KiaNiro2019Overview/kia/niro/2019/base/

2019 Kia Niro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 Niro.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (AM6)

The 2019 Kia Niro is an SUV paired exclusively with a six-speed automated manual transmission (AM6) and modest service requirements, including a 4.0-quart oil capacity that accepts 0W-20, 5W-20, or 5W-30 viscosity grades. Where it makes its mark is in efficiency, delivering EPA ratings of 51 mpg city, 46 mpg highway, and 49 mpg combined that anchor the model as a fuel-focused entry. From a reliability standpoint, this model year carries a clean record of just 17 total owner complaints logged across the 20212025 reporting window, with the powertrain emerging as the most-cited concern yet zero recalls issued — a tidy result that sits between the Niro's complaint peak of 40 cases in 2023 and its 2024 low of 8. Taken together, those numbers frame the 2019 Niro as a low-drama, efficiency-led entry whose record positions it as a comparatively quiet year within the model's reported complaint arc.

Model year20252023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 / 5W-20 / 5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy51/46/49 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Li-ion Battery Only. Contact a Kia Service Specialist before changing battery. This is a non BCI group size battery. · 410 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI Li-ion Battery Only. Contact a Kia Service Specialist before changing battery. This is a non BCI group size battery. · 410 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size205/60R16 92HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM6)

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.

6.2–7.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.20 sec — 2019 EV EX Premium Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
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
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
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 4.0 qt of 0W-20 / 5W-20 / 5W-30 engine oil, Dot 3 · Dot 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 79-94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid70W Gear Oil
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.8 qt
Brake FluidDot 3 · Dot 4
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity6.1 qt
Engine Oil0W-20 · 5W-20 · 5W-30 · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts60-65 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts60.0 ft-lbs - 65.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13.7-17.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13.7-17.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs57-78 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs57.0 inch lbs. - 78.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts79-94 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts79-94 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub203.0

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)630 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)AC Speed Up: 700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)AC Speed Up: 100 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerKia
Spark Plug Gap.028-.031 in
Spark Plug Torque14-18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Cranking Performance410 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70.0-75.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)42.0 Pressure must be over listed PSI

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16.0-23.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 72.0-; Rear: 47.0-
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .787; Rear: .330
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0002; Rear: .0004
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0016; Rear: .002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
110 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.10 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
110 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.10 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0-53.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 39-4148–53 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
19.4-12.3 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 120-125°, Step 3: Turn 120-125°.9.4–12.3 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
19.4-12.3 ft. lbs. Step 2: 120-125°. Step 3: Repeat Step 2.9.4–12.3 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.13–16 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90°.13–16 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the coolant every 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 15,000 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 7,500 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miFuel Line (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 52,500 miDrive Belt (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)

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 2019 Kia Niro sits near the middle of a generation that shows modest, fluctuating complaint and recall activity, with annual complaints ranging from a low of 8 in 2024 to a high of 40 in 2023 and recalls staying at one or two per year. Compared with the surrounding years, 2019’s top complaint areas—Power Train (6 reports) and Electrical System (4 reports)—are consistent with the broader pattern of drivetrain and electrical issues that dominate the dataset, while other categories remain minor. Crash‑related complaints are rare (only one reported) and there are no fire complaints, indicating no evident safety red flags for this model year. Overall, the 2019 Niro’s complaint and recall profile is neither an outlier nor a high‑risk year, making it a reasonably safe choice within its generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
50
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train6
Electrical System4
Tires1
Electrical System,Service Brakes1
Engine,Equipment Adaptive/Mobility1
Service Brakes,Unknown Or Other1
Power Train,Electrical System,Vehicle Speed Control1
Power Train,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_ELE4172026-04-14Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin…
PS7972025-12-09Back Over PreventionPITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop…
SC321_OWNR_2012025-08-21Service BrakesVOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC321) - This document is the owner…
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
TSB_ELE3782025-03-20Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: KIA CONNECT MODEM RESET (SA611) - This…

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 2019 Niro take?

4.0 qt of All Temperatures: 0W-20, 5W-20 or 5W-30. Above 0°F: 10W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 2019 Niro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 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.