Kia EV6 Transmission Problems

Owners have filed 97 complaints about transmission & drivetrain problems with the Kia EV6 — 18% of all EV6 complaints. The worst model years are 2022 (41), 2023 (26) and 2024 (17). Problems typically start around 6,000 miles. One related recall has been issued.

97complaints
2022worst year
6ktypical miles
1related recalls
1crashes
0fires

Transmission complaints by model year

202220232024202541261713
Transmission complaints per model year, Kia EV6.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
20251324%—
20241722%—
20232619%8,000 miles
20224115%3,000 miles

Mileage when the problem started

What owners report

Hi, I had to transport a few lumber pieces that did not fit into the trunk of my Kia EV6, so I had to leave the hatch open (I pulled it down as far as possible and secured it via a rope against the latch). When I started driving the car started beeping frantically, but allowed me to drive. When I crossed an intersection traffic came to a temporary halt, and when I came to a stop my Kia all of a sudden shut off and would not allow me to put it back into gear again. When traffic around me continued I was unable to move and presented a security hazard with cars coming from behind almost running into me because they expected me to move, which I couldn't. I inquired about this at my dealership this morning and was told that there is no way to override the car's behavior and that this behavior was a "safety feature" to ensure the car wouldn't be driven with the hatch open. …

2025 EV6 · Jul 2026

I have experienced a ICCU failure at 7200 miles on my 2025 EV6 GT Line. This failure is a safety hazard as it will quickly disable the vehicle and strand the occupants wherever they be at the time of failure. (highway, back roads, day or night). There are warning lights when this occurs, but there is a very limited time to get to safety, depending on the state of charge of the onboard 12v battery. This issue has been ongoing since this vehicle came out in 2022. There have been a number of recalls to address the problem, but apparently without success. I see postings all the time with others experiencing this failure. When I inquired about the availability of the replacement ICCU, I was told that the part was on national back order. I was also told there were 147 units in transit, 47 were already spoken for. This seems to indicate that this is a very common issue, affecting many drivers.

2025 EV6 · Feb 2026

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. …

2024 EV6 · Feb 2026

Something with the electrical system in this electric vehicle was not functioning properly as the car would go into "turtle mode" as the service department called it. 45 mph then dropping to 30 mph before reaching the dealership. My safety was at risk because driving on the highway could have had someone rear end up by slowing down. The dealership has been inspected. Waiting at the dealership since Monday Oct 12, 2026. I don't think my vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Vehicle would warn to check the battery system at car start. Upon driving the car will notify and show a battery red light on the dashboard. The notification will say to stop and check the electrical system.

2024 EV6 · Oct 2026

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.

2023 EV6 · 8,000 miles · May 2024

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. …

2023 EV6 · Jan 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Kia EV6. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on a hill, it rolled and crashed into a handicapped sign. The forward collision sensor became inoperable. While at the charging station utilizing the radio, the battery and collision warning indicator lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where they were unable to identify the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. While driving, an unknown vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle and a quarter panel. There was no reported injuries, fire, or police report. The vehicle was taken to another dealer (Kia of Irvine 45 Oldfield, Irvine, CA 92618,) where the vehicle failed to start and it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced but the failure persisted. …

2022 EV6 · 3,000 miles · Apr 2022 · crash

On April 13, 2024, when I started my vehicle, the instrument cluster immediately flashed the following warning msg surrounded by a flashing red circle: 12V Battery Very Low Stop Safely I turned the vehicle off, waited a few seconds and when I started it again the message did not appear. I contacted KIA USA and received a Recall Inquiry Case #. On April 18th, when I started my vehicle the same 12V Battery Very Low, Stop Safely msg displayed. It did not disappear upon restarting. Within 5 mts ALL the electrics were dead, including the instrument cluster AND the parking/emergency brake control AND the Vehicle Start On/Off button. I am very fortunate I was not driving on the highway when this occurred. Ditto for other drivers. My vehicle had to be towed to my dealer/service center. The tow service jumped the 12V battery and was able to drive it up on the flatbed. …

2022 EV6 · Apr 2024

Related recalls (1)

Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft

NHTSA recall 24V-057 · Jan 31, 2024 · 1,243 vehicles

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Niro EV and 2023 EV6 vehicles. One of the drive shafts may have been improperly heat-treated, allowing it to break under load and resulting in a loss of drive power.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the drive shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC295.

Frequently asked questions

Which Kia EV6 years have transmission problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2022 (41), 2023 (26), 2024 (17) and 2025 (13) model years. Transmission complaints make up 15% of all complaints for the 2022.

Is there a recall for Kia EV6 transmission problems?

Yes — 1 recall, including 24V-057 (driveshaft, Jan 31, 2024). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Kia EV6 transmission problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles; 100% happened before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.