“My Kia EV9 Slid Down the Driveway While Plugged In,” Owner Says the Charging Port Broke and Fears a Regular Body Shop “Won’t Know What to Do”

Winter has a way of reminding us that the most advanced vehicles in the world still answer to basic physics. It does not matter how many screens are on the dash or how quietly the powertrain goes about its business. Put three inches of fresh powder on top of old snow that has polished itself into ice, add a sloped driveway, and you have the ingredients for a low-speed incident that feels both absurd and unsettling. That is the situation Eldi Espinosa described to fellow owners after her Kia EV9 moved on its own while connected to a home charger.

Her account, shared in the Kia EV9 Owners USA Facebook group, was direct: 

“QQ: Yesterday, my EV9 slid down the driveway while plugged in to the charger. I had just returned from the grocery, and we had had 3 inches of powder on top of old snow that had turned to ice. It didn’t go far, but the charging port in the car broke. 

I made a claim with insurance, but I am not sure a body shop is going to know what to do with this. Should I take it to the dealership instead?”

She had just returned from the grocery store, parked at home, and the EV9 slid down the driveway while still plugged in. It did not travel far, but it traveled far enough to break the charging port on the vehicle. Espinosa did what most careful owners would do. She filed an insurance claim, then immediately faced the modern problem that follows the modern car: who, exactly, is best equipped to repair a charging port after a driveway slide, a body shop, or a dealership?

Kia EV9: A Practical Take on the Three-Row Electric SUV

• The EV9 approaches electrification with a focus on space and usability, offering three-row seating and a boxy profile that prioritizes passenger comfort over dramatic styling.
• Its electric platform allows for a flat floor and flexible interior layouts, making the cabin feel open and adaptable for families or long-distance travel.
• Ride quality leans toward comfort, with suspension tuning that favors stability and smoothness rather than aggressive handling.
• The EV9’s design emphasizes functionality, using clear sightlines and upright proportions to make the vehicle easier to place in everyday driving situations.

The replies came fast, and they came from the place that matters most in a new segment: lived experience. Several owners suggested the dealership, not because independent body shops are incapable, but because the charging inlet is not merely trim. It is an interface to high voltage systems, software diagnostics, and sealing requirements that are easy to underestimate until you are the one staring at a broken port door and a disabled charging session. If there is additional damage around the quarter panel or charge door area, the repair may require coordination between body work and EV-specific service procedures.

One commenter, Kelsey Cavanaugh, raised an intriguing technical possibility: whether the EV9’s behavior in Park could be contributing to the sliding sensation on ice. She noted that in Colorado, some drivers leave trucks in Four Wheel Drive so all four wheels are effectively restrained, then wondered aloud if the EV9 might engage only the rear axle brakes in Park. The exact mechanism matters less than the point she surfaced. Owners are trying to understand whether this was simply an ice problem or whether there is a characteristic in how the vehicle holds itself stationary that becomes more noticeable on slick inclines.

Roderick Winfield Smith expanded the advice into something closer to a plan. Start with the dealership, he argued, and let them determine whether they can handle the charge port repair directly or whether they need to work with a body shop for panel and structural alignment. Some dealers have affiliated or recommended body shops, and that relationship can save time when a repair touches both cosmetic and electrical domains. Smith also added a note that quietly changes the story from rare mishap to known hazard: he had heard of similar incidents before, and suggested adjusting parking or charging practices during icy conditions when possible.

Then came the comment that gives the original post extra weight. Jickson Chacko described a near miss of his own, also on an icy driveway slope. In his case, the EV9 began sliding backward unexpectedly when the door was opened, and he had to step on the brake to stop it. That detail does not prove a systemic defect, but it does reinforce the idea that icy inclines and the subtle behaviors of Park, brake hold logic, or door-triggered states can combine into a moment that feels wrong even if it is technically explainable.

The practical guidance from the group converged quickly. Take it to the dealership, said Derek Meier, echoing several others. It is the safest first stop when the damage involves the charging port because the dealer can confirm part availability, ensure proper sealing and electrical integrity, and document the repair in a way that aligns with warranty and safety procedures. If a body shop ends up doing the outer panel work, the best outcome is a coordinated handoff rather than a guessing game, especially when the charge inlet area has to align precisely for the connector, door, and weather protection to function correctly.

Espinosa’s question was the right one, asked at the right time: who fixes this correctly, not just quickly. If there is a takeaway for EV9 owners in snow country, it is to treat a plugged-in vehicle on an icy slope as a special case. Use wheel chocks if needed, reconsider where you park during storms, and when something does happen, start with the people who service the high voltage interface every day, then bring the body shop into the conversation as a partner rather than a first guess.

Image Sources: Kia Media Center

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.