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Within the fast-paced transition to electrical autos (EVs), many automakers are racing to maintain tempo—not solely with expertise but additionally with the service expectations of latest EV homeowners. Kia, with its glossy and futuristic EV6, has been applauded for engineering innovation, however suggestions on dealership service and help reveals a combined bag. A current dialog within the KIA EV6 Homeowners USA Fb group lays naked these divided experiences.
Jay Inexperienced’s Story: A Mannequin of Excellent Help
Jay Inexperienced, a Kia EV6 proprietor, posted a glowing account that reveals what EV possession ought to appear like when supported by a responsive dealership. He wrote:
“My dealership that is 2 hours away despatched an individual to choose up my EV6 when my brake rotor had an enormous gouge in it. I acquired a GT-line with 300ish miles on it for a loaner. Additionally they drove my automotive again and picked up the loaner, and simply requested me to cost it as much as 100% so the porter might make it again with out being nervous. Finest service expertise I’ve ever had (Shout out to Seeyle Kia of Kalamazoo!)”
Jay’s story stands out as a result of it immediately contrasts with many different possession experiences we’ve seen shared on-line. Not solely did Seeyle Kia of Kalamazoo resolve his situation rapidly, however additionally they eliminated the logistical headache altogether, delivering a just about new GT-line loaner to his door and retrieving it afterward.
Not Everybody Feels the Similar About Kia Help
This expertise was in response to a different submit in the identical group from Alfred Shum, who voiced his frustrations with the automaker’s help infrastructure:
“I’ve owned my Kia EV6 GT-line 2 for one 12 months and one month with 22,510km. No actual troubles aside from a useless 12v battery. The most important drawback is Kia help. Hyundai will get every thing first and has higher after-sales help. I don’t assume I’m ever gonna purchase from Kia once more.”
That sentiment struck a nerve with others. For instance, Ceit Geva chimed in:
“Yep I’m proper there with you in by no means shopping for a Kia once more. The best way they’ve dealt with the ICCU failures is terrible. I’ve no confidence in them. I perceive that failures occur, however the best way Kia treats affected clients is abhorrent.”
Sadly, Ceit is much from alone. In an in depth possession log, one EV6 driver describes how they had been left stranded whereas awaiting directions for what to do with their car, writing: “Right here We Go: third Battery and 4,500 Miles in My 2024 EV6. I am Ready for Kia to Inform Me The place to Dump It”. It’s a grim title that claims rather a lot.
Kia’s Service: Why It Varies So Wildly
The wide selection of dealership help high quality has raised vital questions. Why can some homeowners, like Jay, obtain white-glove remedy whereas others battle simply to get a recall dealt with?
This inconsistency is partly a operate of Kia’s dealership community—dealerships are independently owned and operated, and whereas Kia supplies insurance policies and help, execution can differ dramatically. Sadly, this makes EV6 possession a little bit of a lottery relying on the place you reside.
For instance, one other EV6 proprietor shared that their automotive sat at a dealership for 55 days on account of a recall earlier than they had been lastly in a position to retrieve it: “I Lastly Received Again My Kia EV6 From the Native Dealership After 55 Days On account of a Recall”.
When Service Goes Proper—And Why It Issues
What makes Jay Inexperienced’s story much more significant is that his dealership is 2 hours away. They didn’t simply meet expectations—they exceeded them with belief, proactive service, and transparency.
As extra first-time EV consumers tackle the Kia EV6—lots of whom are usually not accustomed to the quirks of EV upkeep—dealership responsiveness turns into much more important. A current first-time EV6 proprietor assessment factors out that whereas the automotive is partaking and enjoyable to drive, there are “a lot of nits to choose,” lots of which stem from service expectations that aren’t but aligned with the realities of EV possession.
Understanding the ICCU Drawback
On the coronary heart of a lot of the frustration is the Built-in Charging Management Unit (ICCU)—a part that manages charging and the 12V battery. Failures may cause the automotive to close down, stranding drivers. Kia has acknowledged the difficulty and issued remembers, however the uneven dealing with of those issues by dealerships has left some homeowners deeply dissatisfied.
And but, some homeowners say they wouldn’t drive anything. One long-term assessment titled “After 8 Months, This Kia EV6 Proprietor Says It is Excellent” showcases how rewarding the automotive may be when every thing goes proper. From software program to vary and luxury, the EV6 ticks a number of containers. However that solely makes the service expertise that rather more vital—it must sustain with the automotive itself.
Setting Expectations: Work With Your Dealership
Listed here are some suggestions to assist guarantee your dealership expertise goes extra like Jay Inexperienced’s and fewer like Alfred Shum’s:
1. Construct a Relationship Early
Once you buy the automotive, get to know the service crew. Alternate direct contacts—typically having one go-to individual makes all of the distinction.
2. Be Thorough and Clear
Clarify signs intimately. Take movies or images when doable. The extra data your service crew has, the quicker they’ll isolate and repair the difficulty.
3. Know Your Rights
Familiarize your self with the phrases of your Kia guarantee. Don’t be afraid to escalate politely in case your situation isn’t resolved.
4. Ask for a Loaner Upfront
If the restore would possibly take greater than a day or two, request a loaner car. In Jay’s case, receiving a virtually brand-new GT-line was a part of what made the expertise memorable.
5. Request Documentation
At all times get a written abstract of the analysis and restore. It may very well be helpful in case of repeat points or if escalation turns into vital.
Kia’s EV6: Is the Automotive Itself Nonetheless Price It?
The service dialog shouldn’t overshadow the automotive. The EV6 GT-line and GT trims stay a number of the most compelling electrical crossovers in the marketplace at this time. Should you’re questioning what actually units these trims aside, try this in-depth piece: “What Makes the 2023 EV6 GT Particular”.
Equally, the newer fashions are pushing the envelope. As an illustration, the 2024 EV6 GT builds on an already strong basis. Study the way it’s evolving in our article: “2024 Kia EV6 GT Evaluate: Energy, Model, and Substance”.
Because the EV6 continues to impress on the highway, the stakes rise for Kia to streamline its service expertise throughout the board. A car this good deserves constantly nice help—in all places.
Jay Inexperienced’s story is a reminder that some Kia dealerships are getting it proper. However for each Seeyle Kia of Kalamazoo, there appears to be one other retailer nonetheless taking part in catch-up.
As EVs just like the EV6 turn into mainstream, the service expertise should evolve simply as quick because the expertise. And till there’s consistency, homeowners will proceed to depend on one another—by way of boards, teams, and articles like this—to share what’s working and what isn’t.
Now We Wish to Hear From You:
💬 Have you ever skilled a dealership that went above and past like Jay Inexperienced’s?
💬 Or have you ever struggled with service delays, guarantee protection, or communication breakdowns?
Share your story within the feedback beneath. Your perception might assist different EV6 homeowners—and perhaps even catch Kia’s consideration the place it issues most.
Picture supply: ChatGPT.
Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Torque Information. He based TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing professional information and evaluation concerning the automotive business. He may be reached at Torque Information Twitter, Fb, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has greater than a decade of experience within the automotive business with a particular curiosity in Tesla and electrical autos.
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