2023 Kia EV6 problems

Filed Nov 3, 2026 · Electrical · WA · fire

My 2023 Kia EV6 was subject to recall SC327 (the federal safety agency 24V‑867, ICCU); the recall remedy on Nov 19, 2024 was an inspection and software update only. After the remedy, the car repeatedly lost all 12-volt power (Feb 2025 and Apr 2025). Each time, the dealer said it could not find the cause — its hands were tied, it said, because Kia corporate required a diagnostic code and some codes did not yet exist for a car this new — and it repeatedly replaced parts, including the 12V battery twice and the battery sensor, to "hope for the best." On May 12, 2026, while driving about 25 mph, I heard a loud pop/bang from under the car, an electrical warning appeared, the vehicle lost power and stopped in traffic, and would not shift out of Park or move. The dealer found the high-voltage box exploded, all high-voltage fuses blown including the 500-amp fuse, the power relay assembly shorted, and connectors damaged by heat; about $16,324 of high-voltage components were replaced under warranty. The dealer and Kia engineering could not determine the cause; the service advisor wrote on July 22, 2026: "We do not have a smoking gun as to what caused all of this… anything is all a guess." On Oct 17, 2026 I found the car completely dead again at the dealership, and it has continued to show electrical faults. After I retrieved the car on Oct 26, 2026, it developed further electrical faults, which I reported to the dealership in writing, including the mirror and remote start failing, false door-unlocked warnings while driving, and two occasions when the car stalled and then recovered. On Nov 2, 2026, the car displayed a charging fault and would not charge at all; the dealership's general manager advised me in writing to discontinue charging attempts until the vehicle is evaluated. The dealership has repeatedly declined to state that the vehicle is safe to drive. I am concerned the vehicle is unsafe and that the recall remedy has not corrected the defect.

Filed Oct 21, 2026 · Electrical · IL

Vehicle failed to start and a jump is required to start the vehicle for the first time on 10/6/2026. This has now happened numerous times and at times when the vehicle's power train batteries are charged. An small portable charging device has been purchased to jump the vehicle which eliminates the need to call for roadside assistance. Roadside assistance has take over 2 hour to response. An error on the dash indicated the 12 Volt battery has lost charge. There is a red circle message displayed on the dash. The vehicle was taken to Batteries Plus and a battery and alternator test. No problems were noted. The vehicle is scheduled for a dealer inspection on 10/22/2026.

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MO

The ICCU on the car died in the middle of the street, car would not shift out of park. Car completely died after a few minutes.

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Driver assistance · FL

I was driving in heavy rain on a busy highway (I4) and the lane assist pulled me off the road to the road hand side and then cut across all lanes of traffic to the left hand side. It also engaged emergency braking going forward when there was no reason to do so. Many times when I am backing up, it's engaged emergency breaking when there is no risk of collision. Finally, the front sensors are very inconsistent with when they go off. Today I was not moving and neither was the car ahead of me, first it told me I was too close (yellow) on the left bumper, then it turned off and told me I was too close (red) on the front, turned off again and went back to yellow on the right and then turned off again.

Filed Aug 19, 2026 · CA

I charged my car at a level 3 fast charger on a road trip. After completing my charge, the AC stopped working. The fan worked but it was only blowing hot air. Normally this would be a nuisance, but the day was about 114 degrees and the car’s interior was probably close to 140 degrees. I was driving on the interstate so it was very hard to keep the windows down. The lack of HVAC made the car difficult to operate and if my family was in there would have been a safety hazard. I took it to the dealer who initially thought it need the coolant to be recharged. It turns out that the inverter for the A/C died. Apparently this has some connection to the known issues with the ICCU, which in my case just blew out and was replaced a month and a half prior to this incident.

Filed Aug 19, 2026 · Electrical · CA

ICCU failure. I charged overnight at my home L2 charging as usual. I backed out of my garage and heard a loud pop. Almost immediately an “check electrical” warning came up. The car went to turtle mode and then completely died. The car was towed and I was informed the ICCU needed to be replaced. The car had all previous checks on ICCU performed (per mailed recalls) and was updated and passed each time.

Filed Aug 14, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · FL

While driving southbound on the [XXX] in a rented 2023 Kia EV6 from The Hertz Corporation, picked up in [XXX] on XXX, the vehicle entered "Power Limited" mode without warning. The vehicle lost normal propulsion and decelerated from highway speed to a crawl, forcing 4-5 emergency stops onto the highway shoulder over several miles while semi-trucks passed at 70+ mph in live traffic, with two minor children in the vehicle. The vehicle was ultimately abandoned at a highway rest stop on Hertz Roadside Assistance's instruction and towed. This vehicle was subject to three the federal safety agency recall campaigns for the ICCU defect that produces exactly this failure mode: 24V057000 (SC295, driveshaft, notice mailed XXX), 24V200000 (SC302, ICCU 12V charging failure/Power Limited mode, notice mailed XXX), and 24V867000 (SC327, expanded ICCU remedy superseding SC302, notice mailed XXX) — all mailed well before this vehicle was rented to me on XXX. Under 49 U.S.C. §30120(i), a rental company may not rent a covered rental vehicle subject to an unremedied safety recall. I am requesting the federal safety agency use its inspection authority under 49 U.S.C. §30166 to determine whether Hertz completed the required SC327 remedy on this vehicle before renting it to me, and to review Hertz's fleet-wide recall compliance for its Kia EV6 inventory. This does not appear to be an isolated incident: the federal safety agency complaint ODI XXX, filed XXX, describes a near-identical failure — a rented 2023 Kia EV6 (Dollar Rent A Car, a Hertz-owned brand) losing power and shutting down multiple times on the freeway during a single trip, also towed. Two renters, two Hertz-family rentals, same defect signature, five months apart. Hertz has been on written and verbal notice of this incident since XXX, and I sent a formal written demand on XXX with a response deadline of XXX. As of this filing, Hertz has not responded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · WA

While driving a rented 2023 Kia EV6 on the freeway, the vehicle lost power and shut down completely, without warning, on multiple separate occasions during a single trip. This occurred at highway speed in live traffic, creating a serious risk to vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. The vehicle was a rental (Dollar Rent A Car); no external damage or collision was involved. The vehicle has since been towed.

Filed Jun 23, 2026 · Electrical · TX

ICCU failed and replaced under warranty

Filed Jun 14, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · CA

First ICCU the power completely went out on 2/23/26. Power went out again April, 2026. Currently car is immobile and unreliable and not safe for driving due to power failures. Towed car to Kia Cerritos. Car supposedly "fixed" (with other issues I've reported to KIA of America & CA BAR/DMV) Currently 12V battery is not holding charge as of 4/27/26, 4/28/26, and 5/2/26. I received a letter from KIA stating ICCU and inability to charge, Keep this Letter in your Glove Box for a free diagnosis and possible no cost servicing. As an older American this is inherently unsafe, as I travel for work and cannot be stuck on the road. The vehicle suddenly loses power in traffic. It simply stops running. This is my 5th attempt to file this very complaint between April and 6/14/26.