by Problems with Kia EV9 batteries: owners complain of widespread failures
Although the Kia EV9 makes a strong impression, more and more owners are facing serious battery problems and are forced to wait a long time for repairs. This is a major concern for Kia, especially given that other electric vehicles in the wider Hyundai group have also had serious powertrain failures in recent years.
First signs of malfunctions
Reports from EV9 owners have been appearing online since at least last year. A British journalist from The Verge, who himself owns an EV9, personally encountered this problem. It all started with a small issue: the 12-volt battery died, and he could not unlock the car. To start the vehicle, he had to manually open the front trunk and connect a jump starter to the battery. As it turned out, this malfunction was only the beginning.
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A few weeks later, according to the journalist, the SUV’s battery suddenly jumped from 82% to 100% charge while connected to a home AC charger. The estimated range at 100% charge also dropped sharply. After purchasing an OBD-II scanner, he discovered that when the Kia showed 100% charge, there was actually only 71 kWh in the battery, although the total battery capacity is 99.8 kWh. The scanner showed that some of the 38 individual battery modules were dead.
Long wait for battery replacement
The Kia dealer confirmed the problem and stated that the SUV needed a high-voltage battery replacement. The car has been enrolled in Kia’s battery repair program, which operates under the eight-year battery warranty in the UK, but there is no clear timeline for repairs.
The Verge journalist claims to have spoken with more than a dozen other EV9 owners in the country who have had similar problems. Some of them have been unable to continue using their cars while waiting for a new battery. At least one owner saw the EV9’s range drop to 30 miles (48 km). Numerous owners in the US have also complained about battery failures, indicating the global nature of the problem.
Common faults in the Hyundai electric vehicle lineup
For many years, Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric vehicles have also suffered from failures of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU). The manufacturer remained silent about the problem for a long time before finally taking action in 2024, recalling all e-GMP platform electric vehicles sold in the US. This did not resolve the situation. Owners continued to report failures, and Hyundai eventually extended the warranty on electric vehicles with ICCU issues.
So far, no recall has been announced for battery failures in the EV9. However, if more owners start encountering problems and these reports receive wider media coverage, the South Korean automaker may have to take action.
This situation highlights that even advanced electric vehicles can have serious technical issues that require a long time to resolve. For Kia and Hyundai, this is becoming a systemic challenge, as failures of various powertrain components are no longer isolated. If the company does not offer quick and effective solutions, it could significantly undermine consumer confidence in their electric vehicles, especially amid growing competition in the market.
