Kia’s flagship EV has a battery problem

{ "title": "Kia's EV9 Plagued by Battery and Charging Issues, Owners Face Months-Long Waits for Repairs", "content": "Kia's flagship three-row SUV, the EV9, is facing significant battery problems that have left some owners waiting months for repairs. The issues range from dead 12-volt batteries to faulty high-voltage battery packs that reduce range and charging capability.\n\nOne owner discovered the problem when the car failed to unlock, requiring a manual key and a booster to jump-start the 12-volt battery. After software updates, strange charging behavior emerged: the car would jump from 82% to 100% instantly while AC charging, and DC fast charging would stall at 82% before slowly climbing to 100% without increasing range.\n\nUsing an OBD-II scanner, the owner found the battery pack held only 71 kWh at full charge instead of the expected 96 kWh usable capacity—a 25% loss. Some cells were dead, but no error codes appeared until 82% charge.\n\nA Kia dealer confirmed the high-voltage battery needed replacement. Instead of a weeks-long garage stay, the owner entered Kia's battery repair program, which is covered under an eight-year warranty in the UK. However, multiple UK owners report waits of up to nine months for a new battery.\n\nKasem Saowijit called the experience a "nightmare," his EV9 failing in January with a courtesy EV6 provided. He continues paying hundreds of pounds monthly on an unusable lease. Helen Crawforth's car has been at the dealership for five months, and she's stuck with an ICE courtesy car costing her a fortune. Blair Ogilvie's EV9 began with a 12-volt issue in September 2024, then suffered high-voltage battery degradation, eventually becoming undriveable in December with a crash avoidance system failure. Kia deemed it unsafe, and it remains off the road.\n\nThe problems extend beyond the EV9. Hyundai Motor Group sibling Hyundai and Kia have struggled with Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failures in models like the Ioniq 5 and EV6, causing sudden power loss. After years of silence, both brands recently issued warranty extensions, prompted by a Consumer Reports finding that up to 10% of owners experienced ICCU issues.\n\nYouTube channel The Ioniq Guy (Corbin) reports similar battery failures on Ioniq 5s. While his personal vehicle was repaired in two weeks (possibly preferential treatment), a press loaner suffered the same failure. He notes Hyundai released a technical service bulletin for battery replacement early 2025, but Kia has not done the same for the EV9.\n\nUS owners also face battery issues, though social media suggests slightly shorter wait times than in the UK. Kia UK PR initially responded in March but ignored follow-up requests for a statement.", "is_ai_topic": false }