My New Kia EV9’s Rear Motor Failed at 1,000 Miles, Now I am twentieth in Line for a Backordered Substitute and Kia Cannot Even Present a Half Quantity

By now, everyone knows the honeymoon section of electrical autos is over. The shiny press occasions, the breathless opinions, the claims that every little thing on 4 wheels ought to be battery-powered by subsequent Tuesday, none of it means squat while you’re staring down the enterprise finish of a damaged drivetrain with no repair in sight. 

The Points At Hand

And that’s precisely what’s taking place to Ryan Tallman, a brand-new Kia EV9 proprietor who, simply six weeks into possession, is already coping with what appears like a catastrophic failure of the rear motor.

“So that is my automotive sitting on the dealership since Monday. That they had it checked out and never excellent news for me….

Service supervisor says they assume the rear motor must be changed and that the unit is on again order.

Additionally there’s 20 of them on again order so it might be some time until I get it again. 

Solely 6 weeks of possession and already 👎🥺…

Anybody else needed to change one thing like this after simply 1000 miles?”

In the event you’ve ever owned a automotive, any automotive, you already know this isn’t regular. At 1,000 miles, it’s best to nonetheless be marveling on the new-car scent, not battling Kia Company over components that don’t exist. However right here we’re.

EV Rising Pains, or a Bigger Downside?

Kia’s all-electric EV9 was imagined to be a game-changer. A 3-row, sub-$60,000 EV SUV? Signal us up. However with excessive expectations comes even greater scrutiny, and the very last thing Kia wants is its flagship EV affected by widespread drivetrain failures earlier than most house owners even hit their first tire rotation.

And right here’s the place it will get murky: Tallman was advised there are already 20 rear motors on backorder. Jean Silverio, a commenter on his submit, wasn’t satisfied,

“There is not any approach for them to know what number of are on a nationwide backorder. Kia does not launch that data on our database. That is truly humorous.”

Possibly it’s 20. Possibly it’s 200. Possibly Kia doesn’t even know. What is evident, although, is that components are scarce, and there’s no repair lined up. In response to Tallman, Kia’s personal service middle doesn’t also have a half quantity for the substitute. That’s not only a provide chain hiccup—it’s a obvious signal that the corporate doesn’t but have a definitive repair.

Lemon Regulation within the USA: 

• Within the USA, lemon legal guidelines are enacted on the state stage to guard consumers from faulty autos—generally outlined as autos that stay within the store for repairs longer than they’re on the highway—by requiring producers to refund, change, or compensate customers when defects persist after an inexpensive variety of restore makes an attempt. 
• Whereas most lemon legal guidelines primarily cowl new autos offered with a guaranty, some states prolong safety to leased and even used autos; these legal guidelines set particular standards (akin to time, mileage limits, and a sure variety of restore makes an attempt) that decide when a car qualifies as a lemon on account of defects that have an effect on its security, worth, or usability. 
• Shoppers who efficiently declare below lemon legal guidelines might obtain a full refund, substitute car, or financial compensation, together with restoration of legal professional charges, and these state legal guidelines are complemented by federal protections just like the Magnuson-Moss Guarantee Act, which enforces clear guarantee phrases and producer accountability.

Company Confusion and the Guarantee Shuffle

This isn’t only a defective half—this can be a basic company runaround. In a textual content change with a Kia service advisor, Tallman was knowledgeable that Kia nonetheless doesn’t have a restore process for this failure.

“Proper now there actually isn’t any half quantity as Kia doesn’t have an entire restore for this concern. We now have had an engineer come out yesterday and right now. They are going to be again out on Monday to re-examine the models and submit their findings to Kia. Kia is seeking to decide if there must be a area service motion or some form of manufacture program to restore these models. The half/s and repairs that can should be made can be decided by their findings.”

Translation? They don’t know what’s improper. They don’t know repair it. And if you happen to’re one of many unfortunate few observing a dull EV9 in a dealership lot, you’re caught in limbo whereas Kia figures out its subsequent transfer.

Is Lemon Regulation on the Horizon?

Silverio additionally identified one thing essential: If Tallman’s EV9 sits on the dealership lengthy sufficient, he may have a case for a buyback below lemon legal guidelines. That’s the nuclear choice, however it might be the one recourse if Kia drags this out.

In California, for instance, a car qualifies as a lemon if it has a considerable defect that Kia can’t restore after a “affordable” variety of makes an attempt, or if it is out of service for 30 days or extra. Provided that Kia engineers are nonetheless within the “we’re wanting into it” section, Tallman may wish to begin reviewing his authorized choices.

A Black Eye for Kia’s EV Popularity

Kia and its company sibling Hyundai have made large strides in recent times, shaking off their previous econobox picture with severe contenders just like the Telluride, Stinger, and Ioniq 5. However this EV9 mess is precisely the form of factor that fuels skepticism about new know-how and drives potential consumers proper again into the arms of Toyota and Honda.

Folks shopping for $60,000 electrical SUVs aren’t early adopters anymore—they’re households on the lookout for a dependable, futuristic different to a Highlander Hybrid. A drivetrain failure this early is unacceptable, and the shortage of a transparent repair? Even worse. Tesla, for all its points, has a observe document of getting main drivetrain parts swapped in days, not months. If Kia needs to play on this league, it has to get severe about service.

What Now?

Tallman is ready on Kia’s subsequent transfer, however he’s not alone. Different EV9 house owners at the moment are on excessive alert, watching to see if that is an remoted concern or the beginning of a bigger development. If Kia doesn’t get in entrance of this rapidly, the EV9’s promising begin may take a severe hit.

For now, the takeaway is easy: In the event you’re contemplating an EV9, preserve a detailed eye on early reliability studies. And if you happen to already personal one? Pray your rear motor doesn’t find yourself on a thriller backorder listing.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist primarily based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys masking the newest information within the automotive business and conducting opinions on the newest automobiles. He has been within the automotive business since 15 years previous and has been featured in outstanding automotive information websites. You’ll be able to attain him on X and LinkedIn for ideas and to comply with his automotive protection.