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2023 Niro EV OBD 2 port location might not be where it normally is.

336 Views 8 Replies 3 Participants Last post by SamPham, 10 d ago

SamPham

Discussion Starter · 11 d ago

I have encountered some confusion with other '2023 Niro EV owners about where the OBD II port is. Many insurance companies use them to track and offer discounted rates, my insurance is pay by the mile so they need it for mileage tracking. I've heard the port is sometimes not installed out of the factory, although it's there, just rolled up and taped behind the drivers side fuse panel. Others KIA models have it installed inside the driver side fuse panel facing outward, which means you have to have the cover off to fit a tracker.

My Niro OBD2 port was installed, but it was under the drive side fuse panel at the bottom edge of the dashboard facing downward, the port slot in the fuse panel was empty. Easy to miss if you don't look under the dashboard. Thankfully this location is much better as it allows the tracker to be installed facing downward and out of the way. It'd drive me crazy if I had to leave the fuse panel cover off.

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atc98092

· #2 · 11 d ago

The ODBII port is required, at least in the US, so it's going to be there somewhere. Seems silly they don't mount them in a reasonable location.

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SamPham

Discussion Starter · #3 · 11 d ago

atc98092 said:
The ODBII port is required, at least in the US, so it's going to be there somewhere. Seems silly they don't mount them in a reasonable location.

Yes, I'm here in the states in Oregon, typically we take our vehicles to DEQ every two years for inspections and renewals, no safety checks or smog. With EVs you just pay and they mail you your tags without having to go through DEQ, so maybe some manufacturers aren't concerned about its access as much. 🤷‍♂️

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Techy

· #4 · 11 d ago

SamPham said:
I have encountered some confusion with other '2023 Niro EV owners about where the OBD II port is. Many insurance companies use them to track and offer discounted rates, my insurance is pay by the mile so they need it for mileage tracking. I've heard the port is sometimes not installed out of the factory, although it's there, just rolled up and taped behind the drivers side fuse panel. Others KIA models have it installed inside the driver side fuse panel facing outward, which means you have to have the cover off to fit a tracker.

My Niro OBD2 port was installed, but it was under the drive side fuse panel at the bottom edge of the dashboard facing downward, the port slot in the fuse panel was empty. Easy to miss if you don't look under the dashboard. Thankfully this location is much better as it allows the tracker to be installed facing downward and out of the way. It'd drive me crazy if I had to leave the fuse panel cover off.

I am going to disagree with your assertion that it should be in that holder behind the fuse panel door.
Where yours is located is exactly where my 2020 HEV is located and that is where they must be.
Regulations say you should not have to remove a cover to access the OBDII

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SamPham

Discussion Starter · #5 · 11 d ago

Techy said:
I am going to disagree with your assertion that it should be in that holder behind the fuse panel door.
Where yours is located is exactly where my 2020 HEV is located and that is where they must be.
Regulations say you should not have to remove a cover to access the OBDII

Here's a KIA Optima ... and another in a different location, but facing forward. A quick search online shows a lot of cars with the port in the fuse panel facing forwards.

Electrical wiring Machine Cable Electronic device Audio equipment

Motor vehicle Automotive tire Automotive exterior Gas Vehicle door

Electrical wiring Audio equipment Gadget Cable Electronic device

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Techy

· #6 · 11 d ago

SamPham said:
Here's a KIA Optima ... and another in a different location, but facing forward. A quick search online shows a lot of cars with the port in the fuse panel facing forwards.

View attachment 8756

View attachment 8757

View attachment 8758

Facing forward like the 2nd pic is quite common but I don't think that is an OBDII connector
The 1st pic does not look like an OBDII connector
I don't think any of those pics is an OBDII connector
It is not normal to have to remove a cover to access OBDII

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SamPham

Discussion Starter · #7 · 10 d ago

Techy said:
Facing forward like the 2nd pic is quite common but I don't think that is an OBDII connector
The 1st pic does not look like an OBDII connector
I don't think any of those pics is an OBDII connector
It is not normal to have to remove a cover to access OBDII

I'm not disagreeing with you about placement, just saying it's not always where it should be. The guy I talked to who bought the same KIA I did was using a 16 pin tracker and was driving around with the fuse panel cover off because it was installed in the empty slot I pointed to. He was going to have a mechanic move it to where mine is underneath.
Pics 1 and 3 are definitely 16 pin OBD2 ports, you can see the shape of the cartridge, the first is just oriented upside down.
— Peace

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Techy

· #8 · 10 d ago

SamPham said:
I'm not disagreeing with you about placement, just saying it's not always where it should be. The guy I talked to who bought the same KIA I did was using a 16 pin tracker and was driving around with the fuse panel cover off because it was installed in the empty slot I pointed to. He was going to have a mechanic move it to where mine is underneath.
Pics 1 and 3 are definitely 16 pin OBD2 ports, you can see the shape of the cartridge, the first is just oriented upside down.
— Peace

View attachment 8759

Nope, Pic 1 is definitely not OBDII
Pic 3 looks very similar to OBDII but it is not.
The pic you show in this posting is OBDII. Note in this pic that there is a plastic divider between the top and bottom row of pins. I'm not seeing that in Pic 3
Those 3 pics are of a test terminal that is proprietary to Kia but they are not OBDII

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SamPham

Discussion Starter · #9 · 10 d ago (Edited)

Since you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink ...
FYI reference: On some KIA models the driver side fuse panel actually has "FUSE OBD" printed and engraved on it. So yes, OBD2 ports really can be found in there.

Here's a KIA Soul –

... and a KIA Sportage –

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