Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: it scores well across the board with no single weak engine.
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Niro, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 4 | 13% |
| Air bags | 3 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 10% |
| Power train | 3 | 10% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 6% |
| Engine | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Parking brake | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I park the car, lock it and then later on can’t open it. I use the emergency key to enter it but then can’t start it even with a new battery in the key fob. It happened twice. It is an issue that needs to be fixed as s
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
2022 Kia Niro EX Premium Hybrid was sold as Kia Certified Pre-Owned on August 12 2026 with an active check engine light present at time of purchase. Dealer Calavan Kia West in Lithia Springs GA represented the vehicle as
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormally loud grinding sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the brake
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Niro. The contact stated that a hardwired kill switch was installed in the vehicle, and the switch overheated to the point that the vehicle was unable to operate. An investigation was conducte
NHTSA complaint: Structure
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop at 5 MPH, the vehicle was T-boned on the passenger's side by a Jeep Grand Cherokee driving at high speed. Due to the impact, th
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Problem 1, Check Engine Light: I purchased the used car on Jan 9 2025, around 23,400 miles from Kia Dealership, capitol Expy in San Jose. Today 05/27/2026, the odometer reads 26, 407 miles. My car is used only twice a
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
am writing to formally request assistance regarding my Kia vehicle which I purchased used at approximately 38,000 miles. Shortly after purchase, the vehicle became undrivable and has since required repeated repairs witho
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Intermittent warning to "Refill Inverter Coolant" displays on the dash screen. This is a known issue pursuant to SA512 (ELE 270 Rev 3) due to faulty coolant that crystallizes and interferes with the sensor. However, per
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2022 Kia Niro. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 c
| Reliability raw | 97 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 86 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 64 | average |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 69 | good |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and unknown or other is the most reported area with 4 of them (13%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 97/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 86/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2022 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: buy, because it scores well across the board with no single weak engine. Its overall ownership score is 80/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.