Kia refuses to do anything about its overly loud VESS module

Loud VESS module

I filed a complaint with Kia America about the overly loud VESS module in the Kia Niro EV. You may recall that I disconnected the module recently. All I’ve done is start a fight!

The response I got did nothing but lay out what I and everyone else knows (there was also some info specific to my car that I left out). Here it is:

“I wanted to follow up on our conversation and address your concerns. Unfortunately, Kia has not designed a way to silence the Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS), as this feature is a legal requirement. The VESS generates sound to ensure pedestrians can hear the vehicle, since electric vehicles operate quietly. Please know that your complaint has been documented and will be forwarded to the appropriate department for review.

For further assistance, you may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542 (option 2, then 5) and reference your case number.

Thank you for reaching out to us. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.”

I responded that the device is essentially out of spec and should be recalled. Here’s what they then said:

“Most safety recalls are voluntarily initiated by manufacturers upon discovering a safety-related issue. Additionally, our engineers continuously review field data—including warranty claims, techline cases, and CA cases—to identify potential safety concerns for investigation and possible recalls. Since you have concerns about this vehicle, we recommend taking it to a Kia dealer for evaluation. If further assistance is needed, please feel free to reach out.”

So now, despite that I know are numerous complaints from lots of owners filed with Kia, I am to take the car to a dealer. What would they possibly do? The part works as Kia designed it!!

I’ve been working on this a while and know that the module in the Hyundai Ioniq6 emits a relatively pleasant sound, so I asked them to find out if that module would fit my car.

“You will need to check with the technicians at the dealership to determine whether the VESS from other vehicles is compatible with your vehicle. Kia Customer Care does not have certified technicians available to provide that information.”

So again, I’m on my own. I will explore this further, as I am not comfortable without a VESS system and report the results. I’ve seen complaints about the EV 6 and EV 9 as well. This could get interesting…

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