2022-2023 Kia EV6 & Sportage Wireless Charger DTC B162100

Symptoms

Owners or technicians may observe Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B162100 appearing as 'Active' during a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) or any other routine vehicle inspection. This specific DTC points to an issue with the wireless smartphone charging system, which Kia also refers to as the Wireless Power Charger (WPC) in some documentation. The presence of this active code might initially suggest a hardware malfunction.

Fault Codes / DTCs

This bulletin specifically addresses the following diagnostic trouble code that may be encountered in affected vehicles:

Diagnosis / Trigger Conditions

The primary reason for the appearance of DTC B162100 in these vehicles is a known logic defect within the system software that controls the wireless charging unit. This defect can cause the code to trigger falsely, meaning the DTC may be present even when the wireless phone charger is fully operational and functioning as intended. To accurately diagnose the functionality of the Kia wireless charger DTC B162100 and avoid unnecessary repairs, a crucial step is to test the system with a Qi® certified cell phone. This ensures that the test conditions are optimal and reliable for determining actual charger performance.

Repair Procedure Summary

When DTC B162100 is identified as 'Active', the recommended procedure begins with clearing the Diagnostic Trouble Code from the vehicle's system. Following the clearing of the DTC, the technician must thoroughly check the functionality of the wireless phone charger. This check is critical and requires the use of a Qi® certified cell phone to accurately assess if the charger is working as designed.

• Scenario 1: Charger is working correctly. If, after clearing the DTC and performing the test with a Qi® certified phone, the wireless phone charger operates as designed, then no further repair is necessary. The TSB clarifies that in such cases, the DTC B162100 was a false trigger due to the system's software logic defect. There is no need to open a Techline case, and the vehicle can be released to the customer.
• Scenario 2: Charger is not working correctly. If the wireless phone charger is observed to be not working as designed after clearing the DTC and testing, then a legitimate issue exists. In this situation, a Techline case should be opened to investigate the underlying problem and determine the appropriate repair.

Important Warnings

This bulletin includes specific instructions to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary repairs:

• "A Qi® certified cell phone is required to check the wireless phone charger functionality."
• "If the wireless phone charger is working as designed, there is no need to open a Techline case. Due to a logic defect in the system software, DTC B162100 will trigger falsely. Release vehicle to customer."
• "If the wireless phone charger is not working as designed, open a Techline case."

Owner Action

If you own a 2022 Kia EV6 or 2023 Kia Sportage and notice that your vehicle is displaying Diagnostic Trouble Code B162100 related to the wireless phone charger, it's important to understand that this might be a false alarm. The manufacturer has identified a software defect that can cause this code to appear even when the charger is fully functional. You should schedule an appointment with an authorized Kia dealership for diagnosis. The technician will clear the code and then test your wireless charger's functionality using a Qi® certified device. If the charger works correctly during this test, no repair is needed for the Kia wireless charger DTC B162100, and your vehicle will be returned to you. This process helps ensure that only genuinely faulty units receive further attention.

Source: NHTSA ID 10209456