There are 4 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2023 Kia EV6in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was driving on a residential street at fairly slow speeds, like 25 mph. There was a stop sign so I engaged the brakes and the car did not smoothly slow down but instead it felt like the back tires locked up and a skid started and I actually went into the intersection before coming to a stop. There was no ice, no sand, just the road surface and the skid in the rear of the vehicle.
A couple of months ago the breaks started making a strange grinding noise and it starts vibrating for a few brief seconds, but violently. There are no warning lights or any indication of malfunction. I took it to the dealership and they allegedly fixed it. Nevertheless, less than a month later, the noise came back, and not just a noise, but the vehicle attempts to stop abruptly without me engaging the breaks. It happens intermittently, and it is quite scary when it happens while driving high speed on a freeway. It creates safety issues. This is not my first EV. I am very familiar with EVs, regenerative breaking, and so on. This is not a regenerative breaking issue. I don't even know how to properly describe it. it is very unusual.
Component/System Failure: The i-Pedal feature in the Kia EV6, designed for one-pedal driving through regenerative braking, consistently fails to stay engaged. This component is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk:The erratic behavior of the i-Pedal function poses a significant safety risk. When the i-Pedal mode disengages unexpectedly, drivers must abruptly switch to using traditional brakes. This sudden transition increases the likelihood of delayed reactions and potential accidents, especially in heavy traffic or complex driving situations. Problem Reproduction/Confirmation: The problem has been widely reported by multiple users on forums and confirmed through personal experience. It has been noted that the i-Pedal mode disengages when the vehicle is stationary or when the battery is fully charged. Inspection by Authorities: The vehicle has been inspected by a dealer, but the issue persists due to a lack of awareness or understanding of the i-Pedal system among service personnel. No inspections by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives have occurred yet. Warning Lamps/Messages: There are no warning lamps or error messages indicating the malfunction of the i-Pedal feature. The issue is typically observed when the vehicle unexpectedly exits i-Pedal mode, requiring the driver to manually re-engage it using the steering wheel paddles. Assessment of the Incident:The inconsistency in the i-Pedal system's engagement appears to result from potential software bugs, sensor malfunctions, or design flaws in the regenerative braking system. This unreliability significantly impacts daily driving safety and efficiency. Recommendation 1. Software Update: Kia should release a firmware update to ensure the i-Pedal mode remains stable and reliable under all driving conditions and even after vehicle is turned off and back on.
While using I-Pedal mode the brake lights do not engage unless fully off of the accelerator. Even a large deceleration force does not engage any of the brake lights when coming to a full stop quickly. This is very dangerous as drivers behind cannot tell you are decelerating quickly.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026