So I Just God My New Kia EV9 GT-Line and in Less Than 70 Miles Seven Warnings, Including The Brake Fluid Light, Came on Simultaneously

Zheng Qiyin just got his EV9 GT-Line a few days ago and had driven for 70 miles when disaster struck. He narrates that while waiting at the lights, he hoped problems would not strike him as they did others in the group. Upon accelerating after the light turned green, the dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Per his post, 

“Hi, I just got my Kia EV9 GT-Line three days ago and only drove for less than 70 miles. While waiting for the green at the traffic stop, I thought, ‘Hmm... I will have a problem like others in the group.’ But sadly, as the light turned green, I hit the throttle, and seven warnings, including the low brake fluid light, came on simultaneously. So it looks like I got pretty bad problem. Previously, my son also used a stone to draw on the car when I installed the car seat on day one. What could be the cause of a new car with low brake fluid? Could it be leaking?

Thanks”

Experiencing multiple warning lights in a brand-new vehicle was alarming. For Zheng, the unsettling occurrence happened only three days into ownership and after only 70 miles. The warnings on the dashboard included the brake warning, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, Powertrain Warning, and Auto Hold.

Similar Incident Reports 

Zheng’s experience, though jarring, was not isolated. Other Kia EV9 owners have also reported similar problems. One from the Kia EV Forum experienced sudden failure while driving, and the dashboard was illuminated like a Christmas tree, per his words. He let go of the pedal, and the vehicle accelerated. Fortunately, the brakes worked. In his case, when he conducted a diagnostics check, the issue was the motor-driven power steering system. After a hard reset, all the lights went away.

A separate account from an EV3 GT-Line S owner described low brake fluid lights, along with several other warnings, causing the deactivation of cruise control and lane-keeping assist. Though the brakes kept working, the owner had to take the car to the dealership, where they replaced it with a courtesy car as they continued working out the problem. It would be advisable though to pursue the matter with the manufacturer esecially if the dealership does not cooperate as in noted previous cases.

There are other other cases of EV9 motors failing at 1,000 miles but these are more mechanical than electronics related. In at least one case, the vehicle was almost brand new, as in this scenario, so it is reasonable to consider that the problem is not due to wear and tear but is potentially present in models that have not seen much use. 

Multiple Warning Lights are More Likely Related to Software Issues

The warning lights are color-coded according to urgency. In Zheng’s scenario, the brake fluid leak warning was the only red one, hence the most urgent. This warning in a new vehicle is concerning and could be a sign of manufacturing defects or a leak in the brake lines. Driving with low brake fluid levels is dangerous because it can affect braking performance. Apart from the brake fluid warning, the other alerts pertained to the advanced driver system. Justin Kababik, from the comment section on Zheng’s post, indicated that it was not likely that he had a problem with the drive system or the battery. Rather, it was probably all of the safety systems. 

There is also the huge possibility it is related to a software issue. The ABS, ESC, and brake fluid warning alerts could indicate a fault in the braking because they are all related but only show one part of the equation. There were also powertrain and handbrake alerts. Hence, the issue may be software-related. The EV9 is heavily reliant on software to manage the electronics and powertrain. A software or sensor malfunction may trigger a cascade of various false alerts in the systems. 

Either way, it is highly unlikely that seven things went wrong at the same time in a vehicle that is three days old. Defect or not, the cause is most likely related to software. It is worth noting that many other owners have had a great time with their EV9 purchases. Even the recorded diagnostics case showing a problem with the Motor Driven Power Steering was solved after a hard system reset. Similarly, Zheng’s EV9 may benefit from a diagnostic check and a system reset. If the problem persists, he can visit the dealership and get a full refund or replacement per the state’s lemon laws.

Image source: KIA EV9 Owners USA Facebook Group and Kia.com Inventory

Nicholas Muhoro is an automotive journalist covering car news and has a decade of experience sharing working at HotCars and TopSpeed. You can follow Nicholas on X and on LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow his news coverage at Torque News.