AI Damage2025 KIA EV9: common problems
Owners of the 2025 KIA EV9 filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and visibility. The maker issued 54 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 54
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 14% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 14% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 14% of all complaints
- 6 Wheels 14% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 8 Engine 7% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (29% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 38.
- Visibility: 2 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Steering: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Tires: 2 complaints (14% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- electric
- automatic, 1-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 38 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My 205 EV9 Wind with 24500 Miles left me stranded, the standard battery simbol that in ICE cards refers to the alternator, came on, I tried to get to the dealer about 20 miles in the way home, less that 3 miles after that the car lost power with just enough to move to the shoulder, I stopped, power the car off and…
A tire at 5x the road-force spec degrades handling, damages suspension, and risks sudden tread separation or blowout at highway speed. I filed a warranty claim with Kumho Tire USA on 2026-09-26 with the dealer's written diagnosis attached.
The infotainment screen, including backup camera views, randomly glitches and then goes completely dark with no ability to view anything on the screen. The screen has been reset and software reloaded, but the glitch continues. Next, the screen was replaced but the glitch continues.
During my normal travel, in active traffic and at speed, the vehicle abruptly entered limp mode and displayed multiple system warnings. This caused an immediate and significant reduction in power, creating a hazardous situation for myself and surrounding drivers.
Seats allow drivers to save seating positions for different drivers. Seats automatically return to the last used saved position when the vehicle is turned on. This seat movement cannot be stopped or overridden without finding and activating the seat position controls on the left side of the seat base.
These Hankook iON Evo tires started vibrating wildly at the first service that I took the car to for a rotation. We took it back to the dealership (Ourisman Kia in Fairfax VA) three times where they kept the car for several days to diagnose.
This car is unusual because the wipers are located in a crevice far below the top of the hood where it meets the windshield. The first time we had an issue, it had snowed and snow collected in the crevice area. The wipers were turned on, but the drivers side one didn't move in sync with the passenger side one.
Vehicle consistently vibrates at highway speeds, feels like a driveline vibration, wheel, tire or suspension issue. Almost feels like a tire is wobbling.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,374 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 35% least complained about).
On average one model year of the EV9 has 75 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 14, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This Pitstop provides information related to Electric Vehicle (EV) charging on 2024 - 2026MY EV9 (MV1,…
This Pitstop provides information related to Electric Vehicle (EV) charging on 2024 - 2026MY EV9 (MV1, MV1a) vehicles. In some cases, high-voltage charging performance may be limited or inoperative and accompanied by…
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (PI2601A Flight 102) - 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…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: WIPER MESSAGE LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2601B) - This bulletin provides information to install enhanced windshield wiper software on certain 2024–2026MY EV9 (MV1, MV1a) vehicles as listed.
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
QUESTION AND ANSWER (PI2601B) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Product Improvement Campaign PI2601B.
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (PI2601B) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign on all 2024-2025 MY and certain 2026 MY EV9 vehicles to install enhanced windshield…
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT LEAFLET (PI2601B) - This document is the PI2601B Owner's Manual Insert Leaflet that contains revised information for wipers. Vehicle owners are advised to keep this leaflet with the Owner's Manual.
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (PI2601B) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a a Product Improvement Campaign on all 2024-2025 MY and…
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN
DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (PI2601B) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign on all 2024-2025 MY and certain 2026 MY EV9 vehicles…
- OVER-THE-AIR
OVER-THE-AIR SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR COMMUNICATION CONTROL UNIT: This Over-the-Air (OTA)software update is designed to update the Communication Control Unit (CCU) logic of certain 2025 – 2026MY EV9 vehicles. This update is…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VEHICLE-TO-EVERYTHING (V2X) SOFTWARE UPGRADE - This bulletin provides information to install the Vehicle-to-Everything ‘V2X’ function enhancements by upgrading the software of the Central Communication Unit ‘CCU’ on…
- RELEASE NOTES
OVER-THE-AIR: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR DATA CONNECTIVITY (ELE413 Revision 2) - This Over-the-Air (OTA) software update is designed to update the Data Connectivity Unit (DCU) logic of certain 2025 - 2026MY Carnival, EV9, K5…
- 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…
NHTSA lists 54 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2025 KIA EV9?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, visibility, powertrain. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: loss of power / limp mode (21%), vibration (21%), knocking, grinding or other noise (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2025 KIA EV9?
NHTSA lists 54 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2025 KIA EV9 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2025 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.