RoadVitals

2022 Kia EV6 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jul 29, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 274 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2022 Kia EV6 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 29, 2026

The taillight came loose and every time i take it in to get checked or fixed at the dealer they ignore me, so i went in and tightened my self. there were 4 nuts already off and inside my trunk and there was no loctite on the bolts holding the light on. now the lamp is leaking water into the trunk and the tail light has water inside of it.

NHTSA ID
11753424
Incident
Apr 25, 2025
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 11, 2024

While driving at normal road speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost all electronics (infotainment, air conditioning, dash). After 2-3 minutes these systems came back online but the car continued to have a warning light for the Lane Keeping system not functioning. This warning now comes on periodically after this incident

NHTSA ID
11576576
Incident
Mar 6, 2024
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 9, 2023

On SEPT.8, 2023 The car was charging and then it stopped charging. There was no warning or indications. All power failed and the EV is now inoperable.

NHTSA ID
11543531
Incident
Sep 8, 2023
Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Jul 14, 2023

While driving the vehicle with the main propulsion battery charged to 85%, a battery failure warning light lit at the time the vehicle lost power, slowed down to a stop and lost all lighting. The fault was a failure of the 12 VDC auxiliary power system which resulted in a loss of vehicle speed, dash board buttons to not function, and vehicle controls including lights to be lost. The vehicle was unable to be locked. The vehicle lost power and speed in a remote location causing me to pull off of the road. The vehicle lost all lighting preventing me from warning other drivers of the hazard situation. The car was towed to the nearest Kia Dealership who has confirmed that the 12 VDC power system was de-energized, caused by a dead 12 VDC battery and failed charging module (Kia Part Number 36400-1XFA0) and is currently awaiting replacement under warranted repair when the parts become available.

NHTSA ID
11532315
Incident
Apr 3, 2023
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jun 13, 2023

There exists a serious manufacturing defect in that the brake lights do not turn on when the car is used in one-pedal drive mode and even a rapid deceleration occurs due to regenerative braking. This was documented by Consumer Reports and it presents a critical safety hazard. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-safety/brake-lights-can-fail-to-provide-fair-warning-on-some-evs-a9533519285/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_FB&fbclid=IwAR3N_MQOI4ZGHfHSf18eAJSE7Cx02eftIx2k8F_oKaVo19_YJKgYEn7yeOE

NHTSA ID
11526770
Incident
Aug 1, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed May 26, 2023

When heavy regenerative braking is used, the car decelerates very quickly. Despite this, the brake lights do not turn on. This is very dangerous as the regenerative braking can be used to completely stop the vehicle. People driving behind me need to be aware that I am coming to a stop and are not currently warned. Technology Connections just released a very detailed video on the Ioniq 5 which uses the same drivetrain as the EV6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0YW7x9U5TQ

NHTSA ID
11523961
Incident
May 26, 2023
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed May 26, 2023

The brake light does not activate in a way that would signal to other drivers that the vehicle is stopping or slowing down, while using higher regenerative braking. The ipedal mode can have a significant amount of deceleration and not activate the brake light, even coming to a full stop and not activating the light, if the driver's foot is not completely off the pedal. I have been told by other drivers that my brake lights were out when I expected that they were working. Testing this with a odb2 device and another driver following behind me confirmed that the Kia EV6 does not activate brake lights when it should. Additionally, there is a video on youtube titled "Electric cars prove we need to rethink brake lights", demonstrating this on a similar vehicle, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0YW7x9U5TQ There is no indication in the vehicle that the brake lights are not functioning as a driver would expect. The lights do work when using the brake pedal and are not normally "malfunctioning". The nearest dealer has confirmed that the driver needs to take their foot off of the accelerator to actuate the brake lights. In my opinion, the vehicle should be recalled to apply a fix that signals braking and intent to slow down that is consistent with the deceleration of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11523956
Incident
May 25, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2023

The headlights on the 2022 Kia EV6 do not provide enough illumination for proper night driving. They are full and barely shine enough for 10 feet out from vehicle. This causes concern for object avoidance and proper identification from oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Kia made adjustments to later year 2022 model years, European models get Matrix lights, and all 2023 model years. IIHS rated 2022 model year headlights as “Poor”.

NHTSA ID
11505632
Incident
Feb 4, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 17, 2022

No distinct incident. The headlights on this car are very poor. My front visibility is extremely limited, especially to the right, since I got this vehicle in August 2022. I have had some narrow misses with pedestrians I couldn't see. These are the worst headlights of any car I've owned since 1970. I have noted that the IHSS rates these headlights as "poor". This should be unacceptable in this date and age. I would like you to require a recall these headlights with those on the newer models which hae achieved a "good" rating from the IHSS. I have requested this from Kia, but haven't gotten a reply. I brought this vehicle to a dealer yesterday. They told me the headlights were adjusted correctly, and that I'd should use high beams most of the time.

NHTSA ID
11497899
Incident
Dec 17, 2022

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

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