Kia Recalls Thousands of Flagship EV9 SUVs in the US: Find Out Why

Key Highlights:

• Kia is recalling 2,401 units of the 2024 EV9 due to inadequate headliner protection.
• No crashes, fatalities, or injuries have been linked to the issue.
• The recall targets variants built between September 25, 2023, and March 21, 2024.
• EV9s produced from June 11 onwards will feature new headliners, with free replacements for affected units.

Kia America recently notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about a recall of specific variants from its 2024 EV9 lineup. The South Korean automaker stated that 2,401 EV9 models are being recalled due to potentially inadequate headliner protection in the event of a crash.

No Reported Incidents

To date, there have been no reports of crashes, fatalities, or injuries related to the weak headliners. The EV9, Kia's first three-row electric SUV, was launched late last year in the United States and experienced strong sales from the start.

Sales Performance

In the first five months of 2024, Kia sold 7,766 EV9s in the US, with 2,187 units sold in May alone. Kia informed the NHTSA that some headliners—material covering the roof from within the cabin—had inadequate impact-absorbing plates, which could potentially fail during a crash. The issue was discovered during pre-production tests at the Gwangmyeong Autoland plant in South Korea.

EV9 Light Models Recalled

Kia identified that certain variants of the EV9 manufactured between September 25, 2023, and March 21, 2024, did not meet federal safety requirements and are now being recalled. Models built between March 22 and 28, 2024, were held back by the brand and not sold. Kia confirmed that models produced from June 11 onwards will include new headliners, and the automaker will replace the impact-absorbing plates for affected models at no cost.

Key Specifications of the Kia EV9

First Electric Vehicle Assembled in Georgia, USA: The Kia EV9 was the first electric vehicle to be assembled in Georgia, USA, with production starting at the end of May.

• Pricing: The EV9 is priced from approximately $55,000 (INR 45.94 lakh).
• Range: The EV9 features an EPA-estimated range of 489 km.

Battery and Power

• Equipped with a 99.8 kWh battery.
• Powers a dual motor e-AWD setup.

Delivers a total power output of 379 bhp and 700 Nm of torque.

Performance: The GT Line trim allows the EV9 to accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 4.5 seconds.

Also Read: Kia EV3: A Comprehensive Review of the Latest All-Electric Compact SUV