2024 Kia EV6 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

I purchased this vehicle just over a year ago as a CPO model with only 8,000 miles on it. It now has just over 23,000 miles. In this short time of ownership, it has been back to the dealership 3 separate times for serious EV system issues. The first visit involved a software update intended to correct a 12-volt charging issue that could prevent the vehicle from charging and potentially cause ICCU failure. Shortly after that update, the 12-volt battery failed, despite being <18 months into service, completely bricking the vehicle and leaving me stranded waiting for a tow. The battery was replaced under warranty. Less than 2 months later, while >30 miles from home, the vehicle displayed a “Check Electrical System Failure” warning. I was able to limp-mode the car back to the dealership. I am now being told that the main EV battery has failed and must be replaced, possibly also the ICCU. The dealership cannot provide a firm timeline for repairs; parts availability could mean anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 months without the vehicle. This pattern of failures raises serious concerns about the reliability and safety of the EV6. Repeated electrical system issues create a very real risk of being stranded unexpectedly, potentially in unsafe situations such as on the side of a highway. To date, I have already lost four days of use due to service repairs, and I now face being without the vehicle for an extended and uncertain period. While a loaner vehicle is being provided, I will incur fuel expenses at a time of rising gas prices, undermining the financial rationale for purchasing an EV. Meanwhile, I continue making payments on a vehicle I cannot use, which is depreciating in value. I understand that new technology carries some risk. However, despite prior updates and even a model refresh, the ICCU issue appears unresolved, and Kia does not seem to have a clear root cause identified. For a vehicle marketed on innovation and dependability, this experience has indicated otherwise.

The driver (my wife) was operating the Kia EV6 (with approximately 10,000 miles) when the vehicle suddenly experienced a severe loss of motive power. While driving, a warning message appeared on the dashboard indicating an issue with the power supply. Immediately after, the vehicle forced itself into "turtle mode," severely restricting the maximum speed to 20 mph and refusing to accelerate further. This sudden, unexpected deceleration on an active roadway put the driver at a significant risk of a rear-end collision. The driver managed to slowly navigate the vehicle back to our residence at a maximum speed of 20 mph, which was extremely hazardous. Shortly after safely parking at the residence, the vehicle experienced a complete electrical failure. It would no longer start, could not be shifted into neutral, and ultimately had to be dragged onto a flatbed tow truck by roadside assistance because the wheels were locked. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Kia dealership, where it is currently undergoing diagnosis and inspection for what is heavily suspected to be a total failure of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) and 12-volt battery system. The vehicle and the failed components are currently at the dealership and are available for inspection upon request. Note: This catastrophic power loss occurred just weeks after the vehicle was in the shop for nearly a month to have its entire high-voltage battery pack replaced due to severe range degradation, marking the second major electrical system failure on this vehicle.

2024 EV6 GT-Line with 13,165 miles suddenly showed multiple faults, including "Check electric vehicle system” followed shortly by "Stop vehicle and check power supply". The vehicle almost immediately stopped in the roadway, and my wife (driver) was unable to move the vehicle or even put the vehicle in neutral so the vehicle could be moved. The car is at a Kia dealership for repair who confirmed an ICCU failure. This is an exceptionally dangerous situation.

While operating my 2024 Kia EV6, the vehicle began displaying repeated warnings related to the power system and 12-volt battery. The instrument cluster first showed a “Power limited” message, followed shortly by a “Stop vehicle and check power supply” warning. At the same time, the vehicle indicated that the 12-volt battery was low, despite the high-voltage traction battery being at or near full charge. Shortly thereafter, the 12-volt battery became fully depleted, resulting in a complete loss of low-voltage electrical power. I was unable to electronically unlock the doors, and the vehicle could not be started or shifted into gear. The vehicle became immobilized and inoperable, requiring towing. This failure occurred without warning and created a safety concern, as loss of power could potentially occur while driving or leave occupants stranded and unable to access the vehicle. The vehicle had previously been serviced at a Kia dealership for known power system concerns related to the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU). During that visit, the dealership applied a firmware update only and did not replace the ICCU hardware. The current failure occurred after that firmware update, suggesting the issue was not resolved. This incident represents a loss of motive power and loss of vehicle electrical systems, which could present a serious safety risk if it occurs while the vehicle is in motion or in unsafe environments. The inability to unlock doors or start the vehicle due to complete 12-volt battery depletion is particularly concerning. When roadside assistance arrived to tow the vehicle to the dealership, the vehicle’s 12-volt battery was completely depleted, preventing normal recovery procedures. A portable jump starter was temporarily connected, but the vehicle would not remain powered on long enough to complete the steps required to place the vehicle into neutral or tow mode.

The ICCU failed while I was driving my car on a 50 mph road. Check electrical system warning lights appeared. Maximum speed was reduced to 19mph and my car became a road hazard for other cars on the road. I managed to pull off the road once I found a safe spot. After visiting the Kia dealership, the problem was confirmed as a failed ICCU (Integrated Charging and Control Unit) and replaced under warranty. No problems appeared prior to the failure. Vehicle was required to be towed to the repair facility.

Driving with my wife and [XXX] child, there was a pop sound from under the car, and the car suddenly showed multiple faults, including "Check electric vehicle system”, which cleared on their own. I parked and turned the car off and on again and the faults reappeared. I started driving home, and during the drive it showed "Stop vehicle and check power supply" and audibly alarmed. As I was only half a mile from my house on local quiet roads, I made it. A few minutes later, I tried to turn on the car and some displays were off, there was no drive power, the steering wheel did not turn, the door locks were flakey, and I wasn't able to tell if I had shifted into Park or if the parking brake was engaged. When the tow truck arrived, the car was completely unresponsive and there was no way to release the parking brake or shift the car in neutral, so the car was dragged across the pavement and onto the tow truck. The failure was quick and comprehensive and could have easily caused injury. There are many highways near me with fast, busy traffic and either no emergency shoulder or a very narrow one. If my car tells me that I need to stop the vehicle, that can create a very dangerous choice between stopping somewhere less safe quickly or risking the car being completely disabled while in the travel lane while I look for a safer spot. Loss of cabin heat can easily become dangerous very quickly in the winter. Many drivers may not even understand the urgency of the warning until the car starts failing to drive. The car is at a Kia dealership for repair who confirmed an ICCU failure. See related NHTSA recall no 24V-867 and others. ICCU failures are endemic to Kia and Hyundai EVs. ICCU failures are widely discussed on many internet forums and seem much more common than the 1% failure rate claimed by Hyundai/Kia. FYI, an interesting root cause analysis was shared on a German EV forum: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Vehicle ICCU blew up while driving, causing drive train system shut down and limited speed to 10 mph.

Heard a pop, followed by power failure and warning lights to stop operating the vehicle. The ICCU unit had blown.

ICCU failed. Heard a popping sound from rear of passenger compartment, dash errors lit up, car went to limp mode

About 10 miles from home a warning saying to check the electrical system came on the dash and the car would not go faster than about 25 miles per hour. We had to limp back home, turning the car off every few miles as it would start aggressively beeping to turn off the car. After getting it towed to the dealership, it took them several weeks to determine it was the ICCU and fuse, and I did not take possession of my car back for nearly 8 weeks. While this was under warranty, I am still currently waiting for reimbursement on the tow to the dealer and the rental I had to get for 3 days before the dealer could get me a loaner.

Description of Incident: 1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The high-voltage battery system and charging system in my 2024 Kia EV6 malfunctioned. Despite showing 40 miles of range remaining, the battery suddenly dropped to 5 miles before the car became completely unresponsive and failed to charge. Additionally, the vehicle could not be shifted into neutral or powered on. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The sudden loss of battery range left me stranded at a Shell Recharge station in Elkridge, MD, at [XXX] on[XXX]. Being stranded at this hour posed a personal safety risk, especially in an unfamiliar area, as I was unable to move the vehicle. Moreover, the malfunction could endanger drivers if such a failure occurred while driving. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed, but I previously reported symptoms of 12-volt battery issues to the dealership on November 12, 2024, one day after receiving the vehicle. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or any other representatives. I am awaiting guidance on next steps from Kia and the dealership. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, I noticed warning signs related to the 12-volt battery on November 12, 2024, shortly after receiving the vehicle on November 11, 2024. However, no specific warning lamps or error messages appeared at the time of the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

8 days after purchase from dealer, new vehicle, it went into "zombie" mode. Electrical system for radio, climate, lights, etc. all worked but it wouldn't come out of park or neutral. The online app kept saying there were no mechanical problems even though it was "dead in the water" and couldn't be moved. Then the electronic parking brake engaged so it could not be towed. It had less than 400 miles, had been working fine in the prior 7 days. Stopped at Home Depot, when I came out it entered zombie mode, and it couldn't be moved or put into gear. Even though it was in neutral at times the electronic parking brake kept it from moving. I was told today it was a "front inverter" and Kia had to approve repairing it????