The Kia EV9 is the South Korean automaker’s flagship electric vehicle. At $56,000, it’s the perfect big, family-friendly SUV for the U.S. market. Despite a hot sales start, Kia delayed ramping up production of the EV9 in the country. Several challenges the company faced, including concerns about the EV tax credit and strict battery sourcing rules, may have influenced the decision.
More recently, the production of the EV9 has become controversial due to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalling nearly 23,000 units. The decision was prompted by a specific issue: a worker forgot to install a mounting bolt in the seat.
A “Minor” Oversight
According to the NHTSA, Kia will recall 22,883 EV9 units. The safety recall involves vehicles manufactured at the company’s Gwangmyeong plant in Northwestern South Korea between Sept. 25, 2023, and Oct. 15, 2024.
Interestingly, the factory was expanded and began operations during that period to increase the production of electric vehicles. In fact, the Kia EV3 is expected to play a key role in solidifying the increase in production.
“Due to an error by a plant assembly worker, the second and/or third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing,” the NHTSA explains. These mounting bolts are essential fasteners, typically cylindrical in shape, that secure two components together.
In other words, the affected seats lack the stability necessary to ensure adequate safety conditions. In fact, the NHTSA itself indicates that passengers in a seat with missing mounting bolts face a higher risk of injury in a collision. As such, all affected vehicles will need to be taken to workshops for inspection.
Image | Kia
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