Kia EV6 Complaints (2023)

138 consumer complaints on file.

#11604000July 23, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Kia EV6. The contact stated that the controls for the heating and cooling system on the steering wheel were too close and were a distraction. The contact stated that sunlight made it difficult to check the controls. While checking the features, the contact veered off the road. The contact stated that his hands lightly touched the controls, and he was unable to determine if the features were activated for the heated seats or the steering wheel. The contact stated that the controls needed to be less sensitive. The seats and steering wheel became hot. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11598574July 3, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The brake lights illuminate too early and often under [even very] gentle deceleration. My '23 EV6 GT is driven primarily in Level 1 (minimal) regenerative braking mode and the threshold for brake light activation clearly is far too low. The appearance of "riding the brakes" is dangerous because those who follow are not alerted when the driver transitions from [essentially] coasting to actually hitting the brakes. Also, at least in my mid-Atlantic suburban area, even the appearance of "brake checking" other drivers incites road rage, which I experience most days, especially when using cruise control, unless driving with regenerative braking disabled (Level 0). SC273 was necessary and prudent because the brake lights failed to illuminate under significant deceleration, confusing those who follow. SA541 was necessary and prudent because the brake lights illuminated inconsistently on uneven road surfaces, confusing those who follow. Another VCU software logic upgrade is necessary and prudent because the brake lights fail to distinguish between [essentially] coasting vs. significant deceleration, confusing those who follow, and potentially (demonstrably!) inciting road rage. Other owners agree: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11594758June 17, 2024
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2023 Kia EV6. The contact stated that while driving 72 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the console displayed that the drive mode independently switched from rear wheel to front wheel only. The vehicle was driven to a safe location and parked. The contact allowed the vehicle to sit for approximately thirty minutes; then the vehicle was started the vehicle and driven to the destination. The failure reoccurred, and the failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11593758June 11, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Ev6. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the battery was replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the battery had been replaced approximately four times. The local dealer was able to diagnose the vehicle and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V200000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11592500June 4, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
A couple of months ago the breaks started making a strange grinding noise and it starts vibrating for a few brief seconds, but violently. There are no warning lights or any indication of malfunction. I took it to the dealership and they allegedly fixed it. Nevertheless, less than a month later, the noise came back, and not just a noise, but the vehicle attempts to stop abruptly without me engaging the breaks. It happens intermittently, and it is quite scary when it happens while driving high speed on a freeway. It creates safety issues. This is not my first EV. I am very familiar with EVs, regenerative breaking, and so on. This is not a regenerative breaking issue. I don't even know how to properly describe it. it is very unusual.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11592464June 4, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
The contact owns a 2023 Kia EV6. The contact stated that the horn button had failed to operate on several occasions without warning. Despite the failure, the contact stated that the panic button located on the key fob would sound the horn once depressed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be left with the dealer to have the vehicle inspected at the earliest availability. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 18,366.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11590015May 21, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I do not yet know if the recalled part is defective. The dealer asked me to bring in the car for inspection and if the recalled part is defective then the dealer would order the part and I would be required to bring the car in again to have the part replaced. This requirement of having the customer return to have a defective part repaired puts the customer in the position of having to drive the car in a defective condition that could cause serious injury, whereas if the dealer carried the defective part in inventory this would not be necessary. Kia America will not let the dealer order the part unless it is first diagnosed as defective. In view of the fact that the issue is not attributable to the customer's care or use of the car, rather to the manufacture of it, the dealer's convenience should take second seat to the customer's safety and convenience.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11589474May 18, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
Component/System Failure: The i-Pedal feature in the Kia EV6, designed for one-pedal driving through regenerative braking, consistently fails to stay engaged. This component is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk:The erratic behavior of the i-Pedal function poses a significant safety risk. When the i-Pedal mode disengages unexpectedly, drivers must abruptly switch to using traditional brakes. This sudden transition increases the likelihood of delayed reactions and potential accidents, especially in heavy traffic or complex driving situations. Problem Reproduction/Confirmation: The problem has been widely reported by multiple users on forums and confirmed through personal experience. It has been noted that the i-Pedal mode disengages when the vehicle is stationary or when the battery is fully charged. Inspection by Authorities: The vehicle has been inspected by a dealer, but the issue persists due to a lack of awareness or understanding of the i-Pedal system among service personnel. No inspections by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives have occurred yet. Warning Lamps/Messages: There are no warning lamps or error messages indicating the malfunction of the i-Pedal feature. The issue is typically observed when the vehicle unexpectedly exits i-Pedal mode, requiring the driver to manually re-engage it using the steering wheel paddles. Assessment of the Incident:The inconsistency in the i-Pedal system's engagement appears to result from potential software bugs, sensor malfunctions, or design flaws in the regenerative braking system. This unreliability significantly impacts daily driving safety and efficiency. Recommendation 1. Software Update: Kia should release a firmware update to ensure the i-Pedal mode remains stable and reliable under all driving conditions and even after vehicle is turned off and back on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11586334May 1, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On [XXX], I went to charge the car at the Katy Mills location in Katy Texas. After fully charging the car, I went to visit my sister's house to visit. When I returned to the car it had completely shut down. I would not start and none of the electric components worked. I had to have the car towed to Westside Kia, who offered no assistance with a loaner car. I called three days later and was informed by Sabestian that the ICCU had blown out and the part is on National back order. There are three people in my home who are disabled and two young children who has to be driven to school. Upon further research about this ICCU unit, there is a total of 48,323 Affected Units and Kia Corporate has offered no assistance in buying this car back although it is still under the manufacturer warranty. If anyone can assist me with information on how to best handle this situation, I would highly appreciate it. So far I have paid over 2,000 in car rental fees, in lieu of my medical situation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11584277April 21, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Vehicle lost its power while trying to park. It could not be locked either. This is the second time this has happened. The first time, dealership said they replaced the auxiliary battery. When it got towed the second time, the dealership said, we only recharged the aux battery during the last complaint! Now, the dealership does not have anyone who can look into this issue for one week. Added to that, they do not have any loaner cars either! The car has 10,523 miles on it now. Car had 8000 miles during the first incident. We feel this is dangerous, unacceptable quality and not to mention, unbecoming of a vehicle brand not to give us a loaner car and expect us to wait a minimum of 10 days to figure out the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11582116April 10, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2023 EV6 - The car gave a warning to check the electrical system. Called the dealer and they said to drive it to them. One minute later the tortuous symbol came on as well as the 12v battery. The car had no power even when the accelerator was pressed fully. Parked the car and the dash shut down. Towed the car to the closest Kia dealer and they diagnosed it as a faulty ICCU and Main Fuse. Only ONE in the entire United States. Unknown date of fix. Left me stranded as well as in a dangerous position.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11581318April 5, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Factory installed 12V battery died at about a year's ownership and about 22,000 miles, leaving me stranded in a remote area. I was fortunate to have a jump start pack to get home. I had the battery tested at an auto parts store and it failed. I replaced it with a lithium car battery with a built-in monitoring system that can be read from the phone. The car routinely runs the 12V battery down to about 50% while driving, then charges it up to 100%. This cycling behavior destroys 12V batteries.The monitor built-in to my lithium 12 V battery shows 26 complete charge/discharge cycles in the 2 months it's been installed. Cars should not fully discharge the 12V battery when being driven
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11581040April 3, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Vehicle does not reliably handle the 12V battery well. Many times, I see it sitting at 12.8 VDC when driving the vehicle. On a ICE vehicle, the charging voltage is close to 14V when running/driving. On 3 separate occasions, when I tried to "start" the EV6, the 12V battery was too dead to allow the car to be started. Basically stranded. This can be life threatening if this occurs in frigid temps. Or a hazard to traffic if/when the car tells you to "pull over safely, immediately". OK, I can "block the box" because my car died??? Kia and Hyundai need to address this issue that's common to their recent "luxury" EVs. With all the high-tech these cars have, why can't it manage the charge-state of the 12V battery? Tesla vehicles do not have this issue (I believe). Tesla EVs do "lose" their 12V battery over time, but that is similar to the 12V battery that eventually dies in a regular ICE vehicle. This 3rd time that this occurred, I called 800-KIA and had the car towed. So far, "they cannot reproduce the problem".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11580731April 2, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car was in garage and tried to start it. Would not start, although the dash lit up briefly and it showed the main EV battery was at 49%. Message then appeared on dash stating that 12 volt battery was discharged. Car then went completely dead electrically. No electrical power of any kind. Had car towed to KIA dealership and they have so far not been able to fix it. It is under warranty. There is a Kia recall, SC302, which seems to fit the problem with my car, but my specific VIN number is not on the recall list. The dealership ran diagnostics and said 12volt battery passed their tests. I suspect maybe a ICCU problem and that my car should be on the recall list, but is not.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11578775March 21, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
For about 6 weeks, after driving the car for more than 2 minutes, turning the car off and then coming back into the car within several hours (like when picking up kids from daycare, grocery shopping, going to restaurant, etc) results in no sound regardless of source, including ALL alert sounds for collision, blind spot, cross traffic, literally any and all sounds inside the car. Resetting the infotainment using the small reset button does not work. Unplugging and then replugging any fuses does not work. The only solution is after the car is turned off for several, typically 4 or more, hours. This is incredibly dangerous not just for the alerts, but because it renders Bluetooth calls impossible, resulting in having to use the phone manually while driving after trying to disconnect the Bluetooth connection. Others online have reported needing the amp replaced in order to solve the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577208March 13, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Issues with 12v battery dying with only 8,000 miles on vehicle. Knowing Kia requests an all day testing of the battery prior to replacing the 12v, I replaced it with a higher quality one. My car still did not start not long after that. Lots of folks online with similar issue and feels like Kia needs to do a recall with a known good fix. Blame put on 3rd party apps when it’s a design flaw.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577008March 12, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12v battery failure. Unable to start car, needing tow or jump to get to dealer for repair. 2/17/2024 towed 2/24/2024- jumped by AAA couldn't get appointment till 3/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573888February 25, 2024
ENGINE
Component/System Failure: The main components that failed or malfunctioned include the vehicle's charging system and battery management system, leading to significant range discrepancies and charging issues. Additionally, the coolant system issue suggests a failure in the vehicle's cooling system. These systems are available for inspection upon request to further diagnose and address the underlying problems. Safety Risks: The safety of the vehicle's occupants and others was put at risk due to the potential for being stranded in unsafe or remote locations, as experienced on [XXX], in Pennsylvania. The inability to reliably charge the vehicle and the coolant system issue could also pose a risk of overheating, potentially leading to engine damage or failure while in operation. Problem Reproduction/Confirmation: The range and charging problems have been repeatedly reproduced and confirmed by both dealership service departments and independent service centers during multiple service visits. The coolant system issue was also identified and addressed during these visits, indicating a persistent and recurring problem. Inspections: To date, the vehicle and its components have been inspected by dealership service departments on several occasions as part of the attempted repairs. There have been no specific inspections by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others outside of these service visits. Warning Lamps/Messages/Symptoms: Prior to the failure, there were instances of warning messages related to the vehicle's charging system and battery health. The first indications of these issues appeared shortly after purchase, escalating to the point of the vehicle being stranded due to insufficient charge. The coolant system issue was initially noted without specific warning lamps but was confirmed upon inspection during a service visit. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573217February 21, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On four separate occasions while driving on the highway between July thru November 2023; vehicle has had a loss of motive power (reduced speed) increasing risk of crash. Due to loss of motive power unable to accelerate to get out of way for merging traffic, also when approaching hills on interstate car would slow to speeds of less than 40 mph; unable to accelerate or move out of the way when fast approaching vehicles from the rear. I had taken the vehicle to a dealership on three occasions to seek resolution to only be told all diagnostic testing did not reveal any issues. Dealership has performed updates to the systems as well as recall update for ICCU upgrade, nothing to date has resolved this issue. I’m fearful to drive vehicle on highway that someone will slam into my car potentially causing harm or death.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573068February 21, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I leased a 2023 Kia EV6 vehicle and on October 30, 2023, I was 45-60 minutes into my first road trip when a warning displayed in the dashboard followed immediately by a reduction of motive power. The warning displayed was a turtle icon and the words “Power Limited.” Traveling on CA I-5 when this occurred putting me in a very dangerous situation. I navigated several lanes of traffic, vehicle decelerating, to reach the shoulder and pull over then to merge into existing traffic traveling at a high rate of speed only to advance 7-10 miles before the warning display reappeared. I then repeated the process another 7-8 times until I reached my destination. Later that day, again, 45-60 minutes non-stop when the warning display reappears for the second time and I’m forced to repeat the process another 7-8 times to make it to the dealership. I was told the vehicle had a warranty defect in the VCSM which had to be replaced. On January 25, 2024, the issue reoccurred for a third time after and I drove the vehicle directly to the dealership. I was told the diagnostic test did not reveal any codes and they had a service advisor drive the EV6 home, over an hour to see if he could recreate the problem. The service advisor experienced the same issue, twice, and the diagnostic scan did not reveal any codes. My safety and well-being have been compromised on three-separate occasions and twice with a dealership service advisor. I contacted Kia Customer Care Center and opened a case #15946871 and a tech-line case #16141516 was opened with Kia America. NHTSA opened an investigation on the 2022 Kia EV6 and the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 which shares the same E-GMP electric vehicle platform. The investigation confirmed “a range of loss of power and varying time intervals between the warning message and loss of power and all power to the vehicle was subsequently lost, immobilizing the vehicle.”
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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