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Modern Kias, particularly the fascinating EVs, have come a long way from the automaker’s humble beginnings. A brand that used to stand for “penalty box” and “economy” is now laden with futuristic styling and advanced technology. The Kia EV6, for instance, is not perfect by any means, but we didn’t hold back in calling it a great car. EV6 owners love their cars, too, especially that it’s pretty much a normal car that just happens to run on electricity.
However, there’s a particularly quirky downside to EV6 ownership — something that could trigger a safety recall. All 2025 Kia EV6 models have a warning for a blind spot with rear cross traffic, but a few get an upgraded version called Blind-Spot View Monitor (with 360-degree surround view). It’s an optional feature in the EV6 Light Long Range and comes standard in the EV6 Wind and GT-Line.
The system projects a live video feed of the car’s blind spots in the digital instrument cluster upon activating the turn signals. We still prefer checking the wing mirrors with our eyes, thank you, but this is one advanced safety feature that we won’t mind leaving on — as long as it doesn’t rain. As it turns out, the system’s cameras are practically useless in heavy rain, and user Alternative_Way9945 on r/KiaEV6 posted a video of the entire ordeal.
It’s not pretty. And it’s a glaring oversight for an electric car that was the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.
Hydrophobic coatings to the rescue
What’s needed to fix this is a way to repel water from the car’s glass surfaces. This writer has been using Rain-X Glass since the early ’90s, and it’s practically a cheat code for clear visibility. Reapply it at least monthly to your car’s windows and windshield, and you’re good to go in rain or snow, regardless of whether you have rubber or silicone wiper blades.
Meanwhile, Rain-X Plastic is a hydrophobic coating for all plastics, including clear acrylic, Lexan, polycarbonate, or plexiglass. It’s also great for wing mirror-mounted cameras to repel water splashes, and it’s a somewhat easy fix to what could have otherwise been a safety problem. However, user Gonso7913 on r/KiaEV6 highly recommends the Japanese-made Soft99 Glaco Mirror Coat Zero. Similar to Rain-X, it’s an ultra-hydrophobic coating for side mirrors and cameras, perfect for repelling water, dirt, or moisture and keeping the surface cleaner for longer.
The trick to using hydrophobic treatments for glass or plastic is to reapply them more frequently in rainy or snowy weather. Preferably, use them once weekly or twice monthly to maintain the surface’s water-repelling properties.
The Kia EV6 is not alone in this predicament, as other members of its close-knit family tree from Hyundai and Genesis, particularly the angular yet awesome Ioniq 5 and gorgeous GV70 crossover, are prone to their cameras blinding up in inclement weather. Thankfully, owners can rely on spray-on hydrophobic coatings to remedy the issue.
