2023 Kia Niro EV Differential Recall (24V271)

Recall 24V271 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Kia Niro EV in recall 24V271?

The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up.

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Niro EV and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up.

Is it safe to drive a 2023 Niro EV with recall 24V271?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of drive power or differential lock up can increase the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of drive power or differential lock up can increase the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Niro EV shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the differential unit, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 24V271?

Recall 24V271 covers 8 vehicles: 2024 Kia EV9; 2023 Kia Niro EV.

NHTSA lists 8 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Niro EV differential recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the gear drive unit, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the gear drive unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC308.

When was recall 24V271 announced?

Kia America, Inc. reported recall 24V271 to NHTSA on April 16, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 17, 2024.

This recall was filed 30 months ago. If your Niro EV was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Niro EV is part of recall 24V271?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V271 is open on your Niro EV, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2023 Niro EV vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Niro EV owners do about recall 24V271?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V271000 applies to your Niro EV.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. 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.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the differential unit happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Niro EV owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 222 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 108 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 222 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 108 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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.

• 2024 Kia EV9: 207 complaints in total, 100 about the ev and hybrid battery
• 2023 Kia Niro EV: 15 complaints in total, 8 about the ev and hybrid battery

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

I did an OTA update that made the rear view camera work intermittently. It would just flash an image every couple of seconds instead of a live stream. I took it into the dealer, and on the way, it totally gave out in the middle of traffic in a very unsafe way.

2023 Kia Niro EV owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11712990, filed January 23, 2026

The vehicle is a rental vehicle. It experienced two incidents of sudden loss of propulsion within the first two days of operation. During both events, the vehicle became completely unresponsive to accelerator pedal input and would not move despite being placed in Drive.

2023 Kia Niro EV owner, MO, NHTSA complaint 11719665, filed February 21, 2026

Check electric vehicle system warning light indicator illuminates and car stops driving on highway! A/C and defrost won't work properly and when turned on causes the above warning light and malfunction. Car will not charge at "fast" charging stations and will leave you stranded on highway.

2023 Kia Niro EV owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11744166, filed June 15, 2026

Can recall 24V271 make my Niro EV 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.

Recall 24V271000 does not automatically make your Niro EV a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

High-voltage battery and drive system defects in EVs and hybrids can mean reduced range, charging faults, loss of drive power or a fire risk. These repairs often need parts on backorder, so days out of service add up quickly.

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.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Niro EV went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 24V271