When accelerating from a dead stop, sometimes the car makes a very loud 'clunk' noise and lurches forward. Similar to the feeling when someone drives a manual transmission and takes the clutch out too fast. The car eventually finds the first gear and keeps driving, but this problem happens daily. Maybe around 5-10% of the time after every stop. There are multiple similar complaints on the federal safety agency website and on online forums. It is a well-documented issue.
2019 Kia Niro PHEV: harsh or hard shifting
5 of the 26 complaints about the 2019 Kia Niro PHEV describe harsh or hard shifting.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 19%
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 3 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
What owners say
Within the first 6 months of owning our 2019 Kia Plugin Hybrid, we started experiencing a clunk with a lurch when accelerating from a stopped position. The issue became progressively worse over time - increasing in frequency and severity. The car has been to the Kia Lupient dealership in Brooklyn Park, MN multiple times for this issue. At our most recent visit on November 7th, 2022, the service advisor acknowledged that the issue may be due to shipping the vehicle with the wrong transmission fluid. The transmission fluid was replaced with the correct fluid. However, we experienced the issue again on December 2, 2022. Could the wrong fluid have caused permanent damage to the transmission? This Technical Service Bulletin indicates that could be true. We are pursing arbitration with the dealership.
The vehicle has an intermittent jerk/clunk sound when accelerating or coming to a stop. Occasionally it can feel as if the clutch is coming engaging/disengaging roughly and cause passenger's heads to shake forward. In a few instances there has been a delay when pressing on the brakes to initiate stopping before the vehicle, this momentary loss of control is alarming. It feels as if the clutch and brakes did not react to the pedal immediately. I have taken the vehicle to the Kearny Mesa Kia dealership to diagnose the issue on 3 separate occasions starting from 2 months after purchasing the vehicle. On the most recent visit they have diagnosed that dual clutch failed a calibration test - it is unclear if they performed this test on the previous visits. Repairs have not yet been performed as I am disputing the out of warranty claim by the dealership
I don't know what components are involved. When attempting to move forward from a stop the car does not respond immediately. Then there is clunk noise and a lurch forward. Sometimes when this happens it feels like the car has been hit from behind. The problem began about a year ago and has been into the dealer's service center several times. I believe during one of those service visits a reset of something was done that seemed to resolve the issue for several months. The problem is intermittent. Dealer has been unable to reproduce the issue, but stated the last time the car was in for service that another customer with the same year and make was having the same symptoms and a tech that had been allowed to use the car for over a week did not experience the issue. No warning lights or codes are associated with the issue. A car that fails to move forward on a green light is in danger of being rear-ended placing the people in the vehicle and surrounding vehicles at risk of bodily injury. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than service staff at the FOlsom Lake Kia dealership. On February 18, 2022, the vehicle had no power (automatic doorlocks didn't work, etc) could not be started and was towed to the dealership where it is now.
Ongoing issue: randomly from a complete stop, upon acceleration there is a loud clunking noise. As if I am being rear-ended. Possibly the transmission. Happens more often in cold weather when the gas engine is in use more.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands: actuators/solenoids
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 23V534000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2019 Kia Niro PHEV harsh shifting
Is harsh or hard shifting a common problem on the 2019 Kia Niro PHEV?
5 of 26 owner complaints about the 2019 Kia Niro PHEV (19%) mention harsh or hard shifting.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2019 Kia Niro PHEV?
There is 1 recall and 3 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2019 Kia Niro PHEV
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