Sorry, it’s a 2017 Niro Touring. Lately, I keep having to use the 12v restart button. My car used to sit for a week without any issues, but now it barely makes it through the night before I need to reset it. Do I need a new 12v battery or is it something else? It seems like it’s more complicated than just replacing a regular car battery.
Also, after driving on the highway for about 20 minutes and then 20 more on regular roads, I still had to use the reset in the morning.
It sounds like you have a drain somewhere in the system. This can be tricky to pinpoint, but start by making sure your key fob is far away from the car. Also, double check that the rear hatch is fully latched and that the map lights are definitely off.
@CHRISTINE
That could be it. Last night, I noticed something strange with my dashcam. It was plugged into the center USB, and while it normally shuts off with the car, it started turning on and off by itself. I locked the car with the key fob, but it still happened. Could this be where the drain is coming from? Any ideas on how to fix it?
@Evanson
It shouldn’t be turning back on like that. It might be a short between the USB and something else. Try unplugging the camera and see if the issue persists.
CHRISTINE said: @Evanson
It shouldn’t be turning back on like that. It might be a short between the USB and something else. Try unplugging the camera and see if the issue persists.
I tried that, and it’s still staying on. The cigarette lighter outputs seem fine, though. Would it be alright to just pull the fuse for the USB?
@Evanson
I also have a wireless AirPlay adapter plugged into the same USB port. It stays on after the car is off, and I can still connect to it via Bluetooth hours later. I just unplug it when I get out of the car now. I have a 2017 model as well.
@KiaGuru
That’s interesting. I wonder if this is a known issue with the model. I’ve been needing the 12v reset every day now, whereas it didn’t used to be a problem. I thought maybe it was the USB, but I’m not sure. My dashcam also makes a startup noise, and that’s when I first noticed it kept turning on—seems like it’s low on voltage. I’m not sure what to do next. I haven’t had anything plugged in for a few days now, but the car still needed the reset today.
@Evanson
That does sound like the issue could be with the battery. I’ve only needed to reset mine once, and that was because I left the lights on. If yours is happening daily, a new battery might be the way to go. They’re expensive, but these cars do get older.
If your car has lane assist or any other safety features that can be turned off, try turning them off. I had a similar issue, and once I disabled lane assist and the lane change warnings, the problem stopped. I tested it by turning them back on, and the issue returned.
@robertkennedy
Unfortunately, no lane assist in my car. It does have backup sensors and blind spot detection, though. I can’t think of any other features that could be causing this.
Evanson said: @robertkennedy
Unfortunately, no lane assist in my car. It does have backup sensors and blind spot detection, though. I can’t think of any other features that could be causing this.
The blind spot system beeps when you use your turn signal, right? If so, that’s the feature I turned off to stop the drain.
@robertkennedy
Yes, it beeps if there’s a car in the blind spot when I use the turn signal. I tried turning it off, but it didn’t help with the battery. I’m pretty sure the problem is a parasitic draw from the USB port.
@Evanson
At least you won’t have to worry about a dead battery. I was resetting mine every morning for weeks before I figured it out.
Your car might have an old-fashioned battery in it. If so, you could get it checked or replaced. But I think the issue is probably something staying on and draining the battery.
Either way, it’s good the car won’t let the battery die completely.
Alex said:
Is the 12v battery original? I had mine replaced after four years and 75K miles in my 2018 PHEV.
Mine’s a 2017 model, and it only has 33K miles. I’ve looked into getting a new battery, but I can’t find any info on the cost. Any idea how much it cost when you replaced yours?
@Evanson
It was about $200. I had to get towed to the dealer since I was about to go on a long trip. I have a dashcam too, but it doesn’t drain the battery.
@Evanson
Your hybrid has an integrated lithium 12v battery next to the main hybrid battery. It’s supposed to last the life of the car, but sometimes it fails early. If the car is out of warranty, replacing it could cost over $1K at the dealer.