2022 Kia EV6 Reliability Report

Brake lights stay off during strong regenerative braking in one-pedal mode unless the driver's foot comes fully off the accelerator. Other reports describe a loud crunch or clunk followed by the car lurching forward at stops or losing propulsion on the freeway with reduced braking. Dealers cannot reproduce it and find no codes. The parking brake can set itself in one-pedal mode with the hatch open, and the car can roll back on a hill with the brake pressed. One crash followed severe ABS shudder over a rut, with the car sliding forward on dry pavement.

Panoramic sunroof glass shatters while driving, with a loud bang, on a hot day or at highway speed. One report led to an ER visit. The power liftgate opens and then immediately closes again, hitting people on the head, and two injuries are reported. Other owners describe a misaligned tailgate that will not close when the car is parked off level, and a frunk lid that popped to the ajar position in traffic. Minor grille damage from road debris triggered active air flap warnings and a repair of nearly $6,000. Warranty claims are sometimes denied.

Brake lights fail to come on under heavy regenerative braking in i-Pedal mode, even when the car comes to a full stop. Owners confirmed this with a following driver and an OBD2 tool. Weak headlights are the second theme. Owners describe poor reach, limited view to the right, and near misses with pedestrians, and cite an IIHS rating of poor for the 2022 lights. Dealers say the lights are adjusted correctly. One report ties a total loss of lighting to a 12-volt power failure that also stopped the car. No crashes are reported.

Airbags failed to deploy in a fatal head-on collision with a pedestrian. In the same report, forward collision avoidance gave no warning and did not brake. Another crash report describes the car speeding off on its own while stopped to make a left turn. A third complaint says the airbag floor wiring harness runs unshielded under the moving front seats. The owner warns it can be cut or corroded by moisture and road salt. Replacement reportedly costs about $9,300 and is not covered by warranty.

Lane keeping steered the car out of its lane with adaptive cruise on, crossing two lanes into a barrier with no warning. The crash injured two passengers and totaled the car. Another owner sees a persistent "Check Lane Assist" warning that disables smart cruise for more than 20 days at a time. A dealer-advised tire replacement and alignment did not fix it. A third report blames a failed audio amplifier for muting safety alerts. The dealer called it a known problem, and the only warning was popping and static from the speakers.

Lunging forward with the brake pressed is the more serious report. The car surged at a red light and rear-ended the vehicle ahead, with no warning lights or chimes. The report is flagged with one injury. The other complaint is a limp mode that held the car under 20 mph on a 45 mph street. The dealer blamed the recalled ICCU, then kept the car more than a month and stopped responding.

False forward collision warnings and emergency braking hit on empty roads at anywhere from 35 to 60 mph, raising rear-end risk. A blind spot warning sometimes lights up at the same time. The warning clears only after a full stop and a shift through Park. Dealers find no codes. In the one crash report, the car swerved out of its lane with semi-autonomous driving on and sideswiped a semi. Lane keeping, emergency braking, and blind spot warning all failed to act, and damage came to roughly $14k.