Has anyone else had problems with their EV6 12v battery so soon

Electric Models Forum Kia EV6
1

We were so happy with our EV9 that we decided to get an EV6. Sadly, after just two weeks, we’ve had to take it to the shop because of a 12v battery failure and an issue with the charging door. It’s been almost a week, and still no word on what’s wrong or how to fix it. We’re still big fans of the EV9, but the EV6 might be a dud. This is making us question the kind of service we’ll get with the EV9 in the future. It’s frustrating…

2

The 12v battery in these cars isn’t great for all the tech they have. Kia probably chose it to save money.

Here’s what might help:

  1. Limit 12v battery use when possible. Turn off apps that keep checking the car’s status and avoid using features like the trunk when the car is off.
  2. Keep the main battery above 20% so it can charge the 12v battery. Keeping it between 40% and 80% is best.
  3. If you’re tired of constant 12v battery issues and slow dealer fixes, you could replace the battery yourself with an AGM 12v battery. I did it with a YouTube guide and haven’t had a problem since.

I haven’t had trouble with the charging door, so I can’t help there. Hope it gets better .

3

@Paxton
Thanks for the tips! I disconnected the Kia app from ABRP, so hopefully, that helps. We also have work charging, so we haven’t let it go under 20%. The AGM battery from Costco is already in the cart. We really like the car and hope it’s back in good shape soon .

4

@Jai
AutoZone will install that AGM battery for free if you need a hand with that.

5

I had the same 12v issue. It turned out a third-party GPS app was using Kia Connect and draining the 12v battery. Once I turned off the connection and deleted the app, the problem stopped. I can’t help with the charging door issue, though.

6

@Lior
Can you tell me which app caused the issue? I haven’t had battery problems yet, but I’m worried messing with apps could cause future issues, especially since I’m not happy with the car’s built-in navigation.

7

@Asa
I work with EV apps, and they can cause issues if not set up right. It’s not just Kia, but their system is more sensitive. When you ask for status updates, it wakes up the car and stays awake longer than expected. After a few days of not driving, the 12v battery stops getting topped up by the big battery. We tested it, and it happens every time.

Tesla doesn’t have this issue, but their large battery does drain faster since it’s always topping up the 12v.

8

@Caiden
Kia actually warned about third-party apps causing 12v battery drain. One app that tracks time-of-day pricing was pinging the car every 10 minutes, keeping it awake constantly. You can find other posts about this on this forum.

9

@Arlo
I know this problem is similar to phone battery issues. Android now warns when apps use too much battery, and apps need special permission to run in the background. It’s not too hard to stop it.

10

@Arlo
Exactly, Kia should’ve figured out a way to stop the car from staying awake for so long. It doesn’t need to stay awake to send simple info like battery status, and it should stop remote access when the battery is too low, but it doesn’t do that.

11

@Asa
It was the ABRP app. Great app, but I’d be careful about linking it to the car.

12

Lior said:
@Asa
It was the ABRP app. Great app, but I’d be careful about linking it to the car.

I had that problem with an OBD2 adapter. I didn’t use it much, so I disconnected it and haven’t had any problems since.

13

Lior said:
@Asa
It was the ABRP app. Great app, but I’d be careful about linking it to the car.

I had ABRP connected too but also found a GPS tracker installed by the dealer right before the 12v failure. I disconnected both the app and the tracker.

14

@Jai
Is it normal for dealers to install GPS trackers in cars like the EV6? I just got mine and wonder if there’s one in there.

15

We have a brand new EV6, no apps or anything. It’s been two months, and we’re having the same 12v issues. Our trust in Kia’s 12v management system is really low now.

16

I’m having the same issue. My 12v battery died at 14 months and 6,000 miles. We’re the second owner. You’d think it would be quick to get a battery swap under warranty, but the dealer is so busy with other issues, I don’t know when it will get fixed.