Which has more recalls, the Ford Mustang Mach-E or the Kia EV6?

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has more recalls (13) compared to the Kia EV6 (8). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Ford Mustang Mach-E or the Kia EV6?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has a lower complaint rate at 10.7 per 10,000 sold versus 48.9 for the Kia EV6. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Is the Ford Mustang Mach-E or Kia EV6 safer?

Both the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6 received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Kia EV6: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Good

Kia EV6

Mixed

Choosing between the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Kia EV6? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Ford Mustang Mach-E currently leads with an average score of 71/100 compared to 57/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6 Generations Compare?

The Kia EV6 is currently in its first generation, launched in 2022, with a facelift expected in 2025. Being early in its generation cycle, it might still be addressing initial production quirks, which is common for newer platforms as they undergo real-world testing and feedback. On the other hand, the Ford Mustang Mach-E lacks detailed generation history, making it challenging to pinpoint its current cycle stage. Generally, vehicles further along in their generation tend to have sorted out initial issues, potentially offering more reliability. Buyers should consider that while the EV6 might still be refining early-model issues, the Mach-E's maturity level is less clear without generation data.

Verdict

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is more reliable than the Kia EV6, scoring 71/100 vs 57/100.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E demonstrates superior reliability compared to the Kia EV6, with a higher average reliability score of 73/100 against the EV6's 43/100. Although the Mach-E has more total recalls, its owner complaint rate is significantly lower at 10.7 per 10,000 sold, compared to the EV6's 48.9 per 10,000 sold. Both vehicles share common issues with their electrical systems and power trains, but the Mach-E's lower complaint rate indicates it may experience fewer problems in real-world use. Overall, the Ford Mustang Mach-E presents a more reliable option for potential buyers.

Key Differences

1Ford Mustang Mach-E has 38.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Ford Mustang Mach-E scores 14 points higher in reliability
3Kia EV6 has 5 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

2Ford Mustang Mach-E

—

1Kia EV6

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Kia EV6: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Kia EV6 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford Mustang Mach-E	Kia EV6
Reliability Score	71/100	57/100
Years Tracked	4	5
Total Recalls	13	8
Complaints per 10k Sold	10.7	48.9
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	3	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6?

The Kia EV6 experiences a higher volume of complaints, particularly in the electrical system category, with 204 reports, 3 of which are crash-linked, indicating a significant area of concern. In contrast, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has fewer total complaints, with its most reported issue also being the electrical system, albeit with only 50 complaints and no crash-linked incidents. Both models share issues with the power train and air bags, each having 1 and 2 crash-linked complaints respectively, though the Mach-E has fewer overall power train complaints at 29 compared to EV6's 56. Notably, the Kia EV6 also reports a higher number of crash-linked incidents in the "unknown or other" category, suggesting potential undisclosed safety risks.

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Kia EV6 common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford Mustang Mach-E	Kia EV6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3.6Average	28.4High
POWER TRAIN	2.1Low	7.8Above Avg
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.2Low	3.3Average
SERVICE BRAKES	0.8Very Low	1.8Low
STRUCTURE	0.3Very Low	1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	1.3Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.7Very Low	0.6Very Low
STEERING	0.6Very Low	0.3Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.2Very Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.4Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.4Very Low

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

How Does Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Kia EV6 Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Kia EV6 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford Mustang Mach-E	Kia EV6	Edge
2025	72/1005R / 8C	69/1000R / 0C	Ford Mustang Mach-E
2024	74/1003R / 35C	59/1002R / 38C	Ford Mustang Mach-E
2023	66/1003R / 104C	52/1003R / 98C	Ford Mustang Mach-E
2026(predicted)	71/100(predicted)	60/100(predicted)	Ford Mustang Mach-E

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E scored 74/100 and the 2025 Kia EV6 scored 69/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs the Kia EV6?

If you prioritize reliability and a lower number of owner complaints, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is the better choice. With a reliability score of 73/100 and only 10.7 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, it offers a more dependable experience compared to the Kia EV6. Despite having more recalls, the Mach-E's lower complaint rate suggests better long-term satisfaction. On the other hand, if you're open to a vehicle with more initial issues but are drawn to the Kia brand or specific features of the EV6, be prepared for a higher number of potential problems. With a reliability score of 43/100 and 48.9 complaints per 10,000 sold, the EV6 may require more attention to its electrical system and powertrain. Choose this model if you're willing to manage these challenges for its unique offerings.

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Kia EV6: Common Questions

Is the Ford Mustang Mach-E more reliable than the Kia EV6?: Based on our data, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is more reliable with an average score of 71/100 compared to 57/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Ford Mustang Mach-E or the Kia EV6?: The Ford Mustang Mach-E has more recalls (13) compared to the Kia EV6 (8). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Ford Mustang Mach-E or the Kia EV6?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has a lower complaint rate at 10.7 per 10,000 sold versus 48.9 for the Kia EV6. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Is the Ford Mustang Mach-E or Kia EV6 safer?: Both the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6 received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Ford Mustang Mach-E comparisons

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More Kia EV6 comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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