Kia
Ev9

Description of the Problem: While driving my 2024 Kia EV9, the vehicle suddenly jerked and displayed a “Motor Control System” warning on the dashboard. The Kia Access app showed diagnostic code P0A4100 (MCU_R – Motor Control Unit fault). The issue causes the vehicle to hesitate and feel as if it loses power momentarily while in motion, creating a serious safety risk for me and my children. System/Component: The failure involves the Motor Control Unit (MCU) / electrical drivetrain system. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The vehicle’s jerking and power fluctuation make it unsafe to drive in traffic, especially with children on board. It gives the sensation of being rear-ended and raises concern of potential stalling or loss of propulsion. Reproduction and Dealer Confirmation: The problem was reported to Sons Kia in McDonough, GA. The dealership initially inspected the vehicle on October 24, 2025, and returned it on [XXX], claiming the issue was addressed. However, the same warning and behavior reappeared less than 24 hours later ([XXX]). Inspections: The vehicle has been inspected by the Kia dealership service department. No outside parties (police or insurance) have inspected it yet. Warnings/Symptoms: The first warning appeared on [XXX], with the “Motor Control System” dashboard message and a corresponding alert in the Kia Access app. The issue continues to recur despite service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

A rear seatbelt indicator in the dashboard is broken, and it persistently indicates that (a) a passenger is in a rear seat; and (b) the passenger's seatbelt is fastened. This occurs even if a passenger is not in the seat and the passenger's seatbelt is not fastened. It is unclear whether this is strictly an electronic error in the dashboard, or if the seatbelt itself does not function appropriately. Kia has unsuccessfully tried to fix it twice, and the service department reproduced the problem by simply turning on the vehicle and seeing the persistent light. The local Kia service department says they are not trained to fix many EV problems, so corporate has to be involved, but corporate has not provided material assistance. Corporate has been informed in writing several times of the issue, including that this is a material safety issue, particularly since the vehicle is marketed toward families where a seatbelt indicator may be relied upon by drivers, and it's unclear whether this is strictly an electronics issue or a seatbelt functionality issue. Corporate acknowledged receipt of communications in which they were asked if this has been reported to the NHTSA, and they ignored both requests.

The dashboard and control panel of my vehicle have repeatedly blacked out since shortly after purchase. These blackouts cause the entire instrument cluster and control systems, including critical safety features, to become non-functional or obstructed intermittently while driving. This creates a dangerous situation where I lose access to important information such as speed, warning indicators, and climate controls, severely compromising my ability to operate the vehicle safely. The issue has occurred multiple times, including once while driving on a highway, which put me and other drivers at significant risk. The problem has been reported to authorized dealerships, where the vehicle was inspected and software updates were attempted, but the issue persists. Despite multiple repair attempts, the blackouts continue to happen unpredictably. There have been no specific warning lamps or messages prior to the blackouts; the system simply fails without notice. The malfunction affects the vehicle’s safety system by obstructing the driver’s view of critical controls and information, increasing the risk of accidents. Customer service from the dealerships has been unsatisfactory, with long wait times for repairs, lack of loaner vehicles, and repeated failure to resolve the problem. This ongoing safety concern remains unresolved despite numerous visits and repair attempts.

The DC charger plug won’t release after charge was completed. Waiting 3.5 for the tech to forcefully unplug and broke the charger pins. This is a known issue with Kia vehicles and costly repairs.

When driving between 20-40 mph and hitting a rough patch of road, pothole, expansion joint, or uneven pavement, the vehicle sometimes heavily sways left to right. It takes one to two seconds to stabilize after the swaying. My wife and I both experience it at different times - we say it "feels like a wheel is falling off" because it's so disorienting and concerning. It often happens unexpectedly with road surface that doesn't actually appear to be all that bad. The rear end feels particularly unstable, like the suspension can't control the vehicle's weight when it's swaying. It's not a small vibration - it's a pronounced side-to-side oscillation. Sometimes I need to make steering corrections just to keep the vehicle centered in the lane. This unpredictable swaying makes us nervous about driving in adverse weather conditions. We can't trust how the vehicle will react when hitting unavoidable bumps and road imperfections. We have noticed it over 50mph at times but it is much more rare at this speed -- though when it happens at this speed it is obviously much more concerning. At higher speeds the swaying does not seem as pronounced / dangerous as at lower speeds, thankfully. After researching online, I discovered many other EV9 owners reporting identical suspension problems. Multiple complaints describe the same lateral swaying, porpoising, and bump-steer behavior that we are experiencing. This appears to be particularly common among GT-Line models. The consistency of these reports suggests this is a systemic defect affecting multiple vehicles, not an isolated incident with our particular vehicle. We have 11k miles on the vehicle now and this has been consistently happening since 200-300 miles brand new. We've mentioned to a dealer but it is very difficult to reproduce as it seems to happen randomly, even over the same stretch of rough road.

Vehicle loses accelerator control unless under 30mph. Dealer says they cannot replicate and corporate have decided the vehicle works as designed. I have a video of vehicle losing power and it doesn't help. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

We were rear ended on the freeway by a vehicle going 75 mph. The impact pushed us into the vehicle in front of us.The airbags were deployed but the front and rear passenger seat belts did not lock. My husband flew forward onto the dashboard and cracked the windshield. My daughter who was behind him flew forward into the back of the passenger seat. They both suffered injuries as a result. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by our insurance company..We have some pictures and video. As of now the vehicle is in the ownership of the insurance company on their storage lot.

Battery Management System - Critical EV Battery Warning This vehicle has been back to the dealership for repairs multiple times. Including needing to swap battery cells and wires around.