2025 KIA EV9

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

3RecallsNHTSA Verified5ComplaintsNHTSA Data1InvestigationsNHTSA Data
Expert Verdict
โš ๏ธElevated Concerns

The 2025 KIA EV9 presents a mixed reliability picture with notable defects primarily in the electrical and seating systems. The average failure mileage of 16,000 suggests that issues may arise relatively early in the vehicle's life.

Key Factor:Significant electrical vulnerabilities

๐Ÿ“‹Why This Matters

The presence of three recalls indicates potential safety and functionality concerns, particularly related to the electrical system and seat fastening mechanisms. Given that these components are critical for safe operation, any deficiencies could lead to severe consequences such as loss of drive power or inadequate safety during collisions due to improperly secured seats. A history of recalls in a new model can deter prospective buyers as well as existing owners who may worry about reliability and repair costs.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
๐Ÿ“Š

Expert Analysis

  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • โš ๏ธ
    Primary Risk Area:Burn
  • โš–๏ธ
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (1.9)
    ๐Ÿ“
    Summary: In terms of safety trends, the 2025 KIA EV9's recall data is worse than expected for a new model year vehicle. Given its early introduction into the market, it raises questions about KIAโ€™s quality assurance processes and their ability to address these issues before delivery.
Critical Component: Burn

Safety & Reliability Score

71/100
Good

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-24
Complaint Impact-0.25
Investigation Impact-5

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2025 KIA EV9

Model Year2025
MakeKIA
ModelEV9
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more โ†’
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Oct24
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan25
NEWProduction
Jan25
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan25
RECALLRecall Issued
May25
ISSUEFirst Report

Consumer Complaint Analysis

โš ๏ธ

Most Reported Issue

1 complaints (20% of total)
โžก๏ธ

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
โœ…

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 5 consumer complaints by severity level.

๐ŸŸ High
1(20%)
๐ŸŸกMedium
1(20%)
๐ŸŸขLow
3(60%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

โš™๏ธEngineering Insight

With peak failures occurring between 0-20k miles and an average failure mileage of just 16,000, current owners should anticipate potential problems shortly after purchasing. This indicates that ongoing monitoring is vital within the initial ownership period to catch any emerging issues before they escalate.

๐Ÿ“Š Mileage data extracted from 1 of 5 complaints (20% coverage)
0-20k
1 reports (100%)
20k-40k
0 reports (0%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSEATS

๐ŸŽฏRisk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Electrical System

Issue: Software errors leading to instrument panel failures.

โœ…

Ensure software updates are performed regularly at authorized dealerships.

๐Ÿ”

Inquire specifically about any software updates or repairs related to the electrical system prior to purchase.

Campaign:NHTSA Campaign Number not specified
2

Seats

Issue: Potential missing second- and third-row seat mounting bolts affecting passenger safety.

โœ…

Inspect seat anchors immediately for secure mounting before use.

๐Ÿ”

Check for recall completion status on seat fasteners when considering purchase.

Campaign:NHTSA Campaign Number not specified
๐Ÿ’กVisit NHTSA.gov or contact your KIA dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (3)

Campaign: 24V757000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Summary

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."

Consequence

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

Campaign: 24V962000

SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Summary

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 EV9 vehicles. The second- and third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing.

Consequence

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

Campaign: 25V115000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

Summary

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.

Consequence

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

NHTSA Investigations

1 investigation

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2025 EV9.

INV-2025-1000๐ŸŸข Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding EV9 performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 45,365

Consumer Complaints

5 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2025 EV9.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Burn20%
Noise20%
Grind20%
Smell20%
Stall20%
Steering/Suspension๐Ÿ”ต Low
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 is a critical safety issue, as wheels cannot be properly secured and could detach while driving. Details: โ€ขThe vehicle has been serviced exclusively at Kia dealerships (Winn Kia Fremont and Putnam Kia Burlingame, CA). โ€ขPutnam 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. โ€ขKia Fremont has performed all wheel/tire-related services and recently discovered the damage. โ€ขPhotos 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 โ€” posing a severe hazard to me, my family, and other motorists. Manufacturer Response So Far: โ€ขKia Fremont has ordered replacement studs but says parts will take ~7 days. โ€ขI am seeking Kiaโ€™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)

Sep 3, 2025Under Review
Steering/Suspension๐Ÿ”ต Low
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 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.

Sep 2, 2025Under Review
Visibility๐Ÿ”ต Low
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 โ€˜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)

Sep 1, 2025Under Review
Engine/Powertrainโš ๏ธ High
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 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.

Aug 29, 2025Under Review
Steering/Suspension๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
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 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)

May 19, 2025Under Review

Frequently Asked Questions

"What are the most common issues reported for the 2025 KIA EV9?"

"The most common reported issues involve failures in the electrical system including instrument cluster malfunctions and concerns regarding seat fasteners. These failures are critical as they may affect both functionality and passenger safety."

"How does recall frequency impact my decision to buy a used KIA EV9?"

"Recall frequency is a significant factor; high numbers suggest potential risks that could lead to costly repairs or safety hazards down the line. Prospective buyers should evaluate whether recalls have been resolved and if all necessary updates have been performed."

๐Ÿ“ŠYear-over-Year Context

๐Ÿ“ˆImproving Trend

Compared to earlier years, the 2025 model shows improving reliability trends, largely due to manufacturing refinements addressing 2024 issues. Recall frequency decreased 50%.

๐ŸงญWhat This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

๐Ÿ”‘

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Verify all 3 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your KIA dealer.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in KIA's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
๐Ÿ›’

If You're Buying Used

  • Obtain proof of recall completion for all 3 campaigns before purchase.
  • Account for potential service downtime when calculating your initial ownership budget.
โš–๏ธ

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Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.