2024 Kia EV9 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: August 12, 2026 · Filed: November 1, 2026

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

Incident: October 27, 2026 · Filed: October 30, 2026

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.

Incident: July 1, 2024 · Filed: October 22, 2026

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 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.

Incident: October 17, 2026 · Filed: October 17, 2026

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 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.

Incident: September 10, 2026 · Filed: October 1, 2026

On September 10, 2026, while driving my Kia EV9 on a public roadway, I experienced a suspected unintended and excessive activation of the vehicle's collision-avoidance/automatic emergency braking system. I was traveling straight in my lane when another vehicle approached from the right side and crossed/moved into the roadway ahead. The other vehicle continued moving away from my immediate path; however, my EV9 suddenly applied substantial braking without me commanding that degree of braking. The incident was captured on my front dash camera. The recording shows my vehicle traveling approximately 31 MPH shortly before the event. The recorded speed decreases from approximately 30 MPH to 28 MPH, then rapidly to approximately 15 MPH and approximately 7 MPH within only a few seconds. The unexpected braking created a serious safety concern because a vehicle traveling closely behind me could have struck the rear of my vehicle. There was no collision, and fortunately no vehicle was immediately behind me. I retained the original dash-cam recording and can provide it for inspection upon request. The vehicle is also available for inspection. I have since disabled the collision-avoidance feature because I am concerned that another unintended braking event could occur at highway or roadway speeds. I am reporting this incident because the driver-assistance system appeared to intervene more aggressively than the traffic situation required and temporarily took braking control away from the driver. I am requesting that NHTSA document and evaluate this incident for possible similar complaints involving Kia EV9 collision-avoidance or automatic emergency braking systems.

Incident: July 9, 2026 · Filed: August 28, 2026

Beginning sometime after purchase, our 2024 Kia EV9 (VIN: [XXX]) developed a recurring failure of the multimedia display system (head unit). The screen goes completely dark after approximately 5 minutes of drive time and only restores after a full vehicle restart. This failure occurred approximately 10 to 14 times before we brought the vehicle in for service. Critically, when the multimedia screen goes dark, the rearview camera display is also rendered completely unavailable. As the rearview camera is federally mandated safety equipment under FMVSS 111, this failure left us unable to use the camera while backing up on multiple occasions, creating a serious safety hazard to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles behind our car. The vehicle was dropped off at Grand Kia (Wheat Ridge, CO) on XXX for diagnosis. The service technician disassembled and reassembled the head unit and contacted Kia Techline for an action plan. We were told a replacement part was on order. As of the date of this complaint, the vehicle has been out of service for over six weeks with no confirmed repair timeline and minimal communication from the dealer or Kia America. This is our second significant warranty-related repair issue with this vehicle. We are filing this complaint to create a federal record of a safety defect involving the loss of federally mandated rearview camera functionality, and to request that NHTSA investigate whether this failure pattern exists across other 2024 Kia EV9 vehicles. Requested Action: Investigation of potential safety defect involving multimedia/head unit failure causing loss of rearview camera in 2024 Kia EV9 vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: August 21, 2026 · Filed: August 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Kia EV9. The contact stated that while attempting to release the rear seat belt to install a child safety seat, a significant amount of effort was required. The contact stated that after struggling with the seat belts over several months of use, the seat belt became fully jammed and no longer was able to be extended. The dealer was notified of the failure on several occasions. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,600.

Incident: August 5, 2026 · Filed: August 5, 2026

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 ohm resistance (something about a “plastic coating” was mentioned in the paperwork!). They replaced the cable via SC360, and I’ve put about 800 miles on it since then with no issues.

Incident: June 16, 2026 · Filed: June 16, 2026

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

Incident: May 24, 2026 · Filed: June 13, 2026

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