Kia EV9 Recall: A $60K SUV That Struggles to Hit 12 MPH
Published: March 4th, 2025.
The Kia EV9 has been making waves as one of the most impressive electric SUVs. With bold styling, three-row seating, and a growing list of awards—including 2024 World Car of the Year—the EV9 has set a new standard for mainstream electric SUVs. However, even award winners have flaws; in this case, Kia has identified a serious problem to warrant a recall of 342 units from the 2025 model year.
A welding defect in the rear gear drive unit (GDU) of certain dual-motor all-wheel-drive EV9s is being recalled. According to Kia, a supplier error may have resulted in an improperly welded motor shaft, which can lead to loss of drive power and acceleration issues.
In layman’s terms: some EV9s might struggle to get past 12 mph under certain conditions—a significant issue for a vehicle that’s supposed to be a highway cruiser, not a glorified golf cart.
Kia first spotted the problem in January after reviewing multiple customer assistance cases. One report specifically mentioned an EV9 failing to accelerate beyond 12 mph. Engineers investigated and confirmed the motor shaft damage was due to faulty welding. So far, ten incidents have been reported, though Kia says no accidents or injuries have resulted from the defect.
The 342 recalled units were built at Kia's Georgia plant between October and December 2023. While this isn’t a massive recall by industry standards, it’s concerning, given that the EV9 is a brand-new model.
Drivers with affected vehicles might experience odd noises, sluggish acceleration, or a “Check AWD/4WD” warning message on their dashboard. If these sound familiar, your EV9 might be part of the recall.
Kia is mailing owners this week to instruct them to bring their EV9 to a dealership for a rear gear drive unit replacement. The fix sounds simple, but it’s not quick—replacing the unit reportedly takes over six hours. That’s a long time to wait, but at least Kia is handling the repair free of charge.
Recalls aren’t unusual, especially for brand-new vehicles with advanced technology. However, Kia has been on a roll with the EV9, and frequent recalls could chip away at consumer confidence. The SUV has already faced other recalls—including one affecting 23,000 units due to missing seat bolts—so owners might wonder if more issues will pop up.
For now, Kia has acted quickly to address the problem, and thankfully, no accidents or injuries have been linked to the defect. But if you’re an EV9 owner, it might be worth keeping an eye on future recall notices—because while the EV9 may be a standout in the electric SUV world, no one wants a vehicle that struggles to hit school zone speeds.