Model year 2026 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2026 Kia Niro: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2026 Kia Niro at 48–53 mpg combined (gas versions) and 113 MPGe combined with 253 miles of EPA-rated range across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
0
EPA combined mpg
48–53
NHTSA overall rating
4/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Kia dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2026 Kia Niro recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 0 safety recalls for the 2026 Kia Niro, newest first.
No recalls are listed for the 2026 Kia Niro in NHTSA's recall file as of Oct 27, 2026.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
Advertisement
2026 Kia Niro fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | City/Hwy/Comb | Electric range | Fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niro | 1.6L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 53/45/49 mpg | — | $1,350 | 181 |
| Niro Electric | Electric (150 kW PMSM (IPM)) | Single-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity | 126/101/113 MPGe | 253 mi 30 kWh/100 mi | $700 | 0 |
| Niro FE | 1.6L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 53/54/53 mpg | — | $1,250 | 167 |
| Niro Plug-in Hybrid | 1.6L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity / Electricity | 49/47/48 mpg 108 MPGe on electricity | 33 mi | $1,400 | 71 |
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2026 Kia Niro crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested vehicle | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk | Forward collision warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 KIA NIRO ELECTRIC SUV BEV FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | — | Standard |
| 2026 KIA NIRO SUV HEV FWD | 4 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 11.8% | Standard & Optional |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
Advertisement
2026 Kia Niro owner complaints
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Kia Niro, most recently on Jul 29, 2026. 1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
| Component named in complaints | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Air bags | 1 |
| Electrical system | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 |
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.
Other Kia Niro model years
| Year | Combined | Recalls | Complaints | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Niro | 50 mpg | — | — | — |
| 2025 Niro | 48–53 mpg · 113 MPGe | 1 | 20 | 4/5 |
| 2024 Niro | 49–53 mpg · 113 MPGe | 2 | 19 | 5/5 |
| 2023 Niro | 48–53 mpg · 113 MPGe | 4 | 65 | 5/5 |
| 2022 Niro | 43–50 mpg · 112 MPGe | 3 | 75 | 5/5 |
| 2021 Niro | 43–50 mpg · 112 MPGe | 2 | 12 | 4/5 |
| 2020 Niro | 43–50 mpg · 112 MPGe | 3 | 63 | 4/5 |
| 2019 Niro | 43–50 mpg · 112 MPGe | 1 | 101 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Niro | 43–50 mpg | 3 | 73 | — |
| 2017 Niro | 43–50 mpg | 5 | 101 | — |
Advertisement
Other 2026 Kia models
Sources
- Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
- Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
- Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
- Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
- NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Kia.