2023 KIA EV6 Complaints

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.

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

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)

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.

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.”

1. **Component/System Failure**: The vehicle's cooling system is repeatedly losing coolant, suggesting a leak or malfunction. The system has not been officially diagnosed due to technician availability but is available for inspection. 2. **Safety Risks**: The frequent need to refill coolant raises concerns about engine overheating, posing a potential safety hazard during operation. 3. **Problem Confirmation**: The issue has been consistently observed by the owner, requiring coolant to be refilled three times in 49 days. However, a formal diagnosis by a dealer or service center has been hindered by a lack of available technicians. 4. **Inspections by Parties**: The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or other third parties concerning this coolant issue. 5. **Warning Signs & Symptoms**: No warning lamps or messages have indicated a problem prior to noticing the coolant depletion. The issue was identified only through physical checks of the coolant level.

1. **Battery Pack Issues:** - The vehicle's battery pack experienced issues at DC Fast Charger and all charging levels, available for inspection. 2. **Safety Implications:** - Range anxiety began on December 11, 2023, with the vehicle serviced on December 22, 2023, and again on January 10, 2024, for low range due to battery pack issues. On January 8th, stranded for 3 hours in cold weather with 3 miles of range, posing a significant safety risk. 3. **Confirmation by Service Center:** - Two services conducted on December 22, 2023, and January 10, 2024, documented battery pack issues. The manufacturer attributes it to weather without a prior warning upon selling. 4. **Inspections by Others:** - No inspections by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives at this point specifically for the battery pack. 5. **Warning Signs:** - Range issues causing anxiety started on December 11, 2023, well before any service. Services conducted on December 22, 2023, and January 10, 2024, didn't significantly improve battery pack performance.

In addressing your inquiries: 1. **Component or System Failure:** - The charging system of my vehicle malfunctioned at DC Fast Charger and all charging levels. This can be inspected upon request. 2. **Safety Implications:** - On January 2, 2024, charging issues at a DC fast station resulted in error messages, and on January 8th, I was stranded for 3 hours in cold weather with only 3 miles of range, posing a significant safety risk. 3. **Confirmation by Service Center:** - The issue has been documented with the dealership, but a comprehensive resolution is pending. 4. **Inspections by Others:** - The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives at this point. 5. **Warning Signs:** - Error messages occurred on January 2, 2024, during a DC fast charge, and the severity of the issue became evident on January 8th, resulting in an extended charging time.

The contact owns a 2023 Kia EV6. The vehicle was parked and turned off when the contact opened the door and smelled burned rubber and noticed a hole about ¾ inch deep in the front driver’s seat the size of a nickel. The contact stated that the USB charging port on the vehicle was still active and caused the USB cable to catch on fire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unwilling to repair. The dealer did not believe that the failure was due to an electrical malfunction. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000.

Hello NHTSA, I hope this message finds you well. I would like to provide specific details regarding the issues with my car as per your guidelines: 1. **Failed Component or System:** The charging system has malfunctioned, leading to extreme range decrease, constant charging failures, inconsistent charging speeds, and signs of overheating. The charging system warning light is on. 2. **Availability for Inspection:** The malfunctioned charging system and associated components are available for inspection upon request. 3. **Safety Risk:** The safety of myself and others is at risk due to the potential for unexpected vehicle breakdowns, especially during charging, and the indication of overheating poses an additional safety concern. 4. **Confirmation by Service Center:** The problem has not yet been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, but a service appointment has been scheduled to address and diagnose the issues. 5. **Inspections by Others:** The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or other third parties at this point. 6. **Warning Lamps or Messages:** The charging system warning light is the primary symptom, appearing alongside extreme range decrease, charging failures, and inconsistent charging speeds. These issues manifested without prior warning. I appreciate your attention to these specific details and look forward to resolving these concerns promptly.