Kia EV6 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 4 model years (2022–2025), NHTSA has logged 535 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls for the Kia EV6. That averages 38.5 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 0.91 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #6 of 10 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 56.4.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across four model years from 2022 to 2025, NHTSA has logged 535 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls for the Kia EV6, with the trend showing improvement as 2024 models run 72% below 2022 models in complaint rates. The most common problem area is Electrical, accounting for 56.6% of complaints including recurring terms like "iccu" and "charging," which are 3.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. While half of all reported incidents occur within 26 months of the model year's start, owners filed 285 complaints in the last 12 months versus 90 previously, indicating a rising pace. Additionally, 21 complaints describe a crash or fire involving 9 injuries and 1 death, with recent recalls including one with a do-not-drive warning and investigations covering "Loss of Motive Power.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2024 models run 72% below the 2022 models (23 early complaints per model year versus 87).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (58.8 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (26.5). The 2022 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (56.6% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (15.5%) and Engine (7.1%). Electrical complaints are 3.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “iccu”, “charging”, “battery”, “check electrical” and “charge”. 21 complaints (3.9%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 9 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 285 complaints versus 90 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2022 model year generated the most recent reports (111). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 26 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 5 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2024 (3), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Loss of Motive Power” (opened 2023-07-03, closed 2024-04-17).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model X and Ford Mustang Mach-E; Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Years to research carefully | 275 | 58.8 | 1.4 | 87 | 1.18 | 111 | 4 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 | 136 | 37.0 | 0.88 | 43 | 0.52 | 68 | 4 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 71 | 26.5 | 0.63 | 23 | 0.33 | 55 | 3 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 | 53 | 31.7 | 0.75 | — | — | 51 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 285 · Previous 12 months: 90 Rising
Problem areas
Electrical ›
303 · 56.6% · 3.6 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- iccu184
- charging87
- battery118
- check electrical40
Transmission / powertrain ›
83 · 15.5% · 1.33 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- iccu62
- charging24
- power42
- check electrical12
Engine
38 · 7.1% · 0.32 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- iccu23
- charging13
- electric system8
- check electric7
Interior & equipment
31 · 5.8% · 0.65 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- iccu9
- charging7
- level7
- charger5
Fuel system
20 · 3.7% · 0.87 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- iccu11
- charging8
- check power4
- battery8
Brakes
18 · 3.4% · 0.55 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- regenerative7
- brake14
- braking11
- pedal9
Body & structure
13 · 2.4% · 0.26 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- response4
- debris3
- body3
- glass3
Driver-assist systems
8 · 1.5% · 0.26 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- sounds3
- warnings3
- assist3
- emergency3
Wheels, tires & suspension
7 · 1.3% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
5 · 0.9% · 0.6 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
5 · 0.9% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
3 · 0.6% · 0.31 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
1 · 0.2% · 0.03 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- iccu289
- charging139
- battery176
- check electrical58
- charge102
- power supply45
- check power44
- electrical system79
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 26 months
What owners report
The contact owned a 2024 Kia EV6 and stated that while driving at 40 MPH, an elk suddenly appeared in front of the vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision that completely crushed the front end of the vehicle with no air bags deployed.
While maneuvering my Kia EV6 into my garage, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly and struck the garage wall. I believe the acceleration may have been unintentional or due to a malfunction. I request review of any vehicle event data
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.
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.
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.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Electric vehicles
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model S | 708 | 17.4 | 0.41 | Worsening | Falling | 31 | Interior & equipment |
| 2 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | 532 | 17.8 | 0.42 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Electrical |
| 3 | Tesla Model X | 736 | 18.6 | 0.44 | Worsening | Falling | 33 | Interior & equipment |
| 4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 650 | 28.9 | 0.69 | Improving | Steady | 0 | Electrical |
| 5 | Ford F-150 Lightning | 536 | 33.4 | 0.79 | Improving | Falling | 2 | Electrical |
| 6 | Kia EV6 | 535 | 38.5 | 0.91 | Improving | Rising | 5 | Electrical |
| 7 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 991 | 48.7 | 1.16 | Worsening | Steady | 24 | Electrical |
| 8 | Tesla Model 3 | 4,228 | 100.4 | 2.39 | Worsening | Steady | 35 | Driver-assist systems |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,319 | 114.8 | 2.73 | Improving | Rising | 14 | Electrical |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 3,749 | 128.3 | 3.05 | Stable | Steady | 36 | Driver-assist systems |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 5
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Investigations
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
On July 3, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened PE23012 to investigate allegations of loss of motor power on model year (MY) 2022 Kia EV6 vehicles. Some consumers reported loss of motor power immediately after warning lamp illumination or reduction of motive power while the vehicle was in motion. This investigation found that the Integrated Charing Unit (ICCU) may become damaged o…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia EV6 model year has the most complaints?
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (58.8 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (26.5).
Is the Kia EV6 getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2024 models run 72% below the 2022 models (23 early complaints per model year versus 87). In the last 12 months owners filed 285 complaints versus 90 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Kia EV6 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (56.6% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (15.5%) and Engine (7.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “iccu”, “charging”, “battery”, “check electrical” and “charge”.
How does the Kia EV6 compare with other Electric vehicles?
Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #6 of 10 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 56.4. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model X and Ford Mustang Mach-E; Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y have more.
Does the Kia EV6 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 5 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2024 (3), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Loss of Motive Power” (opened 2023-07-03, closed 2024-04-17).