2025-2026 Kia EV9 Passenger Air Bag Recall (26V545)

Recall 26V545 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2025-2026 Kia EV9 in recall 26V545?

Due to improper routing, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat is in the front passenger seat.

Kia America, Inc (Kia) is recalling certain 2025-2026 EV9 vehicles. Due to improper routing, the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may not deactivate the air bag when a child or child seat is in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Is it safe to drive a 2025-2026 EV9 with recall 26V545?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A child in the front seat may be at a greater risk of injury if the air bag deploys during 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 front passenger.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V545?

Recall 26V545 covers 21,290 vehicles: 2025-2026 Kia EV9.

NHTSA lists 21,290 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the EV9 passenger air bag recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube with a new one and ensure proper routing as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS mat and bladder tube with a new one and ensure proper routing as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters will be mailed beginning October 20, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC379. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 4, 2026.

When was recall 26V545 announced?

Kia America, Inc. reported recall 26V545 to NHTSA on August 21, 2026.

This recall was filed 1 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 26V545?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V545 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 2025-2026 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 26V545?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V545000 applies to your EV9.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Kia dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the front passenger happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 45 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 26V545 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 45 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the air bags. 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.

• 2026 Kia EV9: 26 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2025 Kia EV9: 19 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

The contact owns a 2026 Kia EV9. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH and accelerating through a four-way intersection after a complete stop, the vehicle was T-boned on the front passenger’s side by another vehicle that had ran the stop sign.

2026 Kia EV9 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11761029, filed August 31, 2026

Can recall 26V545 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)).

An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2025-2026 Kia EV9 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 26V545