Kia EV9 Recall Issued Due to Missing Seat Bolts: NHTSA

Manufacturer has received three reports of vehicles missing seat mounting bolts, which are responsible for securely fastening the seat to the vehicle floor.

Federal highway safety officials have announced a recall affecting more than 22,000 Kia EV9 vehicles due to the risk of missing seat mounting bolts, which may increase the risk of an injury in a crash.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Kia EV9 recall on December 20, warning that certain Kia EV9 models may lack these mounting bolts, meaning they could fail to properly restrain the occupant in the event of a collision or hard braking event.

Mounting bolts for vehicle seats are located at the base of the seat, anchoring it securely to the vehicle’s frame or floor to prevent movement during driving. When these bolts are missing or improperly installed, the seat may become unstable, compromising its ability to restrain passengers during an auto accident and significantly increasing the risk of severe injury or death.

The recall affects 22,883 model year 2024 to 2025 Kia EV9 vehicles manufactured from September 25, 2023 through October 15, 2024.

Drivers are advised to watch for seat looseness or a rattling sound, which may indicate that the second- or third-row seat mounting bolts are loose or missing.

According to the recall report, Kia America, Inc. is unaware of any injuries or incidents related to the recall. However, the company does know of three cases of vehicles missing the necessary bolts.

Kia first became aware of the issue on September 5, 2024, after receiving a report of a vehicle missing the third-row seat mounting bolts. A second vehicle missing the second- and third-row bolts was identified a few days later.

On September 18, Kia began a thorough inspection of the affected vehicles and determined on October 30 that the seat mounting bolt issue was caused by an assembly worker at a manufacturing plant in South Korea.

In early December, a third vehicle was identified with missing mounting bolts in the third row, leading the manufacturer to initiate a safety recall for all affected vehicles on December 13, 2024.

Customers will begin receiving notification letters on January 24, 2025, with instructions on how to schedule a free inspection and installation of mounting bolts as necessary. Dealers will also verify that the seat mounting bolts on all seats in affected models are properly fastened.

Vehicle owners who have already had this remedy performed at their own expense prior to receiving the Kia recall notification may be eligible for reimbursement.

Kia America, Inc.’s number for this recall is SC329. Customers with questions can contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542, or Kia’s contact for this recall, Emily C. Smith, who can be reached by email at emily.c.smith@dot.gov.

Owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.