Kia EV6 Long Range AWD Reliability

The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) is a critical component that manages DC fast charging, AC charging, and ensures the 12V battery stays charged. A faulty transistor can damage the ICCU, preventing it from charging the 12V battery and leading to total loss of drive power. Symptoms include a distinctive "clunk or boom noise" from the rear, dashboard warnings for "Check Electric Vehicle System" and "Stop vehicle and check power supply", and red warning icons for the 12V battery. Kia issued a major recall (NHTSA 24V200) affecting 62,872 EV6s (2022-2024 models built Nov 2021 - July 2024). Dealers will update the ICCU software and replace the unit if necessary, free of charge. The ICCU part costs around €2,500-3,000, but should be covered under recall or warranty. Some European owners have waited 2+ months for replacement parts. Software update changes how the ICCU charges the 12V battery and manages cooling to prevent failures.

The charging port can overheat in as little as 30 minutes during Level 2 home charging, reaching temperatures of 220°F (104°C) or higher. Once it hits around 225°F, the system throttles charging speed or stops completely. A class-action lawsuit has been filed alleging this defect affects 2022-2023 models. Kia released TSB ELE 283 with a software update, but many owners report this simply throttles charging to 23 amps instead of fixing the root cause, meaning full charges can take 10+ hours instead of 5-6 hours. The problem appears to be a physical defect in the charging port that causes terminals to become misaligned from heat. Replacing the charging port has resolved the issue for many owners. Workarounds include cleaning the J1772 pins with contact cleaner (can reduce temps by 40°F), limiting AC charging to 90% of 48A (around 43A), or charging at lower amperage (40A or less). If under warranty, insist on port replacement rather than just software updates.

Multiple owners report complete HVAC failures where the fan, heating, and air conditioning all stop working. Error codes B1886 and B187C appear. In some cases, the blower fan motor fails (dealers report having many in stock, suggesting a known issue). Compressor failures have also been reported, with some 2023 models having no ETA on replacement parts. The heat pump logic has issues: when Auto Defog or Auto Dehumidify activates, the AC turns on to dry air, but the HEAT function shuts off, causing "icy cold blasts" into the cabin. The system also switches to cold air when the set temperature is reached rather than simply reducing heat. One repair took 38 days due to both evaporator and condenser leaking, with each part taking 10 days to arrive. Heat pumps are standard on GT-Line and GT trims, optional on Wind (around £900 in UK), not available on base Light trim. Workarounds include turning off Auto Defog/Dehumidify in climate settings and using AUTO mode with SYNC on at 21-22°C. The compressor drive PCB may have a design flaw.

The original 12V lead-acid battery in 2022-2023 EV6s typically fails within 10-18 months. The battery saver system has flawed logic: if it recharges the battery 10 times in a row since the car was last on, it assumes the battery is faulty and stops recharging it. Some owners found that leaving the car connected to a Level 2 charger caused the 12V battery to drain from repeated wake-ups every 15 minutes for "charging complete" messages. The 12V battery is only covered under warranty for 2 years, not the full 7-year vehicle warranty. Dealers charge €350-375 for replacement. DIY AGM upgrade options include Everstart AGM H5 from Walmart (€140-170), Interstate AGM from Costco (€180), or Weize H5/Group 47 AGM (€110-120). Kia began factory-installing AGM batteries in EV6s built after February 2024, and all 2025 models have AGM batteries standard. The upgraded AGM battery provides 100 more CCA and better reserve capacity. Many owners report successful reimbursement from Kia for early 12V battery failures.

The EV6 has exceptionally thin and soft paint that chips and scratches very easily. Owners report 10+ chips on the hood within just 2,000 miles, and extensive scratching by 5,000 miles. The paint is notably worse than competitors—one owner noted "a €60,000 car should not have paint finishes this poor." Black paint appears particularly soft and marks easily, though gray/silver seem slightly more durable. Many cars arrive from the factory with shipping damage including clear coat marring, hairline scratches, and deeper scratches requiring paint correction on a brand-new vehicle. The problem is exacerbated by gloss black plastic fender garnishes that cost €230 each and have clips that break very easily. Prevention is essential: many owners recommend applying Paint Protection Film (PPF) to the entire front (nose to A-pillars including mirrors) within the first few weeks of ownership, costing €1,500-2,500. Ceramic coating is a less expensive alternative at €800-1,200. Without protection, expect significant paint damage that will hurt resale value.

The USB-A port (only port connected to infotainment—USB-C ports are charging-only) randomly disconnects from smartphones, interrupting CarPlay or Android Auto sessions. Disconnections can occur every 1-2 minutes or every 15-20 minutes unpredictably. The issue affects both Apple and Android devices, ruling out the phone as the cause. Root cause is often internal connector weakness between the USB port and infotainment head unit. Some dealers have replaced internal cables and connectors (covered under warranty), while others struggle to diagnose. Workarounds include: reseating internal connectors behind the dashboard, rebooting the infotainment system (small hole to right of left control knob—insert paperclip and hold), trying a brand-new high-quality cable, disabling VPN on phone, or resetting network settings on iPhone. Some owners use a wireless CarPlay dongle (€80-120) to bypass the wired connection entirely. Dealers sometimes fail to reproduce the issue, so document when it happens. Show that both CarPlay and Android Auto are affected to prove it's the vehicle's USB port at fault.

Even small bumper scrapes can result in surprisingly high repair bills because the bumpers contain integrated proximity sensors, cameras, and active aerodynamic systems. A typical front bumper repair including parts, labor, painting, and sensor replacement costs €2,000-2,500 at dealerships. Replacement parts alone can exceed €1,000, not including labor or sensor calibration. The sensor brackets are integrated into the bumper, so if the bracket cracks, Kia's service manual requires full bumper replacement rather than just replacing the bracket. Fender garnish parts (gloss plastic around wheel wells) cost €230 each and their clips break very easily during removal. Park assist camera systems require factory-authorized recalibration which increases costs. Some independent body shops have successfully repaired bumpers for €1,800 including painting, sensor remounting, and garnish replacement—a €1,000 saving versus dealers. Some owners have glued broken sensor brackets with JB Weld successfully, and in rare cases Kia has sent replacement brackets from the factory. Consider comprehensive insurance with low deductible given these repair costs.

Kia's over-the-air (OTA) update system has multiple issues. Navigation updates have been paused due to bugs where traffic data doesn't display correctly, and the October 2025 update broke the navigation's ability to monitor DC charging station status while showing Tesla Superchargers almost exclusively. USB updates (required for UK/Europe 2022-2024 models without wireless broadband) frequently fail after sitting for hours, throwing "corrupted or missing" file errors. Update releases are repeatedly delayed—the "October" update was pushed to November, then December 2025. The OTA capability for 2022-2024 EV6s is limited to navigation/infotainment only; vehicle operating software/firmware must be updated at the dealership, not wirelessly. Only the EV9 and 2025+ EV6 models with Kia Connect can receive full vehicle system OTA updates. Weak internet connection can interrupt updates, causing the system to revert to previous software. Silver lining: most updates are free and eventually work, though frustrating delays and bugs occur frequently.