2022 Kia EV6 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: October 1, 2026 · Filed: October 19, 2026

2022 KIA EV6 ICCU failure. Car stopped Level 1 and Level 2 charging. Dealer confirmed failure and replaced under warranty. This was the best of the failure modes, we were not stranded and the 12v battery continued to the charged. Thanks.

Incident: October 4, 2026 · Filed: October 8, 2026

On Sunday, October 4, 2026, the vehicle lost drive power while I was operating it. At the same time, steering became extremely difficult and the brakes required extraordinary physical force to apply. I had to use all of my strength to safely bring the vehicle to a stop. At that point we were stranded in the #2 lane of travel. This was not a minor inconvenience or an isolated warning light; it was a serious roadway safety event. Had my wife been driving, I do not believe she would have had the physical ability to safely control and stop the vehicle under those conditions.

Incident: June 18, 2026 · Filed: September 11, 2026

Component that failed: Vehicle headlight/running light has water penetration and the running lights do not stay on. Additionally there is yellowing of the LED running lights, which is a known defect in the Kia EV6. Safety issue: Running lights reduced night time illumination and made it more difficult to see road. Running lights yellowing are a sign of premature failure. Dealer inspection: Dealer identified problem during a state inspection (light turned off after a few seconds). Vehicle headlights have three issues: 1. Yellowing of LED running lights, 2. Failure of seals allowing water into the headlight unit, 3. Malfunction of the running lights (turns on briefly and then goes out) Manufacturer included replaceable desiccant packets in the headlight, which indicates they understood the potential for water penetration/condensation.

Incident: August 4, 2026 · Filed: September 8, 2026

The ICCU, or integrated charge control unit, continually fails on this car. When it fails, the 12V battery rapidly drains and the car goes into turtle mode (25mph max) until the 12 battery drains completely. This has happened 4 times on this car, twice since I purchased it 'certified pre-owned" from a Kia dealership in February 2026. Luckily for me the two times it has failed on me, I was in town and close to home. I purchased this car to use for road trips, and out in remote areas of wilderness that do not have cell reception. It is my opinion that the lack of a permanent fix from Kia is a safety issue, as this problem can strand a driver like myself in the middle of nowhere without cell service or any way to get back. Kia has increased warranty coverage on this component, but has not rolled out a permanent fix. My car has been sitting at a dealership service department for 4 weeks now, waiting for Kia to approve the warranty work. This is a known issue, Kia has increased warranty coverage on this part, but they are refusing to allow the dealership to perform the work to fix it.

Incident: August 11, 2026 · Filed: August 13, 2026

I began to drive. The dashboard display read "Check low voltage supply" or something like that and on the opposite side of the display there was a small image that looks like a 12V battery. A moment later the dashboard display changed to read "DO NOT DRIVE." The car was towed to a dealer who reported a "failed ICCU and High Voltage Fuse." The vehicle was towed to a dealership where it is being repaired under warranty. The same parts were replaced on December 26, 2024, that time because the electric vehicle would no longer accept a charge from a 240VAC source, although it continued accept a charge from a high voltage DC source. At that time there was also a software update that was said to correct the defect.

Incident: April 25, 2025 · Filed: July 29, 2026

The taillight came loose and every time i take it in to get checked or fixed at the dealer they ignore me, so i went in and tightened my self. there were 4 nuts already off and inside my trunk and there was no loctite on the bolts holding the light on. now the lamp is leaking water into the trunk and the tail light has water inside of it.

Incident: March 23, 2026 · Filed: July 28, 2026

Vehicle Safety Complaint My Kia experienced an ICCU (Integrated Charging Control Unit) failure and was at the dealership for approximately two months while awaiting repairs. The ICCU and related components were replaced, and I was told the vehicle had been repaired. However, immediately after I received the vehicle back, the “Check Electric Vehicle System” warning illuminated again. Since that time, the vehicle has continued to experience serious electrical issues. The vehicle has unexpectedly shut off while stopped at red lights and has failed to restart on multiple occasions, leaving me stranded. This creates a significant safety hazard because the vehicle can lose the ability to move while in traffic, placing me and other motorists at risk. I have returned the vehicle to the dealership twice since the ICCU replacement, but the problem has not been resolved. The dealership has been unable to identify or permanently repair the defect. I have been without my vehicle for nearly three months this calendar year due to this issue. More importantly, I no longer feel safe driving the vehicle because I cannot trust that it will remain operational in traffic. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this represents a serious safety defect involving the vehicle’s electrical system and propulsion system. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue to determine whether other Kia owners are experiencing similar failures and whether additional action is warranted to protect consumers.

Incident: June 7, 2026 · Filed: July 27, 2026

The front lower air dam and felt underguard detached while driving at highway speed on an interstate. The panel dropped and dragged on the pavement. I secured it with duct tape and zip ties at the roadside in order to drive home. There was no collision and no impact with road debris. The bumper fascia directly above the panel is undamaged, with no deformation and no paint transfer, which is not consistent with an impact and is consistent with failure of the panel's mounting fasteners. The panel shows longitudinal drag scoring on the underside and outward flex-fracture of the mounting clips. The right side detached first and the left side remained held by a single screw. The component is available for inspection on request. There were no warning lamps or messages before the failure. I brought the vehicle to a Kia dealer in [XXX] on XXX, at approximately 40,000 miles and within the 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. The dealer's technician identified multiple fractured mounting clips, of which only two remain intact. The dealer declined to submit a warranty claim, citing evidence of impact, and reattached the panel using added screws. The fractured clips were not replaced. The dealer's paperwork records the vehicle as repaired, but the technician verbally advised me to drive carefully because the underlying fastener failure was not corrected and the panel is not held by its designed fasteners. I opened a case with the manufacturer's consumer assistance center on June 9, 2026 (case number XXX) and submitted photographs as requested. I have received no substantive response in six weeks. A body panel that detaches at highway speed and drags on the roadway is a hazard to the vehicle behind it and to my control of the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: June 17, 2026 · Filed: July 4, 2026

1. Severe Safety Concerns (Battery Thermal Risk & Component Interdependency) The PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater in my vehicle has failed. This component failure has completely disabled my vehicle’s air conditioning (AC) system. In the Kia EV6 architecture, the AC compressor loop is not merely a cabin comfort feature; it is intrinsically linked to the vehicle's thermal management system responsible for cooling the high-voltage traction battery pack. California temperatures are projected to hit 110°F immediately. Without a functioning AC system, the vehicle cannot execute critical battery cooling procedures. Yesterday, when plugging the vehicle into a charger, the high-voltage battery became alarmingly hot. Forcing a lithium-ion battery pack to accept high-current DC fast charging without operational coolant loop heat rejection poses an immediate, catastrophic risk of thermal runaway and vehicle fire. I am terrified to operate, park, or charge this vehicle in upcoming extreme summer conditions. 2. Predatory Maintenance Plan Tie-In Offer Yesterday, the dealership called and acknowledged the issue. They offered to cover 70% of the diagnostic and repair labor costs under corporate goodwill, as I am technically out of the standard warranty period. However, they applied an unfair and coercive condition: I am only eligible for this safety assistance if I purchase a mandatory 2-year maintenance contract costing $120 per month (totaling $2,880 over 24 months). Because the EV6 is a fully electric vehicle, its routine maintenance profile is virtually nonexistent. The dealership explicitly stated that this contract would exclusively cover tire rotations. Charging nearly $3,000 for tire rotations as a gatekeeping mechanism to fix a dangerous battery cooling defect is highly exploitative. The cost of this forced maintenance plan essentially equals or exceeds paying for the entire repair out-of-pocket, rendering the "70% goodwill coverage" an empty gesture.

Incident: December 31, 2022 · Filed: June 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Kia EV6. The contact stated that while driving approximately 6-7 MPH in the left-turn lane, the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound and stalled. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road with assistance. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failure. The ICCU was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred several times. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the messages "Check ABS", "Check ESC", "Check Electronic Parking Brake" and "Pull Over Safely" were displayed, and alarms sounded on several occasions. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted several times, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.