Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
43–50 mpgcombined; city 46–52, highway 40–49; every version of this model year; plug-in hybrid versions on gasoline, 105 MPGe on electricity
Five years of fuel
$6,500–$7,550U.S. average; Ohio $5,810–$6,750 at local prices; every version of this model year, electric versions apart; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026. Electric versions: $4,120 at U.S. average electricity prices. Plug-in hybrid versions: $7,250, EPA's own estimate for plug-in hybrids: its national gasoline and electricity prices and the share of miles it expects on electricity; not priced for any state
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2020 Niro. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Niro. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Unknown or other
16
0
2
0
Electrical system
14
0
1
0
Power train
13
0
0
0
Engine
9
0
1
0
Service brakes
7
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
6
2
0
2
Fuel/propulsion system
5
0
0
0
Back over prevention
3
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
3
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
3
0
0
0
Air bags
2
2
0
2
Lane departure
2
1
0
0
7 more parts
Steering
2
0
0
0
Hybrid propulsion system
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 Niro over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Niro EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally.
Risk: Coolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the EPCU as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC258.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 92 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Niro, the latest on Aug 28, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (52), engine and engine cooling (25), equipment (10), service brakes (8), fuel/propulsion system (7).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2020 Niro.
EPA class: small station wagons. EPA greenhouse gas score: 9–10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Niro Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM6)
Regular Gasoline
51 / 46 / 49
Niro Electric Front-Wheel Drive
150 kW IPMSM
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 239 miles of range
123 / 102 / 112 MPGe
Niro FE Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM6)
Regular Gasoline
52 / 49 / 50
Niro Plug-in Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM6)
Regular Gasoline or Electricity 26 miles on electricity, 560 miles in all
48 / 44 / 46 on gasoline 105 MPGe on electricity
Niro Touring Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM6)
Regular Gasoline
46 / 40 / 43
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data