2021-2022 Kia Niro EV Backup Camera Recall (25V426)

Recall 25V426 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Kia Niro EV in recall 25V426?

The circuit board for the rearview camera may become damaged and cause the rearview camera image not to display.

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Niro EV vehicles. The circuit board for the rearview camera may become damaged and cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Niro EV with recall 25V426?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the camera.

Which vehicles are included in recall 25V426?

Recall 25V426 covers 11,327 vehicles: 2021-2022 Kia Niro EV.

NHTSA lists 11,327 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 backup camera recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC342.

When was recall 25V426 announced?

Kia America, Inc. reported recall 25V426 to NHTSA on June 20, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 7, 2025.

This recall was filed 15 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 25V426?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V426 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 2021-2022 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 25V426?

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 25V426000 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 camera 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 32 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the rearview camera.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the rearview camera have been filed since recall 25V426 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 32 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the rearview camera. 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 EV: 30 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera
• 2021 Kia Niro EV: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the rearview camera

Can recall 25V426 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.

Owners often ask whether this camera recall means their Niro EV qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

A rearview camera that blanks out or freezes is a safety issue because federal rules require a working backup image. Camera problems are often software related, and many owners see them come back after an update.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 25V426