Recall alert: Kia Niro EV

Kia has issued a recall for 2,209 Niro electric vehicles from model year 2022 because a connector in their high-voltage batteries can overheat, which can lead to a loss of drive power and possibly a vehicle fire.

Kia told federal safety regulators that the company has not yet confirmed the exact cause of the problem, but has narrowed it down to a safety plug that can melt due to high electrical resistance. Owners may notice an electric vehicle service warning light or the smell of melting plastic as the problem develops.

Kia is not aware of any accidents, injuries or vehicle fires related to the problem. However, at least five partially melted spark plugs have been discovered in vehicles with drivetrain problems.

To fix the problem, dealers replace the part with a connector of a different design.

Automakers recall many cars to fix safety defects, sometimes more than once. They try to notify every owner and ask them to bring the vehicle in for repairs, but rarely reach everyone. Millions of vehicles on American roads are subject to free repairs as part of the recall. To find out if your car is one of them, use the simple VIN tool in our Recall Center.