CSR

Kia · NHTSA safety record

2024 Kia EV9

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

205

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2024 Kia EV9 have filed 205 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2024 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 102 of them (50%). The typical failure was reported at 10,600 miles, the median across the 9 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 7 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (7)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

26V431000 · July 2, 2026

Park outside until repaired

The defect
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.
The risk
A fire increases the risk of injury.
The remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and limit their charge to a maximum of 80% until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery system assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 7, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC375. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 17, 2026.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 8 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

24V962000 · December 20, 2024

The defect
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 EV9 vehicles. The second- and third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing.
The risk
Seats without mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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. · up to 22,883 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

24V757000 · October 10, 2024

The defect
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."
The 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.
The 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.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 14,163 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

PARKING BRAKE:ELECTRICAL:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

24V693000 · September 17, 2024

The defect
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.
The risk
A remote smart parking assist feature that miscalculates stopping distances may increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the integrated electronic brake software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 4, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC324.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 12,400 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:CEILING

24V400000 · June 4, 2024

The defect
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, "Occupant Protection In Interior Impact."
The risk
A headliner with inadequate impact protection increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the impact absorbing plates mounted on the headliner, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC317.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 2,401 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

24V338000 · May 14, 2024

The defect
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) to not operate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
A seat belt retractor that does not operate as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC312.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 4 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

24V271000 · April 16, 2024

The defect
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.
The risk
A loss of drive power or differential lock up can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the gear drive unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC308.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 8 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Windshield Wiper Failure

PE25004

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened April 29, 2025 · closed March 11, 2026

visibility

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.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 205.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 102 50%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 38 19%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 24 12%
SUSPENSION 21 10%
LANE DEPARTURE 20 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 17 8%
STEERING 14 7%
WHEELS 14 7%
SEATS 11 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 5%
POWER TRAIN 9 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 117.

2024 2026
2024 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEAT BELTS

4 injured · crash · towed

We were rear ended on the freeway by a vehicle going 75 mph. The impact pushed us into the vehicle in front of us.The airbags were deployed but the front and rear passenger seat belts did not lock. My husband flew forward onto the dashboard and cracked the windshield. My daughter who was behind him flew forward into the back of the passenger seat. They both suffered injuries as a result. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by our insurance company..We have some pictures and video. As of now the vehicle is in the ownership of the insurance company on their storage lot.

NHTSA complaint 11689557. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

fire · towed · 10,600 miles

The contact owned a 2024 Kia EV9. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed rear inverter. The contact was informed that the rear inverter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed rear inverter again. The contact was informed that the rear inverter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights

NHTSA complaint 11670218, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FIRERELATED

fire · towed · 20,000 miles

The contact owns a 2024 Kia EV9. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, a burning odor was detected. The contact pressed the recirculate air button, but the burning odor intensified. No warning light was illuminated. The contact noticed flames coming from underneath the front driver's seat. The contact's husband pulled over and parked the vehicle. The contact, her husband, and their child were able to safely exit the vehicle. A vehilcle who had been driving behind stopped to assist, and since it was cold weather conditions, the contact and family waited for the Fire Department inside that owner's vehicle. There was no medical attention was received.

NHTSA complaint 11712169, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

towed · 4,612 miles

The contact owns a 2024 Kia EV9. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact became aware that the instrument panel was dark. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel had failed, and a system update was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V757000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The approximate failure mileage was 4,612.

NHTSA complaint 11626678. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
When I started the car up, I noticed a little bit of chattering on the brake pedal, which seemed very unusual. I drove the car forward a little bit and then all of a sudden, all these lights displays and stop vehicle and check brake system now message showed up. The car was very sluggish to drive and had almost no brake pressure. I was able to drive it out of the parking lot (slowly and carefully). When I called a tow truck, I left the vehicle off for about 20 or 30 minutes, and then when I turned it back on, everything was fine no error messages and I had plenty of brake pressure. Post dealership update: They confirmed the issue and DTC code. Found that it was a ground wire that had a 3

NHTSA complaint 11755146, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
For several weeks the car has felt out of balance and I had it in the shop once to be balanced. The balance felt it lasted a very short time. I took the car in today to be checked out and the passenger rear tire couldn’t hold a balance. Mechanic removed tire and the interior sound deadening foam had detached on greater than 50% of the diameter of the tire. This has been widely commented on as a common failure mode for these Hankook tires on EV9 vehicles. I wanted the remaining tires inspected but as they would hold a balance the dealer had no reason to put in the labor of removing and inspecting the foam. 285/45 R21

NHTSA complaint 11744641. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS
When making left turn or going over bumps, driver seat pops and feel shifted.

NHTSA complaint 11743840. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Two components failed simultaneously: (1) the rear passenger side tire experienced a catastrophic blowout while traveling at 65 MPH on the highway, and (2) the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) failed to detect or warn of any tire pressure abnormality before or after the blowout. Following the blowout, the vehicle’s diagnostics screen displayed “All Systems OK” while the instrument cluster simultaneously showed a “Low Tire Pressure” warning — indicating a TPMS malfunction. The original blown tire has been retained and is available for inspection upon request. All four tires have since

NHTSA complaint 11740767, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) failed to detect or warn of any tire pressure abnormality before or after the blowout. Following the blowout, the vehicle’s diagnostics screen displayed “All Systems OK” while the instrument cluster simultaneously showed a “Low Tire Pressure” warning. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A tire blowout at 65 MPH on a highway created an immediate risk of loss of vehicle control, collision, or rollover. Two minor children were passengers in the vehicle at the time. The simultaneous TPMS failure provided no advance warning, eliminating

NHTSA complaint 11740769, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We were driving in the middle lane, going straight approximately 25 MPH. The car lurched and almost flipped. We were able to pull over, the wheel was no longer spinning with the car and the tie rod snapped at a weld point. We could have been killed had we been going faster. My son was thankfully not in the car. I am desperately trying to get the car inspected but the dealership will not unless we pay. There were no warnings, but a whining sound began yesterday and we were on the way to the dealership this morning. Now there are warnings. There have been so many safety issues with this car. I will be filing 2 other reports for the seats.

NHTSA complaint 11740875. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Kia EV9

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 20 1
2025 19 3

Other 2024 Kia models

Every Kia on this site — 176 vehicles, 208 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst