I did mine today. Even though I probably have lower mileage at 18 months than GBillyG had at one month, my owner’s manual indicates that it should be done at 18 months or 22,500 miles, whichever comes first.
I thought about paying the dealer $100+, but then I also thought that my mileage is absurdly low (still under 6k), and approximately half of my miles are all electric, short drives around town, where there is no heat buildup in the ICE and very little in the transmission. Also, I live in an arid environment in Southern California which means less concern about moisture in the fluid. So I opted to DIY this time, and maybe take it to the dealer the next time. One other consideration that was running through my mind was that sometimes a mechanic tinkering on my car makes things worse and I’d rather not expose myself to that needlessly.
I wrote a note stating the date and mileage that I did this and stuck it in my file for the Niro. I stapled the brake fluid receipt to the note, so that I will have documentation if there’s ever any question.
I’m also mindful that the manual says the fluid should be replaced at 18 months, but it doesn’t say anything about the technique that must be used. I replaced the fluid, so I believe that I’m compliant. No, I didn’t get all of it out, but no one does (not even a dealer. The same is true for oil changes). I imagine the dealer’s technique might be superior if they follow the shop manual guidance (no way to be certain that they will though), but given my low mileage, I don’t think “superior” is necessarily required in my case.
One thing I would suggest for anyone else going down this path: get a big syringe instead of a “turkey baster”. You’re only transferring three or four ounces of fluid if you are only evacuating the reservoir. I have a big syringe that I got from a cooking store to inject brine into a turkey. You might want to put a short piece of tubing on the syringe. Unlike a turkey baster, you don’t usually have to worry about brake fluid dripping out of a syringe (if you’re careful) while you are transferring it from the reservoir to your waste fluid container, but a turkey baster can drip some out if you’re not careful. Since it’s corrosive and melts paint and electric wire insulation, that’s an important advantage.
Some folks have posted photos that showed light yellow fluid. Mine was amber. Not sure what explains that. Maybe they introduced air into the fluid by using a turkey baster and squeezing the bulb after it was inserted in the reservoir (this is another advantage of a syringe in that you’re less likely to make that mistake with a syringe). On the other hand, the photos I’ve seen remind me of what SAE 80 transmission oil looks like when water is mixed with it: it’s that same color. So maybe their cap was loose/leaking-air and they live in a humid environment. I’d be rather concerned if my brake/clutch fluid looked like that. I’ll post my before and after photos of the reservoir, and also a photo of the waste fluid (it’s in an old plastic mustard bottle in the photo).