Wiring Harness Fits for 2018 Kia Niro

Updated 06/26/2019 | Published 06/25/2019

Question:

The 2018 Kia Niro I own Does not have a separate 12v battery. The older models have a 12v battery located in the cargo area. My vehicle year has integrated the 12v battery with the hybrid battery. So how do I connect to a 12v power supply without tampering with the hybrid/12v battery? Hybrid battery is high voltage and too dangerous for me to feel safe doing anything to it or near it. I see only one option so far. There is a + terminal meant to jumpstart the vehicle located in the relay box in the engine compartment. Is this a safe alternative?

asked by: Gary

Expert Reply:

The wiring harness fits we have for the 2018 Kia Niro, which include Curt part # C56376 and Tekonsha part # 118749 that you purchased, specifically exclude fitment on the plug-in hybrid version of the car. You'll see this notice on the linked page. If you have the plug-in hybrid we do not have a trailer wiring harness for it.

I did check with my technical contact at Curt about installing wiring in your vehicle. He said that a Niro plug-in hybrid owner has reported using a 12V circuit for the wiper blade motor to power a wiring harness. While this may work there is the safety consideration of losing both trailer lights and the wipers were there to be a short in that connection.

Given this it may be prudent to check with your local Kia dealership for guidance about installing trailer wiring.

expert reply by: Adam R