YearToAvoid

2025 Kia EV9 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#2 most-complained of 2 EV9 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2025 Kia EV9 has 19 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and a complaint index of 0, ranking 2nd out of 2 model years. Suspension, Wheels & Tires is the top problem area with 6 complaints (32% share), but no crashes, fires, or injuries have been reported.

Complaints
19
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
85.5
95 city / 76 hwy

Top 2025 Kia EV9 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (32%)
  2. Electrical System3 (16%)
  3. Steering3 (16%)
  4. Structure & Body3 (16%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain3 (16%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers3 (16%)
  7. Brakes2 (11%)
  8. Engine1 (5%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)
  10. Fuel System1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Lug nuts on rear or front wheels have snapped or popped out, causing loss of control or rattling noises at low speed.
  • The i-Pedal one-pedal driving feature silently deactivates when shifting into reverse, causing unexpected vehicle movement.
  • Windshield wipers glitch, bang, or stop working mid-drive, sometimes triggered by snow or cold weather.
  • The driver's seat rocks, shakes, or wobbles while driving, which owners attribute to a frame issue.
  • The backup camera display flickers, turns black, or loses signal while backing up.
  • Power steering has failed suddenly while driving, and in at least one case the problem recurred after a dealer repair.
2025 Kia EV9 complaints: complaints filed per month5Jan 2025Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Mar 2026Aug 2026
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2025 to Aug 2026; peak Mar 2025 (5).

2025 Kia EV9 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V545000Aug 21, 2026Airbags21,290 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2025-2026 EV9 vehicles. Due to improper routing, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat is in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube with a new one and ensure proper routing as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters will be mailed beginning October 20, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC379. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 4, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 25V115000Feb 24, 2025Electrical System342 vehicles

    Electrical system:propulsion system

    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.

    Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear GDU, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC337.

  3. NHTSA 24V962000Dec 20, 2024Structure & Body22,883 vehicles

    Seats:critical fasteners

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024-2025 EV9 vehicles. The second- and third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing.

    Risk: Seats without mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and install mounting bolts as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC329.

See all 4 recalls for the 2025 Kia EV9 →

2025 Kia EV9 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
95 MPG
Highway
76 MPG
Combined
85.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other EV9 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2024No verdict100207785.5
2025No verdict019485.5

All Kia EV9 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Kia EV9 reliable?
NHTSA lists 19 complaints and 4 recalls for the 2025 EV9, with a complaint index of 0 and no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths. Compared to the 2024 EV9, which has 207 complaints and a complaint index of 100, the 2025 model shows far fewer reported problems so far.
What is the top problem area for the 2025 Kia EV9?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires is the top problem area, accounting for 6 of 19 complaints, or 32% of the total.
Does the 2025 Kia EV9 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2025 EV9, covering airbags, the rear gear drive unit motor, missing second- and third-row seat mounting bolts, and an instrument panel software error. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2025 Kia EV9 rank against other EV9 model years?
Out of 2 model years with data, the 2025 EV9 ranks 2nd from worst, meaning it has fewer reported complaints than the 2024 EV9.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia EV9?
The 2025 EV9 gets an EPA-rated 85.5 MPG combined (95 city / 76 highway) and costs about $875 per year in fuel.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.