Kia’s electric SUV, the EV9, has hit a notable bump in the road. The Korean automaker recently issued a recall for nearly 23,000 units of its flagship three-row EV, citing a surprising assembly-line mishap involving missing seat mounting bolts.
The recall involves EV9 SUVs manufactured between September 2023 and October 2024 at Kia’s Autoland Gwangmyeong assembly plant in South Korea. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue stems from missing second- and third-row seat mounting bolts, potentially compromising occupant safety during collisions. Kia identified a total of 22,883 affected vehicles.
The recall report stated: “Seats with missing seat mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant during certain collisions, thereby increasing the risk of injury.”
In a surprising twist, Kia attributed the mishap to a single assembly worker at the plant. According to the automaker, this individual failed to ensure the proper installation of seat bolts during the assembly process. The company didn’t elaborate on whether the error occurred during a particularly rushed workday, though it did mention the worker in communications with dealers, presumably to assign blame.
This unusual level of specificity sparked reactions, with many questioning whether Kia’s decision to name the employee was necessary—or even fair.
The problem was initially flagged in a customer complaint in September 2024. Subsequent inspections conducted by Kia North America of 90 randomly selected EV9 SUVs found no loose or missing bolts. However, further investigations revealed three instances of missing seat bolts, all reportedly linked to the same employee.
Though the number of confirmed cases is minimal, Kia has chosen to err on the side of caution, prompting the large-scale recall.
Kia assured customers that inspections and necessary repairs will be performed at no cost. Dealers will verify the seat mounting bolts and install or tighten any missing or loose ones. While the issue appears less widespread than initially feared, Kia’s proactive recall reflects its commitment to safety.