Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Hornet vs Kia EV6: Reliability Compared

The Dodge Hornet edges out the KIA EV6 on reliability. Owners file fewer than half as many complaints per car sold. The Hornet has more recalls, 13 against 8, and real electrical faults, but the EV6's repeat power-loss failures are the bigger worry.

How Do the Dodge Hornet and Kia EV6 Generations Compare?

Only one generation of the Hornet has been sold in the US, covering 2023 through 2025, with a minor refresh for 2025. Every used Hornet is the same basic car, so the year mostly tells you how long complaints have had to build up. The EV6 first generation ran 2022 through 2024, and a facelift arrived for 2025. That splits shoppers into two groups: early cars from 2022 and 2023, which rank weakest, and facelifted cars, which have had less time on the road.

Verdict

The Dodge Hornet is more reliable than the Kia EV6, scoring 59/100 vs 57/100.

A slight edge goes to the Dodge Hornet. Owners file fewer than half as many complaints per car sold, and its worst reports are scattered electrical and driver-assist faults. The KIA EV6 has one dominant problem: sudden power loss tied to the charge control unit, which repeats after repairs and software updates. The Hornet's higher recall count and its door latch and dead-battery problems keep the gap small. Neither car earns a clean standing, so the real choice is which kind of failure you can live with.

Key Differences

  1. 1Dodge Hornet has 27.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  2. 2Kia EV6 has 5 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Dodge Hornet scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Dodge Hornet
—
1Kia EV6
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Dodge Hornet vs Kia EV6: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Hornet vs Kia EV6 at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricDodge HornetKia EV6
Reliability Score59/10057/100
Years Tracked35
Total Recalls138
Complaints per 10k Sold21.748.9
Year Wins12

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Hornet and Kia EV6?

Scattered faults mark the Hornet, while one failure dominates the EV6. Hornet owners report failed door latches, drained batteries, a dark center screen after a jump start, and adaptive cruise shutting off. EV6 owners describe a pop, a "Check electric vehicle system" warning, a crawl near 25 mph, then a dead car. Crash-linked areas differ. The EV6 has them in electrical, power train and service brakes, including rear wheels that feel locked and brake lights that stay off in i-Pedal mode. The Hornet has none in brakes, but it has crash-linked reports in electrical, back over prevention and forward collision avoidance, including a lane assist event that hit a sign.

Dodge Hornet vs Kia EV6 common problem areas comparison
ComponentDodge HornetKia EV6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6.8Average28.4High
POWER TRAIN0.5Very Low7.8Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1.8Low3.3Average
SERVICE BRAKES2.5Low1.8Low
STEERING1.8Low0.3Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION2Low—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1.5Low0.3Very Low
ENGINE1.3Low0.4Very Low
STRUCTURE0.5Very Low1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—None0.8Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None0.6Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM—None0.6Very Low
TIRES—None0.4Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE—None0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS—None0.4Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Dodge Hornet vs Kia EV6 Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Hornet vs Kia EV6 year-by-year reliability scores
YearDodge HornetKia EV6Edge
202564/1002R / 1C69/1000R / 0CKia EV6
202454/1007R / 60C59/1002R / 38CKia EV6
202359/1004R / 25C52/1003R / 98CDodge Hornet

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Hornet scored 59/100 and the 2024 Kia EV6 scored 59/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Hornet vs the Kia EV6?

Pick the Hornet if you want fewer owner complaints and can accept dealer visits for latches, a drained battery or driver-assist warnings. Its 2025 and 2023 model years rank strongest, but 2025 has had the least time to collect complaints, and 2023 also appears among its weakest years. Be careful with 2024, which is a weak year. Ask the dealer to confirm every open recall is finished, because some owners waited on back-ordered parts. Pick the EV6 if you want an electric car and will accept the risk of a sudden power loss. Skip 2022 and 2023, its weakest years. The 2024 and 2025 model years rank better, though 2025 is newer and has had less time to show problems. Before buying, ask for proof that the charge control unit was checked or replaced, and test how i-Pedal mode behaves. If being stranded in traffic would be a serious problem for you, the Hornet is the safer pick.

Dodge Hornet vs Kia EV6: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the KIA EV6?
Slightly, yes. The Hornet has 21.7 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 48.9 for the EV6. Both have a mixed standing. The EV6's main fault is sudden power loss, while Hornet complaints are spread across latches, batteries and driver-assist systems.
Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the EV6?
The Hornet has more. Federal recall records show 13 across its three model years, against 8 across five EV6 model years. A high recall count is not always worse, since a recall means a fix exists, but Hornet owners report waiting on back-ordered parts.
What is the most common KIA EV6 problem?
Sudden power loss is the biggest one. Most reports trace it to the integrated charge control unit. Owners hear a pop, see warnings, and the car slows to about 25 mph before dying. Some failures return after recall software updates or replacement parts.
What goes wrong with the Dodge Hornet?
Electrical trouble leads the complaints. Door latches fail, the battery drains if the car is not driven daily, and the center screen can stay dark after a jump start. Driver-assist features also shut off with service or camera-blocked messages.
Which model years of these cars should I avoid?
For the EV6, avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest years. For the Hornet, be careful with 2024 and 2023. The 2025 model year of each ranks well, but newer cars have had less time to collect complaints, so check recall status before buying.

Decided between Dodge Hornet and Kia EV6? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Dodge Hornet and Kia EV6

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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