Early Kia Niro EV models are being recalled because transmission components may have been improperly sealed. However, the recall is very minor, affecting only 872 vehicles from the 2020 model year.
The recall concerns the electrical power control unit (EPCU), one of the most important and expensive components in EVs. It controls the flow of energy throughout the powertrain, so if it’s compromised, major problems can arise.
Kia Niro EV 2020
According to one recall report As announced by NHTSA, this improper sealing could allow coolant to leak into the EPCU and onto its circuit board, which in turn could cause the vehicle to stall while driving.
According to the report, Kia first noticed the problem related to components purchased from a supplier in the European market. The issue was fixed by the supplier on July 6, 2020, and 2020 Niro EVs manufactured starting September 5 of that year were confirmed to have a properly sealed EPCU.
Kia Niro EV 2020
Owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified when to take the vehicle to a Kia dealer, where the EPCU will be checked for internal coolant leaks and replaced free of charge if necessary. .
This is not the first recall related to seals to come out recently. Good sealing is a must for nearly all core vehicle components—EV or not—except GMC Hummer EV’s battery recall stands out as a particularly large oversight from recent months.
Kia Niro EV 2020
The Hyundai Kona Electric, from Kia’s parent brand, has suffered a major battery recall. Although some stores mistakenly reported them as related, they are different vehicles built on different battery packs — the Hyundai with the LG battery pack and the Niro EV with the battery pack from SK Innovation.
Compared to the very different set of competition for affordable electric vehicles that was available nearly four years ago, First generation Niro EV drives well and has range above par. The Niro EV 2023 redesigned but wasn’t a good deal in the US, due to the loss of a $7,500 EV tax credit for the Korean-assembled model.
