Component that failed: Vehicle headlight/running light has water penetration and the running lights do not stay on. Additionally there is yellowing of the LED running lights, which is a known defect in the Kia EV6. Safety issue: Running lights reduced night time illumination and made it more difficult to see road. Running lights yellowing are a sign of premature failure. Dealer inspection: Dealer identified problem during a state inspection (light turned off after a few seconds). Vehicle headlights have three issues: 1. Yellowing of LED running lights, 2. Failure of seals allowing water into the headlight unit, 3. Malfunction of the running lights (turns on briefly and then goes out) Manufacturer included replaceable desiccant packets in the headlight, which indicates they understood the potential for water penetration/condensation.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763663 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Most vehicles with ABS experience what I call “ABS shudder/jutter” when applying brakes across a road seam where the road surface is uneven or a rut in the road. In this particular case while applying the brakes across a long rut in the road, the “ABS shudder/jutter” was much worse. NOT SPEEDING and having plenty of distance to stop. With brake pedal to the floor several times, the vehicle continued to move forward. The last few feet before colliding with a pickup truck, although the road was completely dry, the vehicle was driving forward yet sliding forward slowly. Felt no different than being on ice. Collision aversion system did nothing to help avoid. There is also only electronic parking brake and not an emergency brake to pull a handle on to assist in stopping. Dealership wasn’t able to find anything simply by driving around and slamming on the brakes and not finding any error codes. Regional technician currently scheduled to be here the 27th of Jan. Several people online have expressed similar concerns, just haven’t hit anything. I feel that the issue lies with the ABS system specifically braking over uneven road seams or ruts in the road and my experience is being discounted.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11713276 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The contact owns a 2022 Kia EV6. The contact stated that while driving approximately 64 MPH, the left side of the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle aggressively jerked to the left into oncoming traffic. The message “Smart Cruise Disabled” was displayed. The contact was able to quickly regain control of the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 65,300.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11727539 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

The front lower air dam and felt underguard detached while driving at highway speed on an interstate. The panel dropped and dragged on the pavement. I secured it with duct tape and zip ties at the roadside in order to drive home. There was no collision and no impact with road debris. The bumper fascia directly above the panel is undamaged, with no deformation and no paint transfer, which is not consistent with an impact and is consistent with failure of the panel's mounting fasteners. The panel shows longitudinal drag scoring on the underside and outward flex-fracture of the mounting clips. The right side detached first and the left side remained held by a single screw. The component is available for inspection on request. There were no warning lamps or messages before the failure. I brought the vehicle to a Kia dealer in [XXX] on XXX, at approximately 40,000 miles and within the 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. The dealer's technician identified multiple fractured mounting clips, of which only two remain intact. The dealer declined to submit a warranty claim, citing evidence of impact, and reattached the panel using added screws. The fractured clips were not replaced. The dealer's paperwork records the vehicle as repaired, but the technician verbally advised me to drive carefully because the underlying fastener failure was not corrected and the panel is not held by its designed fasteners. I opened a case with the manufacturer's consumer assistance center on June 9, 2026 (case number XXX) and submitted photographs as requested. I have received no substantive response in six weeks. A body panel that detaches at highway speed and drags on the roadway is a hazard to the vehicle behind it and to my control of the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11753114 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

1. Severe Safety Concerns (Battery Thermal Risk & Component Interdependency) The PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater in my vehicle has failed. This component failure has completely disabled my vehicle’s air conditioning (AC) system. In the Kia EV6 architecture, the AC compressor loop is not merely a cabin comfort feature; it is intrinsically linked to the vehicle's thermal management system responsible for cooling the high-voltage traction battery pack. California temperatures are projected to hit 110°F immediately. Without a functioning AC system, the vehicle cannot execute critical battery cooling procedures. Yesterday, when plugging the vehicle into a charger, the high-voltage battery became alarmingly hot. Forcing a lithium-ion battery pack to accept high-current DC fast charging without operational coolant loop heat rejection poses an immediate, catastrophic risk of thermal runaway and vehicle fire. I am terrified to operate, park, or charge this vehicle in upcoming extreme summer conditions. 2. Predatory Maintenance Plan Tie-In Offer Yesterday, the dealership called and acknowledged the issue. They offered to cover 70% of the diagnostic and repair labor costs under corporate goodwill, as I am technically out of the standard warranty period. However, they applied an unfair and coercive condition: I am only eligible for this safety assistance if I purchase a mandatory 2-year maintenance contract costing $120 per month (totaling $2,880 over 24 months). Because the EV6 is a fully electric vehicle, its routine maintenance profile is virtually nonexistent. The dealership explicitly stated that this contract would exclusively cover tire rotations. Charging nearly $3,000 for tire rotations as a gatekeeping mechanism to fix a dangerous battery cooling defect is highly exploitative. The cost of this forced maintenance plan essentially equals or exceeds paying for the entire repair out-of-pocket, rendering the "70% goodwill coverage" an empty gesture.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11748279 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov