EV9 (1st)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Battery Electric (BEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2024-2025 Kia EV9
That's about 3.1x the typical rate for BEVs in this dataset (median 5.5 per year). Above peer average — but high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints, so check the issue mix below before drawing conclusions.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 39 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Battery fires, smoke, thermal runaway. Includes any complaint with fire reported.
Regen brake feel, one-pedal driving, B-mode complaints.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Battery & propulsion recalls (2)
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.
Consequence: A loss of drive power or differential lock up can increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Sample complaint excerpts
High-Voltage Battery
- [2024] My vehicle popped up a red vehicle warning to check the electric vehicle system. It would no longer charge, was taken to the dealership where the emergency notification was sent :suspected condition with your EV9's Battery Management System has been detected and charging has been limited. A full system check is recommended. Please schedule an appointment with your local Kia dealership as soon as p
- [2024] I would also like to highlight the serious safety concern due to cell deviation (imbalance) along with SOC (State of Charge) mismatch as per my car's BMS (Battery management system) which is present in my vehicle and shared with Kia corporate. In an electric vehicle, the high-voltage battery cells, the Battery Management System, and the battery coolant system function as a single integrated safet
- [2024] 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.
Electric Propulsion
- [2024] I would also like to highlight the serious safety concern due to cell deviation (imbalance) along with SOC (State of Charge) mismatch as per my car's BMS (Battery management system) which is present in my vehicle and shared with Kia corporate. In an electric vehicle, the high-voltage battery cells, the Battery Management System, and the battery coolant system function as a single integrated safet
- [2024] 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
- [2024] 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 b
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2024] The 12-volt battery for the vehicle was depleted, so the vehicle had to be jump-started to run. I work for a repair facility (it was here for collision repairs, as far as I know unrelated to this issue) and since I was unfamiliar with the vehicle, I inadvertently turned it off before shifting into park. When I took my foot off the brake, the vehicle began to roll forward. I am not sure if the ve
- [2024] Car was new with 1,002 miles on odometer and with me for 3 weeks. The 12 volt battery died and needed to be replaced. This vehicle uses the 12v battery to start the electronics for the car which then enable operation of the car. The failure of this battery left the car without any power and it needed to be towed from my garage to the dealer. This is a common issue with Kia and Hyundai electric
- [2024] The electric dash that shows speed, battery charge level, drive mode, and other safety features (such as camera side mirrors, whether turn signal is on) has gone blank twice. From research online, this appears to be a known issue that can only be resolved by disconnecting the 12v battery or stopping the car and leaving it lock for an extended period of time. This seems like a major safety issue.
Thermal Events
- [2024] Starting on Feb 22, 2025, we observed that our Kia EV9 had dramatically reduced range. Normally, when charging was complete the dashboard would show well over 250 miles of range, even in cold weather. On Feb 22nd we started to see the range had dropped to around 60 miles, even when the dashboard reported the battery at 100% charge. The actual range seemed to be even worse, dropping dramatically ev
Regenerative Braking
- [2024] The vehicle unexpectedly accelerates in multiple situations, all related to “iDrive” (one pedal driving), either failing to engage, or unexpectedly disengaging. It almost hit something while parking, and it started accelerating into oncoming traffic from a stop sign. I’ve driven the car for 60 miles. I suspect there are other similar scenarios that I haven’t discovered. Steps to reproduce grou
Charging System
- [2024] I leased my EV9, GT from Northstar KIA, NY. I got the delivery of EV9 GT on 3/29/2024. I started to notice that the car was not charging properly. After the whole night of charging it was charged like 3-4% at most. on the 3rd-4th day, the car started to make sudden abnormal sounds. I called the salesperson and dealership regarding the charging, and other issues, and told me to take it to the servi
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Battery: Hyundai e-GMP 99.8 kWh (EV9)
Pack overview
Known issues
How this pack ages (industry context)
Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).
OEM warranty floor on this pack: 10 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.
Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.
Recalls (7)
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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 EV9 vehicles. The second- and third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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."
Alternatives in Full-Size SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2024-2025 Kia EV9 problems?
The 2024-2025 Kia EV9 has accumulated 207 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are general mechanical issues. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Kia EV9 engine is most reliable?
The 2024-2025 Kia EV9 was offered with 0 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the base engine has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2024-2025 Kia EV9 a good used car?
The 2024-2025 Kia EV9 can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 207 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2024-2025 Kia EV9 have?
The 2024-2025 Kia EV9 has 207 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2024-2025 Kia EV9?
There are 7 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2024-2025 Kia EV9 vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Kia EV9?
Before buying a used Kia EV9, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to general mechanical issues, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the EV9?
The 2025 Kia EV9 received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (10.7% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 207 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.