2023 Kia EV6 Transmission Problems

Mileage when the problem started

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2023 Kia EV6 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2023 Kia EV6. The contact stated that while driving 72 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the console displayed that the drive mode independently switched from rear wheel to front wheel only. The vehicle was driven to a safe location and parked. The contact allowed the vehicle to sit for approximately thirty minutes; then the vehicle was started the vehicle and driven to the destination. The failure reoccurred, and the failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

While driving my Kia EV6 in the middle of a snowstorm, the vehicle experienced a sudden and severe power failure. I heard a loud popping sound from the rear of the cabin, after which the vehicle immediately entered reduced-power (limp) mode. Within approximately one minute, the vehicle shut down entirely and lost all propulsion and mobility. I was able to move the vehicle to a safe location only because I was not in traffic or on the highway at the time of the failure. Had this occurred at highway speeds or in active traffic, it would likely have resulted in a dangerous situation with a high risk of collision, especially given the severe winter weather, low visibility, and slippery road conditions. The vehicle has approximately 21,000 miles. This is the second failure of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) in this vehicle. …

Vehicle does not reliably handle the 12V battery well. Many times, I see it sitting at 12.8 VDC when driving the vehicle. On a ICE vehicle, the charging voltage is close to 14V when running/driving. On 3 separate occasions, when I tried to "start" the EV6, the 12V battery was too dead to allow the car to be started. Basically stranded. This can be life threatening if this occurs in frigid temps. Or a hazard to traffic if/when the car tells you to "pull over safely, immediately". OK, I can "block the box" because my car died??? Kia and Hyundai need to address this issue that's common to their recent "luxury" EVs. With all the high-tech these cars have, why can't it manage the charge-state of the 12V battery? Tesla vehicles do not have this issue (I believe). …

ICCU failed despite all prior recall updates being performed. Incident began when home circuit breaker tripped; vehicle subsequently refused Level 1 charging with "Check Electrical System" warning. Per dealer suggestion, tested public chargers. Level 3 (DC) worked, but upon connecting to Level 2 (AC/J1772), a loud "pop" occurred, and the public charging station immediately suffered a mechanical failure/shutdown. Vehicle then displayed "Stop vehicle and check power supply," and was unable to drive above 40mph (with a turtle icon visible on the dash) once I pulled away from the charging station. This created a significant safety hazard while navigating traffic. Within two hours, the 12V battery was completely depleted; vehicle was unresponsive and required a jump-start for towing. Dealer confirmed ICCU failure requiring replacement. …

In addressing your inquiries: 1. **Component or System Failure:** - The charging system of my vehicle malfunctioned at DC Fast Charger and all charging levels. This can be inspected upon request. 2. **Safety Implications:** - On January 2, 2024, charging issues at a DC fast station resulted in error messages, and on January 8th, I was stranded for 3 hours in cold weather with only 3 miles of range, posing a significant safety risk. 3. **Confirmation by Service Center:** - The issue has been documented with the dealership, but a comprehensive resolution is pending. 4. **Inspections by Others:** - The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives at this point. 5. …

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.

Vehicle lost its power while trying to park. It could not be locked either. This is the second time this has happened. The first time, dealership said they replaced the auxiliary battery. When it got towed the second time, the dealership said, we only recharged the aux battery during the last complaint! Now, the dealership does not have anyone who can look into this issue for one week. Added to that, they do not have any loaner cars either! The car has 10,523 miles on it now. Car had 8000 miles during the first incident. We feel this is dangerous, unacceptable quality and not to mention, unbecoming of a vehicle brand not to give us a loaner car and expect us to wait a minimum of 10 days to figure out the problem.

driving at around 35mph I heard a pop and a warning showed up on the dash stating "stop vehicle and check power supply". This warning put the car into limp mode as I was about to turn on to a busier road to get to my place of employment. The car was then towed, at the request of Kia, to the nearest dealership. It was diagnosed a few days later as having a faulty ICCU, or integrated charging control unit. There were no indications of the problem before the loud pop which I am assuming was a fuse blowing, and the car entering limp mode and showing warnings on the dash. This is a known issue by Kia as I have had my car in for multiple recalls regarding the ICCU.

The vehicle experienced a total power failure resulting in complete inoperability (no start, no unlock, no electrical response). This is the second occurrence within approximately five weeks. The most recent incident occurred after the vehicle was fully charged and driven the day prior. There were no warning lights or messages before the failure. The vehicle was previously inspected by an authorized dealer and a manufacturer service campaign related to the charging/low-voltage system was performed, after which the problem recurred. This condition can strand the driver without warning and poses a safety concern.

Repeated failed attempts to repair ICCU culminating in ICCU failure. May 15, 2024 - Initial repair attempt (ICCU-related recall/service). September 5, 2024 - VCMS logic recall performed. December 19, 2024 -second repair attempt for ICCU-related issue. October 16, 2025 - Limp-home logic recall performed. March 11, 2026- Vehicle experienced a complete loss of power and was rendered undrivable. Repeated attempts to avoid ICCU failure still resulted in said ICCU failure and a loss of propulsion event while vehicle was on the road.

Related recalls

Transmission complaints in other EV6 years