The reason for this recall is an error by a plant assembly worker while installing bolts for second and/or third-row seats
Kia recalls 22,883 EV9 electric SUVs in the U.S. due to possible missing seat bolts for the second and/or third row. EV9 is the flagship electric SUV from the Korean auto giant. It represents the best that Kia has to offer. In fact, it received widescale applause from the car reviewers and customers alike. It offers the latest tech, convenience and comfort amenities in addition to potent powertrains and performance. For now, let us stick to the specifics of this recent case.
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Kia Recalls Nearly 23,000 EV9 Electric SUVs
The Korean car marque shared a report in which the Description of the Defect section reads, “Due to an error by a plant assembly worker, the second and/or third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing.” This is corroborated by the fact that Kia has already received at least 3 customers with similar complaints. Note that all these models were built at the Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong assembly plant in Korea.
Therefore, if your seats are loose or make a rattling noise, it can point towards missing bolts. A report about this has been published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, it doesn’t specify how many bolts might be missing or how many total vehicles will have this issue. Still, it points towards the fact that an error by this one worker is the reason behind it. Kia EV9 SUVs produced between September 25, 2023, and October 15, 2024, are affected by this recall.
However, there is not much to worry about. The initial inspection of 90 random EVs in this lot found no car to have this issue. Thereafter, an additional 990 port stock EVs were analyzed and found to be devoid of this problem. As a consequence, this is definitely limited to a handful of units. For that, dealers will check all seats and fasten the bolts correctly even if there are no missing bolts just as a safety precaution. Remember, loose seats can be a huge hazard during the unfortunate incident of a crash.
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Learn Electric Cars Says
Recalls are not a new practice in the automobile industry. Also, carmakers who publicly announce their recalls always gain the trust of the people provided it doesn’t happen too frequently. Hence, despite the fact that not many people have complained about this, Kia has volunteered for a broad recall. That highlights its attempt for transparency. Let us hope that no undesirable incident takes place due to this problem and that each EV is checked soon.