KiaNiro2022Overview/kia/niro/2022/base/

2022 Kia Niro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2022 Niro.

Transmission Automatic (AM-S6)

The 2022 Kia Niro is specified with an AM-S6 automatic transmission and EPA ratings of 51/46/49 mpg, and its engine service requires 4.02 quarts of 0W-20 API oil. Across the 2021-2025 complaint record, this model year generated 27 owner complaints and one recall. That total falls below the 2023 peak of 40 complaints yet remains above the 2024 low of 8, positioning the 2022 model as a moderate early entry in this model-year span's reliability history.

Model year20252023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.02 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque79.0-94.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy51/46/49 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire size205/60R16 92HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length171.7 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height60.6 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3166 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined51 / 46 / 49 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume101 cu ft
Cargo volume22 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Niro of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.2–10.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.20 sec — 2020 EV EX Premium Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020EV EX Premium Hatchback Elec 64-kWh6.20 sec14.90 sec201 hpFWD
2020EX Premium EcoHybrid Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 1.56-kWh9.20 sec17.00 sec139 hpFWD
2020EX Premium EcoHybrid Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 1.56-kWh9.50 sec17.20 sec139 hpFWD
2019EV EX Premium Hatchback Elec 64-kWh6.20 sec14.80 sec201 hpFWD
2019EV EX Premium Hatchback Elec 64-kWh6.50 sec15.10 sec201 hpFWD
2019EV EX Premium Hatchback Elec 64-kWh7.00 sec15.50 sec201 hpFWD
2018EX Premium EcoPlug-in Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 8.9-kWh9.00 sec17.00 sec139 hpFWD
2017FE EcoHybrid Hatchback 1.6L I-4 + Elec 32-kW 1.56-kWh8.60 sec16.70 sec139 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.02 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 79.0-94.0 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to Use a new gasket: 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidKia Genuine Oil: HK D DCTF TG0-10 Plus
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.69-1.79 Qts.
Automatic Transmission FluidKia Genuine Oil: HK D DCTF TG0-10 Plus
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.69-1.79 Qts.
Brake FluidDOT 4
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine Coolant Capacity6.13 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity6.13 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts53.0-56.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13.7-17.4 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugUse a new gasket: 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugUse a new gasket: 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14.0-17.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts79.0-94.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug TypeELR91SP8+
Spark Plug Gap0.0276-0.0314" in
Spark Plug Torque15.0-18.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug TypeELR91SP8+
Spark Plug Gap0.0276-0.0314" in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPOE
Oil Capacity4.23-4.93 oz
RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPOE
Oil Capacity4.23-4.93 oz

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70.0-75.0 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16.0-23.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58.0-
ABS Sensor Torque6.3
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.669; Rear: 0.39; Front: 0.314; Rear: 0.33
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.669; Rear: 0.39; Front: 0.314; Rear: 0.33
Solid Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 0.787; Rear: 0.33
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: 0.0002; Rear: 0.0004
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: 0.0016; Rear: 0.002

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 96,000 mi; coolant every 16,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 16,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 8,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
Every 8,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 16,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Clutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 32,000 miEngine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 32,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 48,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
Every 64,000 miDrive Belt (replace)
Every 96,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2022 Kia Niro marks a noticeable uptick in complaints (27) compared to its 2021 predecessor (9), though it sits below the peak of 40 complaints in 2023, suggesting early signs of emerging issues rather than a full-blown reliability decline. Recalls remained stable at one for 2022, identical to 2021 and 2024, while investigations held steady at one—indicating federal scrutiny was no more intense than in the prior year. The top complaint areas for 2022—air bags, service brakes, and powertrain—mirror broader trends seen in later model years, though the data doesn’t specify root causes. Notably, there were no fire-related complaints in 2022, unlike concerns that surfaced in other Kia models during this period. The 2022 model year appears to be a transitional phase, with complaints rising but recalls and investigations not yet spiking, implying many issues may have been addressed through TSBs (37) rather than formal recalls. **For a used purchase, 2022 is a reasonable choice—provided any outstanding TSBs are verified as resolved—though buyers should prioritize a thorough inspection of the brake, airbag, and powertrain systems.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
37
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
27
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 27 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other4
Air Bags3
Service Brakes3
Power Train3
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Engine2
Electrical System,Engine,Lane Departure1
Electrical System,Back Over Prevention1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

23V534000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Internal:Clutches/Bands:Actuators/SolenoidsReported 31/07/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Niro and 2018-2022 Niro Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. Fluid may leak into the printed circuit board inside the hydraulic clutch actuator, which can result in an engine… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the hydraulic clutch actuator as necessary and install a new fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 37 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PI2603_TSB2026-06-15Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: BMS BATTERY DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC…
TSB_ELE4222026-05-27Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM…
TSB_ELE4172026-04-14Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin…
SC325_TSB_R12026-02-19Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: AEWP INSPECTION AND…
PS7972025-12-09Back Over PreventionPITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Niro. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2022 Niro take?

4.02 qt of The most Recent API, ILSAC or ACEA C5 or higher. 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2022 Niro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Niro get?

EPA figures are 51 city / 46 highway / 49 combined mpg.