2010 Kia Forte Lights Problems
11 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Lights Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Owner Complaints (11)
Your brake light bulbs are getting too hot and melting the bulb socket, causing your brake lights to stop working. This has happened multiple times over the years, which is a safety concern since other drivers may not see when you're braking. The fix will likely involve replacing the brake light bulb harness and potentially upgrading to cooler-running LED bulbs or addressing any wiring issues causing excessive heat.
Parts you may need:
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Your headlights have turned yellow and developed cracks, making it harder to see during evening and night driving. Commercial headlight cleaners haven't helped restore them. You may need to replace the headlight lenses or assemblies to restore proper visibility and safety.
Parts you may need:
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Your brake lights keep burning out repeatedly—you've replaced them over a dozen times in two years, and your signal lights are also failing. When you recently replaced the brake lights, you noticed the bulb socket plastic was slightly melted with burn marks on the connector, and the bulb won't stay seated without pushing it in. This suggests a faulty electrical connection in the light housing that's causing excessive heat and bulb failure.
Parts you may need:
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Your low beam headlights are too dim for safe nighttime driving, giving you less than 3 feet of visibility ahead and making it hard to spot hazards. The problem appears to stem from the chrome surrounding the bulb inside the headlamp burning out and reducing light output. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the headlight bulbs, reflector cup, or the entire headlight assembly.
Parts you may need:
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As I am driving my car losses speed slows to almost stop. I keep my foot on the gas pedal very lightly pressing acceleration to keep it going.
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the rear brake lights would not properly illuminate while depressing the brake pedal. After replacing the brake light bulbs, the failure recurred. The contact indicated that while depressing the brake pedal the passenger’s side brake light would not illuminate however, after releasing the brake pedal, the driver’s side brake light would turn off and the passenger’s side brake light would illuminate. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK UP AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED JENKINS KIA OF GAINESVILLE AT 855-764-9404 (LOCATED AT 3345 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE BULB FAILED, WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED WITHIN THE HOLSTER, AND HAD FALLEN INTO THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MANEUVER FROM THE PARK POSITION. A TOW COMPANY WAS CALLED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE TOW DRIVER SHOWED THE CONTACT A TRICK TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT THEN NOTIFIED UNIVERSAL KIA HICKORY HOLLOW (5406 TARGET DR, ANTIOCH, TN, 37013) AND UNIVERSAL KIA RIVERGATE (1536 GALLATIN PIKE N, MADISON, TN, 37115) OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALERS CONFIRMED THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULBS KEEP QUIT WORKING, THIS APPEARS TO BE A POOR DESIGN ON THE BULB SOCKET TO HEADLAMP HOUSING CONNECTION, BOTH SIDES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES, IF YOU REMOVE THE SOCKET AND REINSTALL IT THEY START WORKING AGAIN, THERE IS NO CORROSION PRESENT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS IT CREATES A SERIOUS DANGER TO OCCUPANTS AS OTHER VEHICLES ARE UNAWARE OF THE VEHICLES INTENDED DIRECTION. *TR
ESC LIGHT STAYS ON, BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, AND CRUISE CONTROL WORKS SPORADICALLY, ALL FUSES ARE WORKING, A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REFLECTS THAT THE A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MIGHT BE THE CAUSE, WHICH IN FACT IT WAS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,400.