Kia EV9 Complaints (2024)

206 consumer complaints on file.

#11707022December 25, 2025
STEERING, WHEELS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When driving at speeds 60+ mph, EV9 steering wheel and center console vibrate consistently even on newly paved smooth road(s). I have taken it into two different dealerships for resolve twice within the first week of ownership. Both dealerships checked tires, mount and balanced the ones that were off and sent us on our way. The steering wheel and console vibrations persist. I have taken it back in and reported that the issue hasn’t been resolved. They noted it on the service order but did nothing further in an effort to resolve the issue. This is a well known and documented safety issue on NHTSA complaints and several Facebook owner groups for the EV9 across the world.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706776December 23, 2025
SEAT BELTS
Two seatbelts failed in the rear of the car. One seatbelt in the third row seat and the middle seatbelt in the 2nd row back seat. This happened in quick succession soon after I purchased the car used from a Kia dealer in Orlando. The seatbelt in the third-row seat seemed to fold up and jam in a way that could not be unjammed. The middle seatbelt in the second row got stuck in its extended position, as if it were fully extended, and will not retract. The dealer is claiming that both failures were due to external issues and they are not covering them under warranty. But both issues seem odd to me -- the middle seat seatbelt is just fully extended and now won't retreat; the third row seatbelt folded up when it retracted but, in my experience, that happens somewhat frequently and usually the seatbelts just unfold and keep working. My concern is that this might be a sign that there is an underlying seatbelt manufacturing issue. The dealer is claiming that both seatbelt pretensioners need to be replaced. I have not repaired the seatbelt issues yet so they can both be examined. I can also sent photos of the seatbelts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701991November 29, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Wiper washer system was working properly until the first snowfall today. Despite the very small amount of snow, the wiper washer system for the front windshield will not operate. The rear washer works properly. Washer reservoir is full and the wipers work properly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11695727October 27, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Description of the Problem: While driving my 2024 Kia EV9, the vehicle suddenly jerked and displayed a “Motor Control System” warning on the dashboard. The Kia Access app showed diagnostic code P0A4100 (MCU_R – Motor Control Unit fault). The issue causes the vehicle to hesitate and feel as if it loses power momentarily while in motion, creating a serious safety risk for me and my children. System/Component: The failure involves the Motor Control Unit (MCU) / electrical drivetrain system. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The vehicle’s jerking and power fluctuation make it unsafe to drive in traffic, especially with children on board. It gives the sensation of being rear-ended and raises concern of potential stalling or loss of propulsion. Reproduction and Dealer Confirmation: The problem was reported to Sons Kia in McDonough, GA. The dealership initially inspected the vehicle on October 24, 2025, and returned it on [XXX], claiming the issue was addressed. However, the same warning and behavior reappeared less than 24 hours later ([XXX]). Inspections: The vehicle has been inspected by the Kia dealership service department. No outside parties (police or insurance) have inspected it yet. Warnings/Symptoms: The first warning appeared on [XXX], with the “Motor Control System” dashboard message and a corresponding alert in the Kia Access app. The issue continues to recur despite service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694316October 18, 2025
SEAT BELTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A rear seatbelt indicator in the dashboard is broken, and it persistently indicates that (a) a passenger is in a rear seat; and (b) the passenger's seatbelt is fastened. This occurs even if a passenger is not in the seat and the passenger's seatbelt is not fastened. It is unclear whether this is strictly an electronic error in the dashboard, or if the seatbelt itself does not function appropriately. Kia has unsuccessfully tried to fix it twice, and the service department reproduced the problem by simply turning on the vehicle and seeing the persistent light. The local Kia service department says they are not trained to fix many EV problems, so corporate has to be involved, but corporate has not provided material assistance. Corporate has been informed in writing several times of the issue, including that this is a material safety issue, particularly since the vehicle is marketed toward families where a seatbelt indicator may be relied upon by drivers, and it's unclear whether this is strictly an electronics issue or a seatbelt functionality issue. Corporate acknowledged receipt of communications in which they were asked if this has been reported to the NHTSA, and they ignored both requests.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693978October 16, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The DC charger plug won’t release after charge was completed. Waiting 3.5 for the tech to forcefully unplug and broke the charger pins. This is a known issue with Kia vehicles and costly repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693832October 16, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The dashboard and control panel of my vehicle have repeatedly blacked out since shortly after purchase. These blackouts cause the entire instrument cluster and control systems, including critical safety features, to become non-functional or obstructed intermittently while driving. This creates a dangerous situation where I lose access to important information such as speed, warning indicators, and climate controls, severely compromising my ability to operate the vehicle safely. The issue has occurred multiple times, including once while driving on a highway, which put me and other drivers at significant risk. The problem has been reported to authorized dealerships, where the vehicle was inspected and software updates were attempted, but the issue persists. Despite multiple repair attempts, the blackouts continue to happen unpredictably. There have been no specific warning lamps or messages prior to the blackouts; the system simply fails without notice. The malfunction affects the vehicle’s safety system by obstructing the driver’s view of critical controls and information, increasing the risk of accidents. Customer service from the dealerships has been unsatisfactory, with long wait times for repairs, lack of loaner vehicles, and repeated failure to resolve the problem. This ongoing safety concern remains unresolved despite numerous visits and repair attempts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11693716October 15, 2025
SUSPENSION
When driving between 20-40 mph and hitting a rough patch of road, pothole, expansion joint, or uneven pavement, the vehicle sometimes heavily sways left to right. It takes one to two seconds to stabilize after the swaying. My wife and I both experience it at different times - we say it "feels like a wheel is falling off" because it's so disorienting and concerning. It often happens unexpectedly with road surface that doesn't actually appear to be all that bad. The rear end feels particularly unstable, like the suspension can't control the vehicle's weight when it's swaying. It's not a small vibration - it's a pronounced side-to-side oscillation. Sometimes I need to make steering corrections just to keep the vehicle centered in the lane. This unpredictable swaying makes us nervous about driving in adverse weather conditions. We can't trust how the vehicle will react when hitting unavoidable bumps and road imperfections. We have noticed it over 50mph at times but it is much more rare at this speed -- though when it happens at this speed it is obviously much more concerning. At higher speeds the swaying does not seem as pronounced / dangerous as at lower speeds, thankfully. After researching online, I discovered many other EV9 owners reporting identical suspension problems. Multiple complaints describe the same lateral swaying, porpoising, and bump-steer behavior that we are experiencing. This appears to be particularly common among GT-Line models. The consistency of these reports suggests this is a systemic defect affecting multiple vehicles, not an isolated incident with our particular vehicle. We have 11k miles on the vehicle now and this has been consistently happening since 200-300 miles brand new. We've mentioned to a dealer but it is very difficult to reproduce as it seems to happen randomly, even over the same stretch of rough road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690450September 29, 2025
POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle loses accelerator control unless under 30mph. Dealer says they cannot replicate and corporate have decided the vehicle works as designed. I have a video of vehicle losing power and it doesn't help. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11689557September 24, 2025
SEAT BELTS
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#11688930September 22, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery Management System - Critical EV Battery Warning This vehicle has been back to the dealership for repairs multiple times. Including needing to swap battery cells and wires around.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685863September 9, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
The vehicle was being driven on a highway when it became unresponsive to input from the accelerator pedal and the car's dashboard indicated an electrical system failure. There were no indications of problems with the car before the electrical system failure warning appeared. The car coasted to a stop on the side of the highway, where it was disabled (i.e., it would not shift into drive or reverse). The car was towed to a Kia dealership, where it has been for more than five weeks. The dealership replaced the ICCU but that did not resolve the problem and the car remains non-functional. The Kia dealership is waiting for the delivery of additional backordered electrical system parts to see if they resolve the problems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684238September 1, 2025
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
1. When I go over bumps, the car behaves as if it's about to lose control. It porpoises and at one point it feels like you're about to lose control of the vehicle. 2. We have taken the vehicle to the dealer 3+ times now for the same issue. They claim that it's a glitch in the suspension but there is no know fix. At 55+MPH the vehicle starts vibrating and is completely different than issue number 1 above. They've tried balancing the tires but it has not been Successful. We're hoping to claim the car and Lemon through WI.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683737August 28, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Received the following warning on 8/16 with 6987 miles on the car: Critical EV Battery Warning Your EV Battery has a critical issue. Contact Roadside Assistance as soon as possible. Car has been in the dealership for a week with "no estimated repair timeline" due to the battery cells failing. Car will not fully charge and is at risk of suddenly losing power and stopping, per the dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11682293August 22, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost power and could not accelerate normally. The speed dropped and got stuck around 12–25 mph even when pressing the accelerator. This happened multiple times, usually during hot daytime conditions. It created a serious safety risk, and one time another car almost hit me from behind because my vehicle slowed down so suddenly. The dealer has inspected the car several times but said they could not reproduce the problem. Warning messages such as “Power Limited” appeared on the dashboard when the failure occurred. I also recorded multiple videos of the problem when it happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677670July 31, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The instrument display panel goes black and you can’t see speedometer or hear turn signals etc.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676306July 25, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The car battery cells are defective and would not charge above 60%. After faulting on electrical vehicle alarm instrument panel sometimes may show false battery state of charge.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676269July 25, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I was driving and the car suddenly gave a number of error messages, and I could not drive above 40 miles an hour on the freeway. This was very unsafe. I had it towed to the dealership and they replaced the ICCU Unit, which appears to be a very common problem with Hyundai/Kia electric vehicles. The ICCU unit does not power the car. It should not have affected the car's performance.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676249July 25, 2025
SEATS
The contact owns a 2024 Kia EV9. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side seat detached from the frame. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to reach the brake pedal, and almost lost control of the vehicle. In addition, the contact’s mother and minor children were also occupants of the vehicle at the time of the failure. The contact was now concerned about the safety of the vehicle and was afraid to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that all the seats inside the vehicle had detached from the frame due to fractured bolts. The contact was informed that the bolts needed to be torqued. The vehicle was repaired. The failure first occurred immediately after the vehicle was purchased. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 6.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671190July 3, 2025
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
When traveling at highway speeds the rear suspension is not capable of handling road imperfections. When a pot hole or other disturbance occurs, the rear end of the vehicle violently porpoises and swing back and forth. This is made even more obvious when taking a long sweeping curves at 55 plus. It causes the entire chassis to become very upset. I have never had a car do this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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