Kia Motors has recently issued a recall for the 2022 Niro EV due to a significant issue with the high-voltage battery safety plug that could potentially overheat, posing a risk of loss of drive power and even fire. This recall reflects a critical safety concern that could affect many drivers of this popular electric vehicle.
Unveiling the Issue
The problem was first identified in July 2023 when a techline case was filed regarding a 2022 Kia Niro EV that unexpectedly shut off while on the road. The dealership inspection revealed an isolated incident of melting in the high-voltage battery safety plug. This alarming finding prompted an in-depth investigation by Kia America’s Safety Office, which initially did not find any flaws with the battery cells or temperature sensors.
Despite the initial findings, the safety plug components were sent to Kia Corporation in South Korea for further analysis. It wasn’t until May 2024 that the root cause was identified: a manufacturing deviation in the female-female terminal of the safety plug that led to overheating.
🚨 Recall Alert: The NHTSA announced a recall for 2,209 2022 Kia Niro EVs in the US due to an overheating risk in the high-voltage battery safety plug, which may melt and cause loss of power or fire.
Affected units were built between July 21, 2021, and December 2, 2021. Owners… pic.twitter.com/l6oGw0dWlL
— EV.com (@EVcom) May 28, 2024
Kia’s Response and Action Plan
Upon discovering the defect, Kia acted promptly. According to the official recall documentation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue affected a small number of vehicles—specifically, those manufactured between July 21, 2021, and December 2, 2021. A total of 2,209 units of the 2022 model year are suspected to have the defective safety plug assemblies bearing the part number 37518-K4000.
Fortunately, to date, there have been no reports of any fires caused by this defect. The recall strategy includes notifying dealers by July 16 and sending out owner notifications by July 19. Dealers will inspect and possibly replace the high-voltage battery safety plug assembly to prevent any potential issues.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Kia Niro
This recall marks the end of the road for the first-generation Niro, known internally as SG2. The model, which was last produced in 2022, has been succeeded by the second generation that rolled out in 2021 for the model year 2023. The new generation aligns more closely with the Hyundai Kona rather than the Ioniq and is available in three variants: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric.
The electric variant, the Niro EV, remains Kia’s most affordable electric vehicle in the U.S., priced at $39,600. It offers an EPA-rated driving range of up to 253 miles and includes 500 kilowatt hours of charging credits on Electrify America’s network, translating to approximately 1,750 to 2,000 miles of driving.
Looking Ahead
Kia’s proactive measures in addressing this issue demonstrate their commitment to customer safety and product quality. As electric vehicles continue to gain popularity, such incidents remind manufacturers and consumers alike of the importance of maintaining rigorous quality control and swift action plans for addressing potential safety concerns. Owners of the affected Niro EV models are advised to respond to the recall notifications promptly to ensure their vehicles are safe and up to standard.
