KiaNiro2023Overview/kia/niro/2023/base/

2023 Kia Niro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Niro.

Transmission Automatic (AM-S6)

The 2023 Kia Niro pairs a six-speed automated manual transmission (AM-S6) with EPA ratings of 53 mpg in the city, 45 mpg on the highway, and 49 mpg combined — a fuel economy profile that signals where the vehicle's engineering priorities sit. Within owner-reported data covering the 2021 through 2025 model years, however, this particular year stands out as the worst on record, accumulating 40 owner complaints against just two recalls, with the leading issue area logged simply as "Unknown or Other." That tally is five times the volume posted by 2024 — the lowest-complaint year in the surveyed range — making the 2023 Niro a clear outlier that any researcher evaluating the model's reliability trajectory should treat with caution.

Model year20252023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy53/45/49 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height61.8 in
Wheelbase107.1 in
Curb weight3717 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined53 / 45 / 49 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume105 cu ft
Cargo volume23 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Niro of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.5–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.50 sec — 2023 EV Wind Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2023EV Wind Hatchback Elec 64.8-kWh 150-kW6.50 sec15.00 sec201 hpFWD
2023EV Wave Hatchback Elec 64.8-kWh 150-kW6.70 sec15.20 sec201 hpFWD
2023EV Wind Hatchback Elec 64.8-kWh 150-kW6.70 sec15.20 sec201 hpFWD
2023EV Wave Hatchback Elec 64.8-kWh 150-kW7.10 sec15.80 sec201 hpFWD
2023PHEV SX Touring Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 11.1-kWh7.20 sec15.50 sec180 hpFWD
2023PHEV EX Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 11.1-kWh7.30 sec15.70 sec180 hpFWD
2023PHEV SX Touring Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 11.1-kWh7.30 sec15.70 sec180 hpFWD
2023Hybrid SX Touring Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 0.7-kWh8.80 sec16.80 sec139 hpFWD

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 96,000 mi; coolant every 24,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 24,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 8,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 8,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 16,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 24,000 miClutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
Every 32,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
Every 48,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
Every 64,000 miDrive Belt (replace)
Every 96,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2023 Kia Niro shows a noticeable uptick in federal complaints, rising to 40 from 27 the year before and more than four times the 2021 level, while recalls also increased modestly to two versus one in both 2021 and 2022. Despite the higher complaint count, investigations dropped to zero in 2023, and the number of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) remained high at 50, comparable to the 52 issued in 2021. The top complaint categories for 2023 are dominated by “Unknown or Other” issues (7 reports), with smaller numbers in Electrical System (3), Power Train (3), and Service Brakes (2); crash‑related complaints total eight and there are no fire complaints. Compared with the surrounding years, 2023 sits at the peak of the complaint arc but does not show a corresponding rise in serious safety actions (recalls or investigations). **Takeaway:** the 2023 model carries the highest reported dissatisfaction in the recent window, suggesting extra diligence during inspection, though it has not triggered additional safety recalls; buyers should weigh this higher complaint volume against their tolerance for potential minor issues.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
50
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
40
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 40 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other7
Electrical System3
Power Train3
Service Brakes2
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other2
Unknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Air Bags2
Steering,Wheels1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

23V298000Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/PanelReported 26/04/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing… Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…

25V024000SeatsReported 17/01/2025

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Niro EV, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and Hybrid vehicles. The floor wiring assembly beneath the front passenger seat may become damaged, which can prevent the front air… Remedy: Dealers will inspect, replace and reroute the floor wiring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, dealers will install wiring covers. Owner notification letters were…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_ELE4222026-05-27Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM…
TSB_ELE3942026-03-26Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN5.0W DTC P17A000 DAIGNOSTIC PROCEDURE - This bulletin…
SC325_TSB_R12026-02-19Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: AEWP INSPECTION AND…
TSB_GEN099_R32025-10-21WheelsTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: TIRE MOBILITY KIT INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT/…
SC338_OWNR_SG2_1022025-09-12Electrical SystemVOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION: EXPANSION (SC338 Flight 102)…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Niro. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 Niro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Niro get?

EPA figures are 53 city / 45 highway / 49 combined mpg.