SEOUL: Kia is recalling thousands of its electric SUVs over potentially missing seat bolts amid concern that an assembly worker at a South Korean factory may have simply forgotten to install them.
The recall names 22,883 Kia EV9 electric cars from the 2024 and 2025 model years, with a warning that the affected models might not have seat bolts in the second and third rows of seats.
In a statement to US road safety officials in late December, Kia said customers in the three-row SUV may be able to hear seats rattling or notice that their EV9's seats are loose.
Kia became aware of the issue in September after receiving word of a missing third-row seat bolt on a 2024 EV9, the Korea Herald newspaper reported. Additional complaints of missing second- and third-row seat bolts were received a few days later.
It seems the issue may affect only 1% of the EVs, but since the seats could come loose during a crash or when driving, occupants face serious hazards. In North America initial checks revealed only three EV9s with the bolt problem, according to media reports.
Kia notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States, which issued the recall notice. The notice blames an unnamed plant assembly worker at Kia's Gwangmyeong plant for failing to put in the bolts.
"Due to an error by a plant assembly worker, the second and/or third-row seat mounting bolts may be missing," the NHTSA report says.
People who suspect their car may be included in the recall can also contact Kia customer service.
Owners of affected Kia EV9 cars are advised to contact an authorised dealer so they can inspect all of the vehicle's seat mounting bolts, install any missing ones, and ensure they're properly fastened at no cost.
