The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into the 2022 Kia EV6 after some homeowners despatched studies complaining about lack of energy.

The company has opened a preliminary analysis to evaluate the scope and severity of the potential security defect, which might have an effect on almost 20,000 EV6 electrical crossovers.

NHTSA’s Workplace of Defects Investigation (ODI) stated it obtained 11 complaints in regards to the concern from US Kia EV6 homeowners. Lots of them reported listening to a “loud pop noise adopted by a warning displayed of their dashboard,” adopted instantly by a decreased or complete lack of motive energy.

This sounds similar to the investigation the NHTSA opened final month into the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5, which shares the E-GMP electrical automobile platform with the Kia EV6.

After conducting a number of interviews with Kia EV6 homeowners, investigators have been capable of verify “a variety of lack of energy and ranging time intervals between the warning message and lack of energy,” in accordance with a federal doc detailing the protection probe.

As within the case of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the auto security regulator stated there’s a “sturdy correlation” between the lack of motive energy and failure of the Built-in Management Charging Unit that powers the automobile batteries.

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One of many complaints submitted to NHTSA got here from a driver in Lengthy Seaside, California, who reported listening to a loud pop from the rear passenger facet of the automobile adopted by a warning mild to examine the automobile’s charging system.

“All energy to the automobile was subsequently misplaced, immobilizing the automobile. Vendor service division stated ICCU board must be changed however is on nationwide backorder. Automotive has been immobilized since,” the complainant stated of the April 29 incident. 

The investigation is at present within the preliminary analysis part, by which NHTSA engineers request info from the producer. The producer can also current its view concerning the alleged defect and should determine to concern a recall.

After the analysis, NHTSA will both shut the investigation or transfer into the subsequent part. If a safety-related defect is discovered, the company could ship a “recall request” letter to the producer. Within the associated investigation involving the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, NHTSA hasn’t reached a conclusion but.

Kia has offered 8,328 EV6 automobiles within the US within the first half of this 12 months, in accordance with Automotive Information knowledge. The 2022 EV6 is the primary devoted EV launched by Kia as a part of its objective to debut eight EVs within the US by 2029.