Kia has announced a recall for 2,401 of its newly launched EV9 electric SUVs in the U.S. due to inadequate headliner protection during a crash. This recall affects the 2024 EV9 models, specifically those produced between September 25, 2023, and March 21, 2024.
The recall comes after Kia’s impressive debut of its first three-row electric SUV in the U.S. market. The EV9 has shown strong sales, with 2,187 units sold in May and 7,766 units sold in the first five months of 2024. Despite this success, Kia discovered the headliner protection issue during pre-production testing at its Gwangmyeong Autoland plant in Korea.
Kia’s recall notification, sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week, highlights the safety concern. Although there have been no reported injuries, crashes, or fatalities related to this issue, Kia is taking precautionary measures to ensure safety compliance.
To address the problem, Kia dealers will replace the headliner’s impact-absorbing plates in the affected vehicles free of charge. Owners of the recalled models will receive notification letters by July 31, 2024.
For further assistance, Kia customers can contact Kia’s customer service at 1-800-333-4542, referencing recall number SC317. Additionally, they can contact the NHTSA Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit NHTSA.GOV using the campaign number 24V400000.
Kia’s EV9, starting at around $55,000, marks a significant milestone as the first EV assembled in Georgia. Production commences at the end of May. Kia touts the EV9’s price as an industry wake-up call, emphasizing its competitive position in the market. With this quick fix, Kia aims to maintain the EV9’s momentum and customer confidence.
For vehicles built from March 22, 2024, to May 28, 2024, Kia held production and did not sell these models until the headliner issue was resolved. New headliners have been in place for vehicles produced since June 11, 2024, ensuring they meet federal safety requirements.
