Kia EV9 Recalled Due to Power Loss Issue | Carscoops

      The company has identified an EV9 that is unable to exceed 12 mph under specific conditions.

      Kia is initiating a recall for more than 300 units of its EV9 SUV due to a potential loss of drive power.

      This problem stems from a faulty weld, and dealerships will be tasked with replacing the rear gear drive unit.

      So far, there have been ten reported incidents, but no accidents or injuries have occurred.

      The Kia EV9 has been well-received, earning multiple awards, including the 2024 World Car of the Year. While this is impressive, the number of recalls is beginning to accumulate. The most recent recall involves 342 units from the 2025 model year, which may contain a rear gear drive unit motor shaft that was improperly welded.

      According to the safety recall report, EV9s with a dual-motor all-wheel drive system could be impacted “due to a supplier welding error.” This error could lead to damage to the “motor shaft within the rear GDU [gear drive unit], causing diminished acceleration and drive power.”

      Additionally, Kia has recalled 23,000 EV9s after a worker may have overlooked the installation of seat bolts.

      The affected vehicles were manufactured in Georgia between October and December of the previous year. Drivers may be alerted to a problem by unusual noises or a “Check AWD/4WD” warning.

      Kia first learned of the issue in January after noticing an increase in assistance cases, including one report of lost drive power. This prompted an investigation, which revealed that the motor shaft in the rear gear drive unit had been damaged due to a welding error. An engineer also tested one EV9 and discovered that it “would not accelerate above 12 mph (19 km/h) under certain conditions.”

      Kia has received ten reports regarding a loss or decrease in drive power; however, there have been no related accidents or injuries.

      Notifications to owners are expected to be sent out later this week, and dealerships will proceed with the rear gear drive unit replacement. However, this replacement process appears to be quite time-consuming, taking over six hours to complete.