The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·18V666000·Announced 2018-09-25

Kia Recalls 2017-2018 Niro Hybrids for Fire Risk

Kia is recalling 2017-2018 Niro hybrid vehicles because a faulty relay may overheat the rear seat, increasing the risk of a fire.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk of fire, which is a significant injury/property-damage hazard under the NHTSA rubric.

Plain-English summary

Kia Motors America is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid electric vehicles. The recall addresses a defect in the Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA), which may have inadequate connections between its contacts. This issue causes increased electrical resistance.

The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat, which is located above the PRA, thereby increasing the risk of a fire. The recall began on November 23, 2018.

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the Power Relay Assembly for damage. If no damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. If damage is found, the entire PRA will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
KIA NIRO
Brand
KIA
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Category
Vehicle — Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Hazard
Affected units
27,030

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • NIRO

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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