EV6 12V Battery Failure in the First Two Weeks

We loved the EV9 so much we decided to get an EV6. Unfortunately, the EV6 has spent about a third of the time we’ve had it in the shop due to a 12V battery failure and issues with the charging door. It’s been nearly a week with no answers or solutions. As much as we love the EV9, we’re now considering returning the EV6 due to these ongoing problems. This is also raising concerns about the service we’ll receive for the EV9. It’s a frustrating situation.

@Sky
I had the ABRP app connection and found a dealer-installed GPS tracker under the dash a week before the 12V failure. I disconnected both the app and the tracker.

@Darwin
Thank you for the suggestions! I disconnected the Kia app from ABRP. Hopefully, that helps. Luckily, we have charging at work, so we haven’t let the charge go below 20%. We’ve already added a new AGM battery to our cart. We’re looking forward to getting the car back soon!

@Palmer
AutoZone will install the new battery for free as well.

@Darwin
I think Costco will install it too.

I had the same issue with the 12V battery. It was a third-party GPS app pulling data from Kia Connect that was draining the 12V. After I disabled the app and removed the connection, I haven’t had any problems since. I can’t speak to the charging door issue, though.

@Sky
What app was it? I’ve had no battery issues so far, but I’m concerned about experimenting with different apps, especially since I’m not happy with the built-in navigation.

Caiden said:
@Sky
What app was it? I’ve had no battery issues so far, but I’m concerned about experimenting with different apps, especially since I’m not happy with the built-in navigation.

Apps for EVs can have a significant effect on the car’s systems, especially when they aren’t working correctly. It’s not just Kia—this is a known issue with other EVs too. With the EV6, when an app requests status updates, it wakes up the whole car, and it can stay awake for a long time (up to 15-20 minutes). We found that after about 4 or 5 days of not driving, the large battery stops charging the 12V battery, and after a day, the 12V goes dead. It’s a strange issue, but it has been consistently tested. Tesla, on the other hand, doesn’t face this issue, though it can drain the large battery significantly.

@Amelia
It depends on the dealership. They sometimes use GPS trackers for inventory management or as an add-on for theft protection.

@Gentry
Yes, Kia has taken the approach of stopping the use of third-party apps rather than solving the core issue. There’s no reason the car should stay awake that long when only a simple charge status update is needed.

@Kai
I believe it’s poor coding. Kia’s telematics update system works without fully waking the car, so the app should pull the info from the server instead of forcing a refresh that keeps the car awake unnecessarily.

Caiden said:
@Sky
What app was it? I’ve had no battery issues so far, but I’m concerned about experimenting with different apps, especially since I’m not happy with the built-in navigation.

It was ABRP, a great app, but I’d be cautious about connecting it to pull data from the car.

@Sky
I had similar issues with an OBD2 adapter, but I no longer use it.

Palmer said:
@Sky
I had the ABRP app connection and found a dealer-installed GPS tracker under the dash a week before the 12V failure. I disconnected both the app and the tracker.

Is it normal for dealers to install GPS trackers in cars like the EV6?

We don’t use any apps, just a basic new EV6, two months old, and we are facing the same issues. Our confidence in Kia’s 12V battery management system is quite low right now.

Same issue here—12V dead after 14 months and 6,000 miles. As a second owner, I can understand why. You’d think a warranty battery swap would take 30 minutes, but the service department is so busy with other issues that I’m not sure when I’ll get the car back.

This is covered under warranty and well-documented. There are easy fixes like replacing it with an AGM battery. I’ve had a great experience with Kia service, so I wouldn’t let this minor issue stop you from enjoying the car.

Do you keep the big battery above 20%? It’s my understanding that the large battery only charges the 12V when it’s over 20%.

chameleon said:
Do you keep the big battery above 20%? It’s my understanding that the large battery only charges the 12V when it’s over 20%.

We rarely let it go below 40%, thanks to charging at home and work.

@Palmer
It should be covered under warranty. Please keep us posted. It could be a chip issue, though. I thought that was fixed. Good luck.