2021-2022 Kia Niro Actuators and Solenoids Recall (23V534)
Kia America, Inc. · 121,411 vehicles · Reported July 31, 2023
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 121,411 2021-2022 Kia Niro; 2021-2022 Kia Niro PHEV vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire. A fire increases the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V534 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V534000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC276 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Kia Niro; 2021-2022 Kia Niro PHEV |
| Units affected | 121,411 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Internal > Clutches / Bands > Actuators / Solenoids |
| Safety risk | A fire increases the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Kia Niro in recall 23V534?
Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine compartment fire.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Niro with recall 23V534?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A fire increases the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A fire increases the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Niro shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the actuators and solenoids, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V534?
Recall 23V534 covers 121,411 vehicles: 2021-2022 Kia Niro; 2021-2022 Kia Niro PHEV.
NHTSA lists 121,411 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Kia | Niro |
| 2021-2022 | Kia | Niro PHEV |
What is the fix for the Niro actuators and solenoids recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge.
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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC276.
When was recall 23V534 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 23V534 to NHTSA on July 31, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 29, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 31, 2023 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V534000. |
| December 29, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 38 months ago. If your Niro was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Niro is part of recall 23V534?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V534 is open on your Niro, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V534000 is open on your Niro, it will be listed there, along with Kia recall number SC276. You can also ask any Kia dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Niro owners do about recall 23V534?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V534000 applies to your Niro.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the actuators and solenoids happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Niro owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 14 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 23V534 was reported on July 31, 2023, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after July 31, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 53 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 14 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Kia Niro: 31 complaints in total, 4 about the transmission
- 2022 Kia Niro PHEV: 12 complaints in total, 6 about the transmission
- 2021 Kia Niro: 9 complaints in total, 3 about the transmission
- 2021 Kia Niro PHEV: 1 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
On four separate occasion I shifted it the car into park and a car computer did not register it in the correct mode. Video of lst event upload to Google photos https://photos.app.goo.
2022 Kia Niro PHEV owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11472871, filed July 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Niro PHEV. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the HEV warning light illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed her to bring the vehicle in for service. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and informed her that the failure was due to the port component.
2022 Kia Niro PHEV owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11553830, filed November 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there were exhaust fumes inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.
2022 Kia Niro PHEV owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11558408, filed December 4, 2023
Can recall 23V534 make my Niro a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Niro been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Niro recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V534
Did the recall 23V534 fix work?
Since recall 23V534 was reported on July 31, 2023, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 29, 2023.
Is the 23V534000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Niro is part of recall 23V534000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V534000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.