753-10358
Nov 2023	Level 2 · HDA	Heavy Truck	unknown	WA	65 mph	753-6807

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 150

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-28

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 104 service bulletins, 32 emissionss, 12 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System, Power Train, Equipment.

TSB_CLI049_R2 Service bulletin
2026-08-28 · Electrical System
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 Conditioning (A/C) compressor assembly on some 2011MY~ Optima Hybrid (TF HEV, JF HEV/PHEV), 2015MY~
TSB_ELE426 Service bulletin
2026-08-19 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN GEN 5.0 WIDE SOFTWARE UPDATE - This bulletin provides information on the Audio Video Navigation (AVN) system software update for certain vehicles equipped with AVN5W and Navigation System listed in the table below. Affected vehicles may overestimate travel times during route calculation.
TSB_ELE422 Service bulletin
2026-05-28 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE. KIA. COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for sup
TSB_ELE394 Service bulletin
2026-03-26 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN5.0W DTC P17A000 DAIGNOSTIC PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information regarding a potential illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) accompanied by DTC P17A000 on some 2022-2025MY Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) equipped with AVN5.0Wide head units listed below. This condition occurs when the Global Positioning Syste
SC325_TSB_R1 Service bulletin
2026-02-20 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: AEWP INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT (SC325) - 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 to inspect and, if necessary, replace the Auxiliary Electric Water Pump (AEWP), control harness wiring,
PS797 Other
2025-12-09 · Back Over Prevention — Warnings
PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane
TSB_GEN099_R3 Service bulletin
2025-10-22 · Wheels
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: TIRE MOBILITY KIT INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT/ REPAIR (SA556) - 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 to inspect, and if necessary, replace the Tire Mobility Kit (TMK) sealant can or sealant can cap on certain
SC345Z_TSB Service bulletin
2025-10-09 · Power Train
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: FRONT MOTOR REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (SC345Z) - This bulletin provides information regarding grinding or whining noise coming from the front motor reduction gear assembly after replacing the oil under SC345 (published in August 2025) on certain 2023-2024MY Niro EV (SG2 EV) vehicles produced from December 12, 2022 through February 7,

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P1BB2	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	5 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.88%

failed emissions

988 initial inspections of 971 vehicles.

Measure	The 2023 Niro	Every 2023 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.88%	1.6%	799
Failed the safety inspection	1.4%	1.1%	988
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.10%	0.16%	988
Miles driven a year	11,481	10,038	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	36,652	32,673	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Niro by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 50 mpg 2026 A 0 2 253 mi 2025 A 1 20 253 mi 2024 B 2 19 253 mi 2023 this page C 4 65 253 mi 2022 D 3 74 239 mi 2021 B 2 12 239 mi 2020 C 3 63 239 mi 2019 B 1 101 239 mi 2018 D 3 73 50 mpg 2017 F 5 101 50 mpg

Common questions about the 2023 Niro

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2023 Kia Niro cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $26,590 for the LX FWD to $44,550 for the Niro EV Wave FWD, across 9 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2023 Kia Niro have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 Kia Niro. The most serious on file is 25V024000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 Kia Niro?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Kia Niro 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (76/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Kia Niro?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Kia Niro, the best EPA combined figure is 53 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions) and the longest EPA range is 253 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Kia Niro?

Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Niro, most often about electrical system, unspecified, forward collision avoidance. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 9 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Kia Niro?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Kia Niro runs 7 to 10 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Kia Niro?

The manufacturer has filed 150 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Kia Niro, most often covering electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system. The most recent is dated 2026-08-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 Kia Niro do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Kia Niro failed the emissions check on 0.88% of first inspections — lower than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Which 2023 Kia Niro trim is the best value?

$17,960 separates the cheapest of the 9 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	4	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	65	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	1 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	150	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	2	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	9 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API

2023 Kia Niro

Trims & pricing

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (4)

Electrical System

Power Train

Power Train

Electrical System

Whether any of this applies to one specific Niro

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2023 Kia Niro

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Driver-assist crash reports (2)

What was engaged, and what was hit

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Niro by model year

Common questions about the 2023 Niro

How much does the 2023 Kia Niro cost?

Does the 2023 Kia Niro have any recalls?

How safe is the 2023 Kia Niro?

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Kia Niro?

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Kia Niro?

How clean is the 2023 Kia Niro?

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Kia Niro?

How does the 2023 Kia Niro do at state inspection?

Which 2023 Kia Niro trim is the best value?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method