2024 Kia EV9

On April 29, 2025, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE25004) to investigate inoperative windshield wipers in model year (MY) 2024-2025 Kia EV9 vehicles. The complaints report windshield wipers that malfunction while driving, when snow and/or ice accumulates on or at the bottom of the windshield or in the cowl. ODI further received videos and photographs that depict relatively small amounts of snow and/or ice accumulation that leads to the wipers’ malfunction. Inoperative windshield wipers could reduce driver visibility during inclement weather and increase the risk of a crash. ODI identified 7 Vehicle Owners Questionnaires (VOQs) related to this investigation. Five VOQs describe inoperative windshield wipers due to snow and/or ice accumulation. Two other VOQs describe other malfunctioning windshield wipers including snow build-up on the blades and an odor of overheating. The wipers are equipped with thermal overload protection designed to limit overheating of the wiper motor. Further, consumers describe windshield wipers that temporarily stop working when they are not able to clear the windshield. This may happen when the wipers stop before the parked position in the cowl at the bottom of the windshield. In January 2026, Kia informed ODI that it will conduct a Product Improvement Campaign with owner notification for approximately 47,000 MY 2024-2026EV9 vehicles.The campaign includes a hardware change to the passenger-side wiper arm and an Owner’s Manual revision. The replacement wiper arm will be a different shape and angle that increase the space/clearance between the cowl and the wiper. The Owner’s Manual revision will emphasize the importance of snow removal prior to driving, and it will recommend that drivers place the wipers in service mode when the vehicle is parked outdoors, and snow is forecasted. In addition, Kia is planning to develop pop-up cluster warnings that will be temperature-dependent, and they will remind owners to clear snow/ice pre-drive and to place the wipers in service mode post-drive. In view of Kia’s field action, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. ODI will take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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.

NHTSA ID

11755146

Incident

Aug 5, 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

NHTSA ID

11744641

Incident

Jun 16, 2026

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

NHTSA ID

11743840

Incident

May 24, 2026

In October 2025, my drivers seat began to move forward and fold on its own. I was sitting in the seat and crushed. I was able to free myself. I might have photos. I did call Kia. For a second time maybe a month ago, I was undoing my son's car seat from the latch and the seat began to fold up and pinned my neck and arm. I thought I was going to die. This was a rear passenger seat.

NHTSA ID

11740877

Incident

May 29, 2026

We were driving in the middle lane, going straight approximately 25 MPH. The car lurched and almost flipped. We were able to pull over, the wheel was no longer spinning with the car and the tie rod snapped at a weld point. We could have been killed had we been going faster. My son was thankfully not in the car. I am desperately trying to get the car inspected but the dealership will not unless we pay. There were no warnings, but a whining sound began yesterday and we were on the way to the dealership this morning. Now there are warnings. There have been so many safety issues with this car. I will be filing 2 other reports for the seats.

NHTSA ID

11740875

Incident

May 29, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) failed to detect or warn of any tire pressure abnormality before or after the blowout. Following the blowout, the vehicle’s diagnostics screen displayed “All Systems OK” while the instrument cluster simultaneously showed a “Low Tire Pressure” warning. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A tire blowout at 65 MPH on a highway created an immediate risk of loss of vehicle control, collision, or rollover. Two minor children were passengers in the vehicle at the time. The simultaneous TPMS failure provided no advance warning, eliminating any opportunity to safely reduce speed or pull over before the blowout occurred. The vehicle had been in my possession for approximately four hours at the time of the incident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? UNKNOWN Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO

NHTSA ID

11740769

Incident

May 24, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Two components failed simultaneously: (1) the rear passenger side tire experienced a catastrophic blowout while traveling at 65 MPH on the highway, and (2) the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) failed to detect or warn of any tire pressure abnormality before or after the blowout. Following the blowout, the vehicle’s diagnostics screen displayed “All Systems OK” while the instrument cluster simultaneously showed a “Low Tire Pressure” warning — indicating a TPMS malfunction. The original blown tire has been retained and is available for inspection upon request. All four tires have since been replaced. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A tire blowout at 65 MPH on a highway created an immediate risk, I briefly lost control of the vehicle as it became wobbly and unstable to steer, we were at at risk of collision, or rollover. Two minor children were passengers in the vehicle at the time. The simultaneous TPMS failure provided no advance warning, eliminating any opportunity to safely reduce speed or pull over before the blowout occurred. The vehicle had been in my possession for approximately two-three hours at the time of the incident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? UNKNOWN Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms appeared prior to the tire blowout. The TPMS provided zero advance warning. After the blowout had already occurred and the vehicle was stopped on the roadside, the instrument cluster displayed a “Low Tire Pressure” warning. However, simultaneously, the Vehicle Diagnostics screen displayed “All Systems OK” with a green check-mark.

NHTSA ID

11740767

Incident

May 24, 2026

Purchased new all four tires (P 285 / 45 R 21 113V XL) in Dec, 2025 after confirming fits my vehicle. Warranty 60,000 miles. About 4 months later and about 1,800 miles of use, both rear tires have lost most of their tread and steel belts are showing per auto dealer. Front tires have also los quite a bit of tread. Vehicle had 4 wheel alignment before these tires were installed. Dealer & vehicle manufacturer representative confirmed no issue with vehicle. Also noted on 4/29/2026 that tire manufacturer web site states that these tires are no longer available for my vehicle. This is a significant safety hazard in its present state and worse yet subject to sudden tire failure.

NHTSA ID

11734782

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: KEY AND CYLINDER SET REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to replace the driver’s door lock and trunk lid key cylinders on some 2019-2024MY Kia vehicles listed below. On affected vehicles, the stored key code may not correspond to the mechanical key profile, which can result in incorrect key cutting when the original key is lost or damaged.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for supported vehicles (2021-2026MY All Models).

PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (PI2601A) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign on 2024-2026 MY EV9 vehicles to replace the passenger-side wiper arm on your vehicle with an improved wiper arm of a different shape and angle to increase the clearance between the wiper and windshield cowl.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM REPLACEMENT (PI2601A) - This bulletin provides the service procedure to replace the passenger-side (RH) windshield wiper arm on certain 2024-2026MY EV9 (MV1, MV1a) vehicles listed in the table below. During winter conditions, the windshield wipers may become temporarily inoperable due to accumulated snow on the windshield or cowl area. Kia has developed a newly designed passenger-side wiper arm of a different shape and angle to increase the clearance between the wiper and windshield cowl.

PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (PI2601A) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a a Product Improvement Campaign on 2024-2026 MY EV9 vehicles, manufactured from September 25, 2023 through April 9, 2026, to replace the passenger-side wiper arm with an improved wiper arm of a different shape and angle to increase the clearance between the wiper and windshield cowl.

PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (PI2601A) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Product Improvement Campaign PI2601A.