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...
2024-2026 · 3 model years
Kia EV9 Problems by year
Owners have filed 254 complaints about the Kia EV9 across 3 model years, and it has 10 recalls. The 2024 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (212), while 2025 has far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the electrical system, followed by the driver assistance.
- Complaints
- 254
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes
- 3
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 6
- Deaths
- 0
EV9 complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common EV9 problems
Kia EV9 recalls 10
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Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2024 EV6 and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The high voltage battery cells may contain misaligned electrodes, which can lead to a fire while parked or driving.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the...
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.
Covers2025 Kia EV9
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 EV9 vehicles. The second- and third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing.
Over-the-air fix
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...
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 EV9 vehicles. A software error may cause the remote smart parking assist feature, which allows the operator to remotely move the vehicle, to miscalculate stopping distances.
Covers2024 Kia EV9
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 EV9 vehicles. The headliner may not adequately protect passengers from impact in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201...
Covers2024 Kia EV9
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 EV9 vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor cover may not be secured properly, which can cause the front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) and emergency locking retractor (ELR)...
Covers2024 Kia EV9
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Niro EV and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The differential gear bolts in the gear drive unit may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of drive power or cause the differential to lock up.
Latest EV9 complaints
This car has had a series of electrical issues in the first year of use. 1. The main battery needed to be replaced 6/2025 2. The 12 V battery needed to be replaced 6/2205 3. 7/2026 There is an electrical issue that causes the right headlight to go out and all the indicator lights to be set-off, which prevents certain safety functions. This has been evaluated be an independent Bodyshop, which changed a part. Then 3 visits to the Kia dealer where another part was changed. After 4 visits and 2 parts, the problem occurred again. I've asked Kia to buy out the lease and they have not. This car is under warranty, but not fixed
The vehicle failed without warning while driving. In sequence, it displayed an electrical system warning, then a 12V battery error, dropped into reduced-power "turtle" mode, shifted itself into neutral, sat immobile while throwing multiple warning lights, and then lost all power completely. It had to be towed to local Kia for diagnosis/repair. Losing motive power while driving in traffic is a serious safety hazard that put the occupants and others around the vehicle at risk.
About a couple of weeks before October 23, 2026, the front passenger door mechanism on my 2026 Kia EV9 suffered a complete failure due to a manufacturer-identified water intrusion issue, causing the exterior retractable door handle to stop deploying. As a result, the door cannot be opened from the outside. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared prior to the failure. I brought the vehicle to Koons Woodbridge Kia on 10/23/2026, where service technicians inspected the car and confirmed that the door motor...
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failed due to water entry. The dealership verified the defect but informed me that the necessary replacement part is on a national backorder with no clear ETA. I also opened a formal case with Kia America Consumer Affairs (Case #26521387). The vehicle and the defective door component remain at the dealership and are available for inspection upon request. This failure presents a severe safety hazard. Because the front passenger door cannot be opened from the exterior, first responders or bystanders would be completely unable to open the door from the outside to extract a trapped passenger in the event of a crash, rollover, fire, or medical emergency. Despite this clear danger, service staff verbally claimed the issue is "not a safety concern" and pressured me to pick up the un-repaired, unsafe vehicle. When I requested a loaner, they initially offered a small car for only a couple of days - which is completely inadequate and non-equivalent for my transportation and cargo needs while my vehicle remains indefinitely out of service due to a national backorder. Furthermore, despite repeated written and verbal requests, the dealership and Kia Corporate have refused to provide me with a printed copy of my active Repair Order or put their claims regarding vehicle safety and backorder status in writing.
In July 2024, approximately two months after purchasing the vehicle new in May 2024, a significant spiderweb-shaped crack developed in the front illuminated grille and fascia assembly. The vehicle had approximately 300 miles on the odometer and the damage was discovered during a routine hand wash. The vehicle had only been driven under normal roadway conditions in the Corpus Christi, Texas area with no collisions, accidents, or known abnormal impacts. This exposed acrylic-style front fascia houses the GT-Line's...
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digital lighting elements and protects critical front-mounted safety sensors and sophisticated electrical systems. The structural failure of this panel compromises the weather sealing, exposing sensitive high-voltage components and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors to moisture and road debris. This poses a potential safety risk regarding electrical system integrity and sensor reliability. The vehicle was immediately presented to the original purchasing Kia dealership. The dealer ultimately replaced the entire front grille assembly at no charge under warranty. However, the replacement component utilized the identical structural design and materials, failing to correct the underlying vulnerability of the fascia to ordinary highway exposure.
On my 2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line, the front illuminated digital pattern acrylic/plastic grill panel suffered a catastrophic structural failure, resulting in a complete blowout and puncture hole under normal driving conditions. The panel fractured and shattered completely while driving on standard paved roads, with zero history of front-end collisions, low-speed impacts, or road debris strikes. This indicates a severe material strength, thermal stress, or structural design defect where the acrylic housing cannot withstand...
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normal operational driving forces. Given its placement over critical forward-facing ADAS sensors, cameras, and electrical lighting elements, this open hole and structural failure presents a severe safety, sensor compromise, and moisture/debris intrusion hazard. I am submitting this report to document the defect and wish to cross-reference existing complaint number 11589157, as multiple owners are experiencing identical structural failures of the illuminated grill panel under normal driving conditions. Requesting a federal investigation into material durability and a manufacturer-backed recall.
Brand new car completely died after one month. The check EV system light came on while driving, could smell burning plastic smell. Vehicle went into limp mode on road and had to be towed to service center. At the service center all power in the vehicle went off and the car could not be driven. Service center diagnosed and reproduced the issue. Active DTC on the the ICCU (integrated charge control unit) unit powering the 12V battery was dead. The entire ICCU assembly had to be replaced
Questions about the Kia EV9
Which Kia EV9 years have the most problems?
What are the most common Kia EV9 problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the electrical system (120), driver assistance (39), suspension (23) most often.
How many recalls does the Kia EV9 have?
NHTSA lists 10 recalls across all Kia EV9 model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data