The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expanded its investigation into reports of power loss affecting Hyundai electric vehicles with a new probe into the Kia EV6.
According to the regulatory agency, 11 drivers reported experiencing a partial or complete loss of power while driving their 2022 EV6. Several of these owners claimed to have heard “a loud pop noise” before the electric vehicle stalled. The new investigation arrives just one month after the NHTSA began its probe into the 2022 Ioniq 5, built by Kia-parent Hyundai. In both instances, the organization suspected that the cars’ ICCUs (Integrated Control Charging Units) were the primary culprit, a theory also backed by Hyundai.
The agency has yet to conclude its original investigation into the Ioniq 5, leaving the possibility of a recall for either electric vehicle in the air. However, if the complaints were to be verified, and a defect discovered, Kia would be on the hook for the repairs of roughly 29,000 units.
The EV6 is the first electric vehicle designed around Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform. Its debut in 2021 kicked off the South Korean car manufacturer’s plans to launch eight EVs before the end of the decade. Its majority owner, Hyundai, has pursued battery-powered cars more aggressively than other Asian car manufacturers such as Honda and Toyota and even sold more EVs than General Motors in the U.S. over the second quarter. The strong performance of the two brand’s electric lineup poses an unexpected challenge to legacy automakers, who have been primarily focused on Tesla as their chief competitor.
