- The manufacturer needs to tighten the differential gear bolts in the Gear Drive Unit.
- Owners will be reimbursed if they have previously paid to fix the issue.
- This recall comes just a month after the Hyundai group recalled most of its E-GMP-based models in the U.S.
Kia is recalling select EV9 and Niro EV models in the United States, two of the brand’s most popular all-electric SUVs. Fortunately, the recall only impacts 8 vehicles across the country and the fix is very easy.
A recall notice issued by Kia through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that the differential gear bolts within the EV9 and Niro EV’s Gear Drive Unit (GDU) may not have been properly torqued during assembly. This means the differential bolts could loosen and damage the GDU housing and/or reduction gear while driving.
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Additionally, a damaged GDU housing or reduction gear could result in a loss of power and may cause the differential to lock up. Owners may notice a grinding noise while driving. The part in question was manufactured by Hyundai Transys.
The recall impacts 4 Niro EV and 4 EV9 models. The affected Niro EVs were manufactured between November 7, 2022, and May 16, 2023, while EV9s involved in the recall were built between October 27, 2023, and December 14, 2023.
Owners of impacted vehicles will be alerted by first-class mail around May 17 and instructed to bring their EV to a Kia dealer. The gear drive unit will be replaced free of charge and Kia will reimburse any owners who have previously paid to have the issue fixed.
This is not the only recent recall issued by Kia impacting some of its EVs. Last month, Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis issued a recall impacting most of its e-GMP platform-based EVs in the U.S. These models were recalled because the integrated charging control unit’s internal components could fuse, hindering the charging of the 12-volt battery, and putting vehicles into a fail-safe driving mode.
