2022 Kia EV6: What to check before buying

Sudden loss of drive power from a failed integrated charge control unit (ICCU) dominates these reports. A "check electric vehicle system" warning appears, then speed drops to 10 to 25 mph, and the car shuts down and will not restart. The 12-volt battery is often dead too. Failures show up as early as 10,000 miles and as late as 58,000. Some cars wait weeks for parts, and one sat at the dealer six months. Other reports describe home charging that stops, range lost after a recall software update, phantom braking in HDA, and surges in parking lots. Three of those surges ended in crashes.

Total loss of drive power, nearly always traced to a failed ICCU, runs through these reports. Cars quit in city traffic, at intersections, or while backing out, sometimes after a clunk from underneath. The screen, gears, and doors can stop working. Many cars also stop charging on Level 1 or Level 2 and drain the 12-volt battery. Reported failures range from about 11,200 to 64,300 miles. Several owners describe a second failure after the recall software fix or an earlier ICCU replacement, and warranty disputes are common. One crash involved a car rolling while parked on a hill.

Panoramic sunroof glass shatters while driving, with a loud bang, on a hot day or at highway speed. One report led to an ER visit. The power liftgate opens and then immediately closes again, hitting people on the head, and two injuries are reported. Other owners describe a misaligned tailgate that will not close when the car is parked off level, and a frunk lid that popped to the ajar position in traffic. Minor grille damage from road debris triggered active air flap warnings and a repair of nearly $6,000. Warranty claims are sometimes denied.

Brake lights stay off during strong regenerative braking in one-pedal mode unless the driver's foot comes fully off the accelerator. Other reports describe a loud crunch or clunk followed by the car lurching forward at stops or losing propulsion on the freeway with reduced braking. Dealers cannot reproduce it and find no codes. The parking brake can set itself in one-pedal mode with the hatch open, and the car can roll back on a hill with the brake pressed. One crash followed severe ABS shudder over a rut, with the car sliding forward on dry pavement.

Brake lights fail to come on under heavy regenerative braking in i-Pedal mode, even when the car comes to a full stop. Owners confirmed this with a following driver and an OBD2 tool. Weak headlights are the second theme. Owners describe poor reach, limited view to the right, and near misses with pedestrians, and cite an IIHS rating of poor for the 2022 lights. Dealers say the lights are adjusted correctly. One report ties a total loss of lighting to a 12-volt power failure that also stopped the car. No crashes are reported.

Lane keeping steered the car out of its lane with adaptive cruise on, crossing two lanes into a barrier with no warning. The crash injured two passengers and totaled the car. Another owner sees a persistent "Check Lane Assist" warning that disables smart cruise for more than 20 days at a time. A dealer-advised tire replacement and alignment did not fix it. A third report blames a failed audio amplifier for muting safety alerts. The dealer called it a known problem, and the only warning was popping and static from the speakers.

Airbags failed to deploy in a fatal head-on collision with a pedestrian. In the same report, forward collision avoidance gave no warning and did not brake. Another crash report describes the car speeding off on its own while stopped to make a left turn. A third complaint says the airbag floor wiring harness runs unshielded under the moving front seats. The owner warns it can be cut or corroded by moisture and road salt. Replacement reportedly costs about $9,300 and is not covered by warranty.

False forward collision warnings and emergency braking hit on empty roads at anywhere from 35 to 60 mph, raising rear-end risk. A blind spot warning sometimes lights up at the same time. The warning clears only after a full stop and a shift through Park. Dealers find no codes. In the one crash report, the car swerved out of its lane with semi-autonomous driving on and sideswiped a semi. Lane keeping, emergency braking, and blind spot warning all failed to act, and damage came to roughly $14k.