2025 KIA EV9
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 2025 KIA EV9. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 2025 KIA EV9. Newest first.
Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2025-2026 EV9 vehicles. Due to improper routing, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat is in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube with a new one and ensure proper routing as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters will be mailed beginning October 20, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC379. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 4, 2026.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 EV9 vehicles. The rear gear drive unit (GDU) motor shaft may have been improperly welded and become damaged, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear GDU, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC337.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 EV9 vehicles. The second- and third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Seats without mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and install mounting bolts as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC329.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 EV9 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk and remedy
Risk
An instrument panel screen that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The instrument cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC326.
Owner complaints
21 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system
My 205 EV9 Wind with 24500 Miles left me stranded, the standard battery simbol that in ICE cards refers to the alternator, came on, I tried to get to the dealer about 20 miles in the way home, less that 3 miles after that the car lost power with just enough to move to the shoulder, I stopped, power…
My 205 EV9 Wind with 24500 Miles left me stranded, the standard battery simbol that in ICE cards refers to the alternator, came on, I tried to get to the dealer about 20 miles in the way home, less that 3 miles after that the car lost power with just enough to move to the shoulder, I stopped, power the car off and tried turning it back on, no success, but this time I had enough power to park in a safer position. I took the vehicle on a tow truck that was called by the Kia Assistance.
- Tires
Three of four original-equipment Kumho Crugen HP71 EV tires, size 255/60R19, on my 2025 Kia EV9 (VIN [XXX], 12,786 miles at failure) are out of round - a manufacturing defect present since the tires left the factory. On [XXX], Lee Johnson Kia in Kirkland, WA measured the rear-passenger tire at 37…
Three of four original-equipment Kumho Crugen HP71 EV tires, size 255/60R19, on my 2025 Kia EV9 (VIN [XXX], 12,786 miles at failure) are out of round - a manufacturing defect present since the tires left the factory. On [XXX], Lee Johnson Kia in Kirkland, WA measured the rear-passenger tire at 37 lbs of road force against a 7-lb spec - more than five times the allowable limit. After dismount and remount it still measured 23 lbs. The technician documented the tire as out of round and requiring replacement (front tread 5/32 in, rear 7/32 in at 12,786 miles). Discount Tire in Redmond, WA separately confirmed 3 of 4 tires are out of round. For months the vehicle shook violently at highway speeds with my family in the vehicle. A tire at 5x the road-force spec degrades handling, damages suspension, and risks sudden tread separation or blowout at highway speed. I filed a warranty claim with Kumho Tire USA on 2026-09-26 with the dealer's written diagnosis attached. Kumho offered only a prorated $467.05 credit and refused full replacement, applying a treadwear formula to a materials/workmanship defect - a tire does not become out of round from normal driving. Kumho confirmed the decision in writing on 2026-09-30 and again 2026-10-01, and declined to advise whether continued operation is safe. The defective tires remain on the vehicle until scheduled replacement 2026-10-03. The DOT tire identification numbers are stamped on the sidewalls; I can provide them on request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Electrical system
The infotainment screen, including backup camera views, randomly glitches and then goes completely dark with no ability to view anything on the screen. The screen has been reset and software reloaded, but the glitch continues. Next, the screen was replaced but the glitch continues. This has been occurring since the beginning of June 2026.
- Electrical system · Engine · Power train
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a serious incident involving my 2025 Kia EV9. The vehicle was serviced on March 1 at World Kia in Joliet, Illinois. On April 4, only four days after that service, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected ICCU failure while I was driving. During…
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a serious incident involving my 2025 Kia EV9. The vehicle was serviced on March 1 at World Kia in Joliet, Illinois. On April 4, only four days after that service, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected ICCU failure while I was driving. During my normal travel, in active traffic and at speed, the vehicle abruptly entered limp mode and displayed multiple system warnings. This caused an immediate and significant reduction in power, creating a hazardous situation for myself and surrounding drivers. I was forced to maneuver the vehicle out of traffic while it was rapidly losing propulsion capability. The vehicle is currently at Berwyn Kia in Berwyn, Illinois for diagnosis and repair. I am reporting this incident due to the clear safety implications of a sudden loss of power during highway driving operation. A failure of this nature poses a risk of collision, especially in high‑speed or congested traffic conditions. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue as part of its ongoing monitoring of Kia/Hyundai/Genesis Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failures and related safety concerns. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
- Seats
Seats allow drivers to save seating positions for different drivers. Seats automatically return to the last used saved position when the vehicle is turned on. This seat movement cannot be stopped or overridden without finding and activating the seat position controls on the left side of the seat…
Seats allow drivers to save seating positions for different drivers. Seats automatically return to the last used saved position when the vehicle is turned on. This seat movement cannot be stopped or overridden without finding and activating the seat position controls on the left side of the seat base. If the driver does not find these controls in time, they can become crushed against the steering wheel or other surfaces. Seats do not respond to resistance and motors continue increasing torque until the controls are activated or the final saved position is reached. Problem is easily reproduced and may be related to recent fatality in Hyundai Palisade which likely shares components from Hyundai Motor Group.
- Tires
These Hankook iON Evo tires started vibrating wildly at the first service that I took the car to for a rotation. We took it back to the dealership (Ourisman Kia in Fairfax VA) three times where they kept the car for several days to diagnose. After opening the tires up, they state that the inner…
These Hankook iON Evo tires started vibrating wildly at the first service that I took the car to for a rotation. We took it back to the dealership (Ourisman Kia in Fairfax VA) three times where they kept the car for several days to diagnose. After opening the tires up, they state that the inner sound insulating foam on all four tires has separated. The tires were at 7/32 and now 5/32 and the car only has 18,200 miles on it. The tires have a 50k treadwear warranty, but this isn't covered as part of the warranty. The inner foam separation on a Kia EV9 is a known issue and widely discussed on the internet. For an $80k vehicle with OEM tires that cost over $1500 to replace, it's ridiculous that they aren't covered by the dealership or by Hankook.
- Visibility/wiper
This car is unusual because the wipers are located in a crevice far below the top of the hood where it meets the windshield. The first time we had an issue, it had snowed and snow collected in the crevice area. The wipers were turned on, but the drivers side one didn't move in sync with the…
This car is unusual because the wipers are located in a crevice far below the top of the hood where it meets the windshield. The first time we had an issue, it had snowed and snow collected in the crevice area. The wipers were turned on, but the drivers side one didn't move in sync with the passenger side one. They eventually "tangled" and we stopped them. The car was taken for service and supposedly repaired by replacing one of the wiper arms that had bent. It has snowed again. Before the snow fell, the crevice was mostly covered with a shield to keep snow from falling into it. The wipers were put into the "snow position" but when used again today, the wipers have again failed to operate in sync. The drivers side wiper doesn't move fully and the passenger side wiper does. Car wipers should work when it snows, but especially when precautions have been taken. This is extremely unexpected and atypical.
- Electrical system · Unknown or other
Component: Electrical System / Instrument Panel Speed at time of failure: [Insert typical speed, e.g., 65 mph] Description of Incident: My vehicle is suffering from an intermittent but total loss of the instrument cluster functionality while in motion. The display goes dark and is replaced by a…
Component: Electrical System / Instrument Panel Speed at time of failure: [Insert typical speed, e.g., 65 mph] Description of Incident: My vehicle is suffering from an intermittent but total loss of the instrument cluster functionality while in motion. The display goes dark and is replaced by a "No Signal" message. This results in the immediate loss of all critical safety information, including speed, battery range, and warning telltales. This is a direct violation of FMVSS No. 101 (Controls and Displays). Specific Recalls/Campaigns Not Addressed: I brought my vehicle to Fiesta KIA (Dealer Code 53232) to address the following open safety campaigns which they failed to remediate: NHTSA Recall #24V-757 (KIA SC326): "Instrument Cluster Screen May Fail." This is exactly the failure I am experiencing. NHTSA Recall #24V-443 (KIA SC302): ICCU Software Logic failure, which poses an immediate risk of loss of motive power while driving. Service Action SA563: Specific logic improvement for HUD and Cluster stability. Dealer Conduct (Safety Related): Despite the vehicle presenting with a "No Signal" instrument panel—a catastrophic safety failure—the Service Manager (Anthony) refused to provide the previously promised loaner vehicle. He suggested that because the vehicle was not purchased at his specific dealership, his obligation to facilitate this critical safety repair was diminished. This resulted in the vehicle remaining on the road with unresolved, safety-critical defects.
- Fuel/propulsion system · Steering · Suspension
Vehicle consistently vibrates at highway speeds, feels like a driveline vibration, wheel, tire or suspension issue. Almost feels like a tire is wobbling.
- Wheels
Vehicle Information: 2025 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD VIN: [XXX] Mileage: ~16,000 miles Component/Part Affected: Wheel studs / Wheel attachment system Summary: Multiple wheel studs (3 on one wheel, 2 on another) were found stripped/damaged on my [XXX] Kia EV9, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. This…
Vehicle Information: 2025 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD VIN: [XXX] Mileage: ~16,000 miles Component/Part Affected: Wheel studs / Wheel attachment system Summary: Multiple wheel studs (3 on one wheel, 2 on another) were found stripped/damaged on my [XXX] Kia EV9, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. This is a critical safety issue, as wheels cannot be properly secured and could detach while driving. Details: •The vehicle has been serviced exclusively at Kia dealerships (Winn Kia Fremont and Putnam Kia Burlingame, CA). •Putnam Kia Burlingame visits (7/31/25 and 8/29/25) involved seat motor repairs, multi-point inspections, and tire-pressure checks only. No wheel removal or rotation occurred there as per their confirmation. •Kia Fremont has performed all wheel/tire-related services and recently discovered the damage. •Photos show damage across two wheels (3 studs stripped on one, 2 on another). This suggests a consistent pattern of improper service (over-torquing or cross-threading), not isolated wear. Safety Concern: The vehicle is currently undriveable. Multiple compromised studs across two wheels increase the likelihood of wheel detachment while driving — posing a severe hazard to me, my family, and other motorists. Manufacturer Response So Far: •Kia Fremont has ordered replacement studs but says parts will take ~7 days. •I am seeking Kia’s confirmation that all repairs and a rental vehicle will be covered under warranty. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Steering
Within six months of purchase, the power steering on my 2025 Kia EV9 failed while I was driving, creating a sudden and dangerous loss of steering control. I brought the vehicle to the Kia dealership for repair, but it was returned to me without the problem being resolved. On the very first drive…
Within six months of purchase, the power steering on my 2025 Kia EV9 failed while I was driving, creating a sudden and dangerous loss of steering control. I brought the vehicle to the Kia dealership for repair, but it was returned to me without the problem being resolved. On the very first drive after service, the power steering failed again. This is a recurring safety defect that poses a serious risk to me, my family, and other drivers. The vehicle is unsafe to operate until the root cause is identified and repaired properly.
- Visibility/wiper
We just left the dealership in our new 2026 Kia EV 9 with 14 miles on it and as we were driving home the passenger windshield wiper started to make a loud banging sound when it would return to it ‘a starting position. We turned the wipers off and then turned them back on just to have the passenger…
We just left the dealership in our new 2026 Kia EV 9 with 14 miles on it and as we were driving home the passenger windshield wiper started to make a loud banging sound when it would return to it ‘a starting position. We turned the wipers off and then turned them back on just to have the passenger one go half way a few times and then stopped working altogether. We live in Vero Beach Florida and this took place at [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Power train · Service brakes
The Kia EV9 Wind I bought several days ago worked fine for a couple of days with a slight vibration, but yesterday I experienced 3 incidents. 1. As I was coming to a full stop at a stop sign, there was a mild grinding noise from the rear of the vehicle. 2. I continued for 100 yards and came to a…
The Kia EV9 Wind I bought several days ago worked fine for a couple of days with a slight vibration, but yesterday I experienced 3 incidents. 1. As I was coming to a full stop at a stop sign, there was a mild grinding noise from the rear of the vehicle. 2. I continued for 100 yards and came to a stop light and the car made a louder grinding sound of gears grinding as I was coming to a full braking stop. 3. I continued for about 1/2 mile. As I was coming to a stop at a stop light, there was a very loud grinding sound from the back of the car, like gears were being stripped, and the vehicle came to a full stop. At that point I was in the middle lane of a busy 3 lane road. I jumped out to inspect and saw nothing. I continued through the intersection and immediately pulled into a parking lot. I got out to inspect and there was a very strong burning smell coming from the driver side rear wheel well. I did not smell it on the passenger side rear wheel well. I had it towed to the nearby Kia dealership, and left it. This morning the dealership reported the initial diagnosis showed that the emergency brakes were activated while I was driving and they would report back later today on further diagnosis. They said the brake pads and rotors may need to be replaced and they would need to determine why the emergency brakes activated while I was driving. When I told them I was equally concerned about the grinding sound and the possibility of stripped gears, they replied that Kia Corporate does not pay them to explore potential problems that are not visible or obvious. My main concern is that there may be stripped gears to be replaced in addition to a software or other fix to prevent the emergency brakes from activating while driving. They also reported to me that there were 2 notifications with updates that had not been performed. One was for a software update for the rear powertrain and the other was for a sunroof issue and they would perform both.
- Wheels
Took my 4-month old Kia EV9 to a tire shop b/c I heard a rattling on the right side at low speed. Turns out both of the locking lug nuts had popped out of the front and rear hubs on the right side. Seems like someone at the port install facility in West Point Georgia didn't use the correct tools…
Took my 4-month old Kia EV9 to a tire shop b/c I heard a rattling on the right side at low speed. Turns out both of the locking lug nuts had popped out of the front and rear hubs on the right side. Seems like someone at the port install facility in West Point Georgia didn't use the correct tools or torque settings. Turns out this is a known issue among a few customers per this Reddit thread: [XXX] I notified Kia CS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Seats
Vehicle was delivered with an active safety recall on it. The safety recall is second and third row seat mounting bolts may be missing. Recall was announced December 2024 and car was purchased/delivered on March 20th 2025
- Back over prevention › Rearview system braking · Back over prevention › Warnings · Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking
My display with my backup camera started flickering. It then turned black and I couldn't see anything anymore and it was very dangerous to back up.
- Steering · Wheels
Vibration at highway speeds above 65mph. Online forums make it seem like a common defect.
- Seats
The drivers seat rocks and shakes or wobbles while you drive. They need to change the frame to fix the issue.
- Wheels
While driving on the freeway I suddenly lost control of the vehicle, with the vehicle swerving left and back across several lanes. Thankfully, I avoided a catastrophic accident and managed to pull over safely. There were no warning lamps or messages of any kind prior to the failure. Upon inspection…
While driving on the freeway I suddenly lost control of the vehicle, with the vehicle swerving left and back across several lanes. Thankfully, I avoided a catastrophic accident and managed to pull over safely. There were no warning lamps or messages of any kind prior to the failure. Upon inspection of the driver’s side rear wheel, I discovered that multiple lug nuts had snapped off, with the studs still attached to the lug nuts. The remaining lug nuts were extremely loose. I have never heard of such a dangerous defect in a brand-new vehicle, and it appears as if the wheel may not have been tightened properly before I took possession or they loosened since then (possibly due to having had just driven through freezing temperatures). I had only had the brand new car for 5 weeks and added 400 miles to the odometer (total mileage 544). Inspection report was provided by the nearest Kia dealership “Found 2 lugs snapped off taking the stud with it, and the rest of the lugs were loose. Damaged rotor screws, lug studs, and the wheel. Recommend replacing the hub assembly, lug nuts, wheel, and recheck vehicle operation.” Kiais claiming this is not covered by Warranty and is so far refusing to make repairs.
- Visibility/wiper
We had a snow the last couple of days and when it mostly cleared up we went out to the grocery store. We had done on best to clear of the car of snow. While driving the windshield wipers were working fine until a small chuck of snow came down from the roof of the car. The wipers immediate started…
We had a snow the last couple of days and when it mostly cleared up we went out to the grocery store. We had done on best to clear of the car of snow. While driving the windshield wipers were working fine until a small chuck of snow came down from the roof of the car. The wipers immediate started to glitch and not move which caused a big visibility problem. I was able to pull over and clear it but was concerned that small amounts of snow would cause the wipers to completely stop.
- Power train · Service brakes
There is an "i-pedal" feature that sets regen braking to bring the vehicle to a complete stop when letting off the accelerator pedal. In this mode, the vehicle only moves when pressing down on the pedal, and it stops when the pedal is released. When shifting the vehicle into reverse, "i-pedal" is…
There is an "i-pedal" feature that sets regen braking to bring the vehicle to a complete stop when letting off the accelerator pedal. In this mode, the vehicle only moves when pressing down on the pedal, and it stops when the pedal is released. When shifting the vehicle into reverse, "i-pedal" is automatically and silently turned off, causing the vehicle to suddenly start moving when releasing the brake pedal and no longer stop when releasing the accelerator pedal. This is dangerous because the pedals suddenly and unexpectedly behave differently with no input from the driver. If "i-pedal" is enabled by the driver, it should not switch out of "i-pedal" without the driver choosing to do so.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Windshield Wiper Failure
On April 29, 2025, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE25004) to investigate inoperative windshield wipers in model year (MY) 2024-2025 Kia EV9 vehicles. The complaints report windshield wipers that malfunction while driving, when snow and/or ice accumulates on or at the…
On April 29, 2025, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE25004) to investigate inoperative windshield wipers in model year (MY) 2024-2025 Kia EV9 vehicles. The complaints report windshield wipers that malfunction while driving, when snow and/or ice accumulates on or at the bottom of the windshield or in the cowl. ODI further received videos and photographs that depict relatively small amounts of snow and/or ice accumulation that leads to the wipers’ malfunction. Inoperative windshield wipers could reduce driver visibility during inclement weather and increase the risk of a crash. ODI identified 7 Vehicle Owners Questionnaires (VOQs) related to this investigation. Five VOQs describe inoperative windshield wipers due to snow and/or ice accumulation. Two other VOQs describe other malfunctioning windshield wipers including snow build-up on the blades and an odor of overheating. The wipers are equipped with thermal overload protection designed to limit overheating of the wiper motor. Further, consumers describe windshield wipers that temporarily stop working when they are not able to clear the windshield. This may happen when the wipers stop before the parked position in the cowl at the bottom of the windshield. In January 2026, Kia informed ODI that it will conduct a Product Improvement Campaign with owner notification for approximately 47,000 MY 2024-2026EV9 vehicles.The campaign includes a hardware change to the passenger-side wiper arm and an Owner’s Manual revision. The replacement wiper arm will be a different shape and angle that increase the space/clearance between the cowl and the wiper. The Owner’s Manual revision will emphasize the importance of snow removal prior to driving, and it will recommend that drivers place the wipers in service mode when the vehicle is parked outdoors, and snow is forecasted. In addition, Kia is planning to develop pop-up cluster warnings that will be temperature-dependent, and they will remind owners to clear snow/ice pre-drive and to place the wipers in service mode post-drive. In view of Kia’s field action, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. ODI will take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Every KIA EV9 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.