2025 Kia EV9 Driveshaft Recall (25V115)
Kia America, Inc. · 342 vehicles · Reported February 24, 2025
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 342 2025 Kia EV9 vehicles. The rear gear drive unit (GDU) motor shaft may have been improperly welded and become damaged, causing a loss of drive power. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V115 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V115000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC337 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 24, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2025 Kia EV9 |
| Units affected | 342 |
| Build dates | October 11, 2024 to December 19, 2024 |
| Component | Power Train > Driveline > Driveshaft |
| Safety risk | A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Kia EV9 in recall 25V115?
The rear gear drive unit (GDU) motor shaft may have been improperly welded and become damaged, causing a loss of drive power.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 EV9 vehicles. The rear gear drive unit (GDU) motor shaft may have been improperly welded and become damaged, causing a loss of drive power.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 EV9 with recall 25V115?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of drive power increases the risk of 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 driveshaft.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V115?
Recall 25V115 covers 342 vehicles: 2025 Kia EV9.
NHTSA lists 342 vehicles in this campaign, built October 11, 2024 to December 19, 2024. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kia | EV9 |
What is the fix for the EV9 driveshaft recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the rear GDU, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the rear GDU, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC337.
When was recall 25V115 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 25V115 to NHTSA on February 24, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 7, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per Kia America, Inc.'s filing). |
| December 19, 2024 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| February 24, 2025 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V115000. |
| March 7, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 19 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 69 days. 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 25V115?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V115 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 2025 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 25V115?
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 25V115000 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.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any driveshaft 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are EV9 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the ev and hybrid battery have been filed since recall 25V115 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 19 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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.
- 2025 Kia EV9: 19 complaints in total, 3 about the ev and hybrid battery
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a serious incident involving my 2025 Kia EV9. The vehicle was serviced on March 1 at World Kia in Joliet, Illinois. On April 4, only four days after that service, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected ICCU failure while I was driving.
2025 Kia EV9 owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11729945, filed April 8, 2026
The infotainment screen, including backup camera views, randomly glitches and then goes completely dark with no ability to view anything on the screen. The screen has been reset and software reloaded, but the glitch continues. Next, the screen was replaced but the glitch continues. This has been occurring since the beginning of June 2026.
2025 Kia EV9 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11754793, filed August 4, 2026
Can recall 25V115 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Battery and electric drive repairs are among the slowest repairs in the industry. A 2025 Kia EV9 waiting on a battery module or drive unit can sit at the dealer for weeks, and every day counts toward the 30-day figure in California's lemon law presumption.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2025 Kia EV9 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 25V115
Is the 25V115000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed March 7, 2025.
How do I know if my EV9 is part of recall 25V115000?
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.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
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 25V115000 (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.