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2022 Kia Niro problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
42% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2022 Kia Niro are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 35%).
Does the 2022 Kia Niro have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 11 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Niro concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%), and the largest group is filed under engine (6). For comparison, the 2023 scores 32%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2022 compares with other Kia Niro years
Of the 2 Kia Niro years with enough complaints to score, the 2022 is the worst on engine and transmission share (42%). The best is the 2023 (32%). By volume, the 2022 drew 31 complaints (11 drivetrain), against 9 for the 2021 and 44 for the 2023.
Kia Niro years to avoid and best years →
2022 · 2023 Niro problems
The rest of the picture on the 2022 Kia Niro
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2022 Kia Niro transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2022 Kia Niro involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Fix: 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…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2022 Kia Niro? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2022 Kia Niro
Does the 2022 Kia Niro have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 11 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Niro concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2022 Kia Niro?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2022 Kia Niro is electrical system: 7 of 31 complaints (23%) name it, followed by service brakes (7) and engine (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 42% of the relevant total.
Is the 2022 Kia Niro reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 42% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 2 Kia Niro years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2022 Kia Niro?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2022 Kia Niro involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 23V534000 (power train: automatic transmission: internal: clutches/bands: actuators/solenoids). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Niro years are better?
Among the Kia Niro years we track, the 2023 (32%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2022 (42%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-niro
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.