2023 Kia EV6: What to check before buying

The car loses power without warning, and most reports trace it to a failed integrated charge control unit (ICCU). The usual sequence is a pop, then "Check electric vehicle system" and "Stop vehicle and check power supply" warnings. Speed drops to about 25 mph in turtle mode, then the car dies. Hazard lights, neutral and door locks can stop working, leaving the car stuck in traffic. Several 12V batteries die between 8,000 and 22,000 miles. Failures happen after recall software updates, and some repeat after replacement. Parts back orders mean waits of weeks. A few owners report weak cabin heat that cannot clear the windshield.

Propulsion cuts out while driving, often on highways or in snow, and most cases are traced to the ICCU. Owners describe a pop, a turtle icon or "Power Limited" message, speed capped near 25 to 30 mph, and then a full shutdown with no start or unlock. Several owners have repeat events, some after the 12V battery was replaced around 8,000 miles. Dealers sometimes cannot replicate the fault, and recall campaigns do not prevent later failures. Isolated reports cover a failed rear motor inverter, an electric oil pump fault that roughens the ride, and DC fast-charging errors.

The motors shut off after the car drives through slush on a freeway, cutting both acceleration and regenerative braking for nearly 50 seconds with no warning. That report involves a crash after the car lost traction. A second crash report describes the car accelerating when the brake was pressed during parking. Other complaints follow the familiar ICCU pattern: warnings, turtle mode, then full shutdown. One owner reports range dropping sharply in cold weather and being stranded for 3 hours.

Braking behaves unpredictably. At about 25 mph on dry pavement, the rear wheels feel like they lock and the car skids past a stop sign. Another report describes grinding, brief violent vibration and abrupt braking the driver did not command, and the problem returns after a dealer repair. The i-Pedal one-pedal mode disengages unexpectedly and forces a sudden switch to the brake pedal. During hard i-Pedal deceleration, the brake lights stay off unless the driver fully lifts off the accelerator, so following drivers get no signal.

Tire failures come without warning. One report describes a rear tire deflating instantly at highway speed on a smooth road at correct pressure, with 11556 miles on the original Continental Cross Contact 255-45 R20 tires. Another describes vibration bad enough to make the car hard to control. Balancing did not fix it, and the cause turned out to be the tire's foam liner, which had separated and balled up inside. The volume is small, but both failures affect control at speed.

No complaints here describe a motor failure. One owner adds coolant three times in 49 days, and no diagnosis has been made because the dealer lacks available technicians. Another reports charging and battery-management faults that cause range discrepancies, along with a coolant problem. The third is a dealer mix-up over recall 24V867: the dealer alternately claims no knowledge of it and books an appointment to complete it.