Several owners have complained that their vehicles have suddenly lost power.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into the Kia EV6 after several owners complained about the vehicle suffering from a “reduced or complete loss of motive power” while on the move.
According to the official document, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 11 complaints from owners who allege MY2022 EV6 vehicles are losing power under driving. Some owners have described a “loud pop noise” and a warning message in the instrument cluster before the vehicle suffers its alleged power loss.
Per the ODI report, investigators interviewed several drivers, who confirmed “a range of loss of power and varying time intervals between the warning message and loss of power.”
We have contacted Kia for comment and will update the article once we receive communication from the brand.
The ODI report has reported zero crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this complaint. However, there's a risk of something like this happening if the problem is widespread. A driver trying to exit a busy intersection or overtake on a highway can be at risk if their EV6 suddenly loses power. Kia must investigate swiftly to get to the bottom of this issue.
An estimate pegs the affected population at 19,824 vehicles. Further investigation should bring us closer to the actual figure. As for what could be causing the issue, the NHTSA has several thoughts on that.
The investigation says there's a link between the power loss and the failure of the EV6's ICCU (Integrated Control Charging Unit). This component is responsible for feeding power to both low-voltage and high-voltage batteries. “Preliminary review indicates over-current within the ICCU can damage transistors (FET) in the LDC (DC-to-DC converter), resulting in the inability to recharge the 12V battery,” reads the document.
In May, the NHTSA recalled the 2022 Kia EV6 over a software issue that could result in the vehicle rolling away when parked. The error pertains to the Shifter Control Unit (SCU), which may disengage the parking mechanism. Due to the potential risk of injury and property damage, Kia provided a free software update available to the 9,014 affected units.
The EV6 isn't the only Kia to suffer a recall in recent months. The new Sportage has been recalled twice in the past year. In September, it was for a possible fire risk (related to a loose alternator battery nut). Three months later, around 80,000 models were affected by a side airbag issue, which could cause the safety system to deploy incorrectly.
Elsewhere, the automaker is still facing backlash over the rising thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles, with several state attorneys calling on both brands to recall affected cars.
Keyword: Kia EV6 Being Investigated By The Feds For Potential Power Loss Issue