Kia has initiated a recall for specific EV9 and Niro EV models in the United States, targeting two of the brand's highly popular all-electric SUVs. Fortunately, this recall pertains to only 8 vehicles nationwide, and rectifying the issue is relatively straightforward.
The recall notice, disseminated by Kia via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), highlights a potential issue with the differential gear bolts within the Gear Drive Unit (GDU) of the EV9 and Niro EV. It appears that during assembly, these bolts may not have been adequately torqued, posing a risk of loosening while in operation, potentially causing damage to the GDU housing and/or reduction gear.
Furthermore, a compromised GDU housing or reduction gear could lead to power loss and the potential for the differential to seize up, which may manifest as a noticeable grinding noise while driving. Notably, the part in question was manufactured by Hyundai Transys.
The recall specifically affects 4 Niro EV and 4 EV9 models. The impacted Niro EVs were produced between November 7, 2022, and May 16, 2023, while the EV9s subject to the recall were assembled between October 27, 2023, and December 14, 2023.
Affected vehicle owners will receive notification via first-class mail around May 17, advising them to schedule a visit to a Kia dealership. There, the gear drive unit will be replaced at no cost, and Kia has committed to reimbursing any owners who have previously incurred expenses for addressing this issue.
This isn't the only recent recall affecting Kia's EV lineup. Last month, Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis issued a recall affecting most of their e-GMP platform-based EVs in the U.S. This recall was prompted by concerns that the integrated charging control unit's internal components could fuse, impeding the charging process of the 12-volt battery and potentially activating a fail-safe driving mode in affected vehicles.