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Before you buy a used Kia Niro (I).

2016–2022 · Hybrid / Plug-in hybrid / Electric · 3 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Kia Niro (I), real photo of this generation
Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 3 of its engines.

1.6 GDi Hybrid

Hybrid

  • Judder on the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (7DCT)Automatic gearbox
    Period mentioned
    Approx. 2015–2021
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: The Niro hybrid uses a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox: confirm the gearbox type.

1.6 GDi Plug-in Hybrid · e-Niro

1.6 GDi Plug-in Hybrid (Plug-in hybrid) · e-Niro (Electric)

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Kia Niro (I)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.6 GDi HybridHybrid32 with conditions2
1.6 GDi Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybridFewest documented21 with conditions1
e-NiroElectricFewest documented21 with conditions2

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: 1.6 GDi Plug-in Hybrid (Plug-in hybrid), e-Niro (Electric).

By fuel type, the ones with the fewest documented faults are: Plug-in hybrid, Electric.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Kia dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Kia engine, transmission and software recalls (2004–2025)Powertrain and engine management

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Kia electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2010–2026)Electrical and electronic systems

Engines: 1.6 GDi Hybrid (Hybrid)

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Battery micro-shorts the BMS fails to detect (Kia Niro EV)High-voltage battery

Engines: e-Niro (Electric)

How to check it: Ask a Kia dealer to check with the VIN whether campaign 261261 is outstanding.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 3 checked

Electrical and electronic systems

  • Look out for: In the morning the car will not start or switch on because the 12 V battery is flat, sometimes even after charging overnight. On the electric versions, the charge port sometimes does not lock and charging is impossible.

    Ask them to check: Measure the 12 V battery and its standby drain; ask about software updates; if the connector does not lock, use the emergency release and replace the lock motor.

  • Look out for: The emergency braking light and the general warning triangle come on at times, and adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning or lane keeping assist stop working. Then they come back on their own.

    Ask them to check: Clean the windscreen in front of the camera and note when it happens. At the garage, have them read the camera codes: with C1604-49 or C1606-49 the bulletin says to replace and calibrate it.

Automatic gearbox

  • Look out for: Abnormal vibration or shudder when pulling away and at low speed, especially in traffic.

    Ask them to check: At the dealer: run the judder test with the diagnostic tool, install the latest gearbox software and replace the dual clutch only if the judder remains.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

C1604C1606

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

More Kia buying guides

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