Kia has issued a physical recall affecting the 2023-2024 Kia Niro EV and the 2023 Kia EV6, due to a significant manufacturing defect that could result in the loss of drive power.
This recall involves approximately 133 vehicles in Canada and a further1,243 in the US, all of which were produced between January 26, 2023, and July 13, 2023.
According to the recall documents posted to the Transport Canada and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, the issue arose from a manufacturing error by the supplier, Hyundai WIA, based in Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. Specifically, the left-hand drive shaft of the Niro EV vehicles and the rear inner drive shaft of the EV6 vehicles, both of which were improperly heat-treated during production.
This process is critical for ensuring the metal’s strength and durability in use. An improperly heat-treated drive shaft is prone to breaking under load, which could result in a sudden loss of drive power.
The safety risk associated with this defect is significant, as a loss of drive power while the vehicle is in operation increases the risk of a crash. There are also no warnings that can alert drivers to the impending failure of these components.
Affected owners will have to bring their EVs to a Kia dealer, where they will replace the affected drive shafts with new ones that have been correctly heat-treated. All replacements will be completed free of charge.
Kia has taken steps to correct the manufacturing issue in production, with vehicles produced after July 14, 2023, for the Niro EV and after April 9, 2023, for the EV6, featuring drive shafts that have been properly heat-treated.
Kia EV6 and Niro EV owners can find out if their vehicle is included in the recall by entering your VIN in this tool.
You can read the Transport Canada recall notice here, or see the official NHTSA recall notice below.
