Kia Niro fire or smoke problems

Filed Sep 16, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · TN · fire

On XXX, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a friend and I were driving on XXX near [XXX], when I noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. As I pulled over to the side of the road, a warning light appeared on the dashboard. Once stopped, I saw flames coming from the engine compartment. We immediately got out of the car, retrieved our dogs from the back seat, and ran away from the burning car. Another motorist who had witnessed the flames pulled over behind us. Because our cell phones were still inside the car, we used his phone to call [XXX]. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Fire Department responded to the scene. The car was completely destroyed by the fire and was declared a total loss. We were unable to retrieve anything from the car. There was no collision with another car or object. The car is now located at [XXX]. Telephone [XXX]. On XXX KIA Ourisman of [XXX] had installed a rebuilt engine, as according to them, the original engine had “thrown a rod.” An insurance claim has been filed with GEICO. Complaints have been filed with KIA of [XXX] and [XXX] KIA of [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Engine · 98,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving 79 MPH, the thermostat displayed that the engine was running hot and there was white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle, with the check engine warning light illuminated. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that a hose underneath the radiator was disconnected, and coolant was leaking from the hose, and the dipstick had dislodged into the engine. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop or while decelerating, the vehicle jolted forward. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed Apr 15, 2026 · Engine, Steering · 50,500 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The message, "Turn Off the Vehicle and Stop" was displayed, and the transmission failure warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. Once the vehicle was turned off, the smoke dissipated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that there were holes in the engine, power steering, and there was an engine oil leak. The engine, transmission, and battery were replaced. However, 2 months later, the contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was scheduled to be towed to another dealer, Buster Miles Kia (1401 S Quintard Ave, Anniston, AL 36201). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and it was determined that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,500.

Filed Dec 11, 2025 · Engine · 112,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Engine Overheated - Turn Engine Off" was displayed with white smoke coming from the exhaust system. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the coolant level was extremely low. The contact stated that coolant was added to the reservoir; however, hours later the coolant level was low again. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the head gasket was blown and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.

Filed Sep 21, 2025 · Engine · NC

Just before Hurricane Helene, I brought my 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid to Asheville Kia (NC) after noticing coolant loss and white smoke coming from the exhaust. The dealership charged me $1,400 for a repair involving new gaskets and the EGR cooler. Within a month, the same symptoms returned. I returned to the dealership and explained I believed the original issue had not been resolved. I had done research and found reports of similar problems in other Niro Hybrids. I specifically mentioned the coolant heat exchanger as a possible source, but they dismissed my input and pushed a $3,500 muffler system replacement. I asked for diagnostic proof, and they initially showed a photo of the muffler with no visible leak. Later, they claimed a "small leak" was found during a pressure test — but the symptoms didn’t align. I then took the vehicle to John’s Kwik Lube in Spruce Pine, NC, where they confirmed the coolant heat exchanger was faulty — exactly what I had originally suspected. They repaired it with a simple workaround for under $200, and I’ve had no issues since. The faulty component (coolant heat exchanger) is not available for inspection, but I retained diagnostic records, pressure test results, and screenshots of the dealership’s estimate. I also documented that Kia’s quote system does not allow access to past service quotes, so I had to screenshot everything manually. The only symptoms were coolant loss and white smoke from the tailpipe, beginning shortly before the storm in September 2018, and recurring until the final repair later that year. The problem was confirmed by an independent mechanic, and partially acknowledged (though misdiagnosed) by the Kia dealership. No police or insurance inspection was involved. This situation posed a safety risk due to reduced visibility, potential engine overheating, and exposure to coolant vapors, especially during uphill driving. The issue is known among Kia owners and appears to be a recurring design flaw in the Niro.

Filed Feb 1, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NH · fire

2020 Kia Niro was driving fine until one day while driving down the highway at highway speeds (65-70 mph), the car began to lose power and as we switched lanes to get to the side of the highway, the car began to smoke and caught on fire. Our safety was at risk due to the car catching on fire. The problem is unable to be reproduced as the car is a total loss. Vehicle was inspected by police at the scene. There were no warning lights, and the vehicle had been in working condition prior to the incident. The vehicle had a recall that was fixed at our local Kia dealership as soon as a solution was indicated, and the part was located.

Filed Aug 5, 2024 · Engine · 120,000 miles · MT

The contact owned a 2019 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a ticking and a popping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact's friend who was following behind noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was driven to the destination. The following day, the oil level was checked, and the contact stated that the oil level was low; however, there was no sign of an oil leak. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started and made a rattling sound. The contact turned the vehicle off and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a hole in the crankcase. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Apr 29, 2024 · Transmission · MD · fire

The contact owned a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge began to indicate that the vehicle was overheating. The contact then observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle soon became engulfed in flames. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the flames. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was also filed, with no injuries reported. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number:Â 23V534000 (Engine), and the VIN was included, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Mar 5, 2024 · Body, Electrical · CO · fire

Car caught fire

Filed Nov 17, 2023 · Electrical · FL

Problem has not been remedied. What is my recourse? How long do I have to drive around worried about the car going on fire?