Kia Electric Vehicles Investigated by NHTSA for Power Loss

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has opened an investigation following reports of 2022 Model Year Kia EV6 vehicles losing motive power. 

According to the open investigation on the NHTSA’s website, its Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received 11 complaints from vehicle owners who reported hearing a loud pop noise before seeing a warning displayed on the dash and experiencing an immediate loss of power ranging from a reduction in power to a complete loss.

The ODI report said there’s a strong correlation between the loss of motive power events and the failure of the vehicle’s Integrated Control Charging Unit responsible for power in both the high voltage battery and the low voltage 12V battery. 

“Preliminary review indicates over-current within the ICCU (Integrated Control Charing Unit) can damage transistors in the DC-to-DC converter resulting in the inability to recharge the 12V battery,” according to the report. 

The ODI said it opened this preliminary infestation to “determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues.”