2024 Kia EV9 Seat Belt Retractor Recall (24V338)
Kia America, Inc. · 4 vehicles · Reported May 14, 2024
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 4 2024 Kia EV9 vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor cover may not be secured properly, which can cause the front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) and emergency locking retractor (ELR) to not operate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." A seat belt retractor that does not operate as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V338 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V338000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC312 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 14, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2024 Kia EV9 |
| Units affected | 4 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Front > Retractor |
| Safety risk | A seat belt retractor that does not operate as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2024 Kia EV9 in recall 24V338?
The front passenger seat belt retractor cover may not be secured properly, which can cause the front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) and emergency locking retractor (ELR) to not operate as intended.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 EV9 vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor cover may not be secured properly, which can cause the front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) and emergency locking retractor (ELR) to not operate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Is it safe to drive a 2024 EV9 with recall 24V338?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A seat belt retractor that does not operate as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A seat belt retractor that does not operate as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the retractor.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V338?
Recall 24V338 covers 4 vehicles: 2024 Kia EV9.
NHTSA lists 4 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kia | EV9 |
What is the fix for the EV9 seat belt retractor recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt assembly, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 5, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC312.
When was recall 24V338 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 24V338 to NHTSA on May 14, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 5, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 14, 2024 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V338000. |
| June 5, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 29 months ago. If your EV9 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my EV9 is part of recall 24V338?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V338 is open on your EV9, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2024 EV9 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should EV9 owners do about recall 24V338?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V338000 applies to your EV9.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any retractor symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are EV9 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 207 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 24V338 was reported on May 14, 2024, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 2 of them (29%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the seat belts and were received on or after May 14, 2024, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related seat belts issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 207 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2024 Kia EV9: 207 complaints in total, 7 about the seat belts
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
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.
2024 Kia EV9 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11689557, filed September 24, 2025
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.
2024 Kia EV9 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11694316, filed October 18, 2025
Two seatbelts failed in the rear of the car. One seatbelt in the third row seat and the middle seatbelt in the 2nd row back seat. This happened in quick succession soon after I purchased the car used from a Kia dealer in Orlando.
2024 Kia EV9 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11706776, filed December 23, 2025
Can recall 24V338 make my EV9 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this retractor recall means their EV9 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2024 Kia EV9 affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2024 Kia EV9 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the EV9 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your EV9 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia EV9 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V338
Did the recall 24V338 fix work?
Since recall 24V338 was reported on May 14, 2024, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 2 of them (29%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed June 5, 2024.
Is the 24V338000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my EV9 is part of recall 24V338000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 24V338000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.