2026 Kia EV9 recalls and problems

The 2026 Kia EV9 has 2 safety recalls and 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
28
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2026 Kia EV9 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2026 Kia EV9 recalls

Recall 26V-545: Air Bags

Reported Aug 21, 2026 · 21,290 vehicles affected · Kia America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 26V-046: Electrical System

Reported Jan 26, 2026 · 42,677 vehicles affected · Kia America, Inc.

Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."

Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.

2026 Kia EV9 problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System12
Unknown or Other5
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Visibility/Wiper3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Structure3
Steering3
Wheels3
Visibility1
Engine1
Service Brakes1
Forward Collision Avoidance1

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 3
  • Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 1
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 1,200 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2026 Kia EV9 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Structure · reported Oct 30, 2026
About a couple of weeks before October 23, 2026, the front passenger door mechanism on my 2026 Kia EV9 suffered a complete failure due to a manufacturer-identified water intrusion issue, causing the exterior retractable door handle to stop deploying. As a result, the door cannot be opened from the outside. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared prior to the failure. I brought the vehicle to Koons Woodbridge Kia on 10/23/2026, where service technicians inspected the car and confirmed that the door motor failed due to water entry. The dealership verified the defect but informed me that…
Power Train · reported Oct 8, 2026
Brand new car completely died after one month. The check EV system light came on while driving, could smell burning plastic smell. Vehicle went into limp mode on road and had to be towed to service center. At the service center all power in the vehicle went off and the car could not be driven. Service center diagnosed and reproduced the issue. Active DTC on the the ICCU (integrated charge control unit) unit powering the 12V battery was dead. The entire ICCU assembly had to be replaced
Visibility/Wiper · reported Sep 27, 2026
The digital rearview mirror system intermittently fails while in use. The image in the rearview mirror will start flickering and eventually go completely black while driving. The system has been inspected and serviced multiple times by the dealership under warranty but the problem keeps recurring.
Suspension · reported Sep 25, 2026
Parts near the rear left suspension area fell off and landed on the inside rear left wheel while driving in I-405. Wheels have never been removed for by reason before this incident after purchasing the car. Car only has 7724 miles on the odometer.
Unknown or Other · reported Sep 12, 2026
So I called KIA about this, but I wanted my report to appear here too. Back in February, my right foot was run over by my car. It was an accident. I had gotten out of the driver's passenger side to check on something that was making noises. The person who ran my foot over didn't realize I was out of the car, and there was no warning; there was no noise indicating my door was open. Then the back driver-side tire ran over my foot. My foot was broken in a few places, and I was in a shoe boot for quite a while. It is very dangerous to think there was no alert; I can't imagine if this happened to a…

Other Kia EV9 years

Compare all Kia EV9 years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2026 Kia EV9 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2026 Kia EV9: 26V-545 (air bags), 26V-046 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2026 Kia EV9?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (12 reports), followed by unknown or other (5). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 1,200 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.