2023 Kia EV6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
136 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
8,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 100 of 136 complaints (73.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 54 | 39.7% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 100 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 |
| Power Train | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 |
Electrical System: 100; Fuel/Propulsion System: 29; Power Train: 26; Unknown Or Other: 17; Engine: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Service Brakes: 6; Tires:Sidewall: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 130 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 56 |
2023: 14; 2024: 29; 2025: 37; 2026: 56
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 54 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11549498 · 2023-10-11 (October 11, 2023)
The vehicle gave the warning to check the electrical system, as a result the battery cannot be recharged.It only accepted the charger for two minutes and then disconnected, now it only says it could not be recharged. They reprogramed it from the MOTOR AMBAR distributor but they did not find the it fails. Now i have a decorative vehicle in my garage and no one knows how to fix it.What if the electrical problem causes a fire in my house ?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11549498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11564167 · 2024-01-08 (January 8, 2024)
The contact owns a 2023 Kia EV6. The vehicle was parked and turned off when the contact opened the door and smelled burned rubber and noticed a hole about ¾ inch deep in the front driver’s seat the size of a nickel. The contact stated that the USB charging port on the vehicle was still active and caused the USB cable to catch on fire. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unwilling to repair. The dealer did not believe that the failure was due to an electrical malfunction. The manufacturer was not made aw…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11564167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523943 · 2023-05-26 (May 26, 2023)
While using I-Pedal mode the brake lights do not engage unless fully off of the accelerator. Even a large deceleration force does not engage any of the brake lights when coming to a full stop quickly. This is very dangerous as drivers behind cannot tell you are decelerating quickly.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11531901 · 2023-07-12 (July 12, 2023)
When using 1 pedal driving, it isn't necessary to use the brake pedal to stop the EV. The EV6 will only illuminate the brake lights when the accelerator pedal is completely released, or when the brake pedal is depressed. Since using 1 pedal driving does not require depressing the brake pedal to stop, the following vehicle has no indication or warning that the EV6 is stopping. I have experienced several instances of near rear-end collisions because of this dangerous issue with the Kia EV6. I emailed Kia asking if they were going to offer an OTA …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11531901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11573068 · 2024-02-21 (February 21, 2024)
I leased a 2023 Kia EV6 vehicle and on October 30, 2023, I was 45-60 minutes into my first road trip when a warning displayed in the dashboard followed immediately by a reduction of motive power. The warning displayed was a turtle icon and the words “Power Limited.” Traveling on CA I-5 when this occurred putting me in a very dangerous situation. I navigated several lanes of traffic, vehicle decelerating, to reach the shoulder and pull over then to merge into existing traffic traveling at a high rate of speed only to advance 7-10 miles befor…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11573068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11652439 · 2025-04-02 (April 2, 2025)
While driving my car a warning flashed stating "check electrical vehicle system." Pulled over, contacted Kia of Abilene and asked if we could drive the car to the dealership. While on the phone another warning flashed ""Stop vehicle and check power supply." Attempted to drive car, "Limp mode or turtle mode" occurred and the max speed for the car was 25mph, sudden loss of acceleration. Made it home, which was approximately 2 miles away, and it seems like the 12V battery was draining quickly. Eventually the vehicle stalled at home and became unr…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11652439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11589474 · 2024-05-18 (May 18, 2024)
Component/System Failure: The i-Pedal feature in the Kia EV6, designed for one-pedal driving through regenerative braking, consistently fails to stay engaged. This component is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk:The erratic behavior of the i-Pedal function poses a significant safety risk. When the i-Pedal mode disengages unexpectedly, drivers must abruptly switch to using traditional brakes. This sudden transition increases the likelihood of delayed reactions and potential accidents, especially in heavy traffic or complex drivi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11589474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11604000 · 2024-07-23 (July 23, 2024)
The contact owns a 2023 Kia EV6. The contact stated that the controls for the heating and cooling system on the steering wheel were too close and were a distraction. The contact stated that sunlight made it difficult to check the controls. While checking the features, the contact veered off the road. The contact stated that his hands lightly touched the controls, and he was unable to determine if the features were activated for the heated seats or the steering wheel. The contact stated that the controls needed to be less sensitive. The seats an…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11604000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11703617 · 2025-12-08 (December 8, 2025)
My 2023 Kia EV6 experienced a sudden ICCU and 12-volt system failure while traveling approximately 50 mph. Without warning, the vehicle instantly lost propulsion and all electrical power. This included loss of steering assist, braking assist, hazard lights, shift capability (unable to shift into Park), and even the ability to lock the doors. The failure effectively “bricked” the vehicle in motion. I was only able to get the vehicle off the roadway because the road happened to slope downward into a nearby lot. Steering required significant phys…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11703617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11720337 · 2026-02-25 (February 25, 2026)
On April 24, 2025, I plugged my Kia EV6 into my 48-amp hardwired ChargePoint HomeFlex at 7:26 PM. Around 10:30 PM I heard a noise outside but did not investigate. At 12:25 AM I noticed I had not received a “charging complete” notification. The Kia Connect app showed the vehicle at 74% and no longer charging. The ChargePoint app was unresponsive. The next morning I found the charger’s 60-amp breaker had tripped. After resetting the breaker and rebooting the charger, the EV6 would not start charging and displayed no “Charging started” or “Chargi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11720337 at NHTSA ↗