FaultScore

2015 KIA Forte headlight problems

13 of the 325 complaints about the 2015 KIA Forte are about the lighting — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 67,700 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Exterior Lighting 13 100.0%

Lights across every KIA Forte year

2010 15 10.2%
2012 23 15.6%
2013 14 9.5%
2014 22 15.0%
2015 13 8.8%
2017 43 29.3%
2019 17 11.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Memphis, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Engine issues constantly

NHTSA complaint #11631986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Compton, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear driver's side brake light failed. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that she previously replaced the rear driver’s side brake light three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear driver’s side taillight brake wiring failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA complaint #11508413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Masury, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Car has an electrical problem battery keeps draining changed alternator fuel pump starter and battery and still something draining the battery

NHTSA complaint #11490482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Roanoke, AL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE TAIL LIGHTS THAT SURROUND THE BREAK LIGHTS CONSIST OF FOUR LED LIGHT BARS. IT IS ALWAYS RANDOM WITH OF THE LED ACTUALLY WORK. THE

NHTSA complaint #11407869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Dade City, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND DRIVING OR NOT, WHEN YOU USE THE TURN SIGNAL THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO OFF. IF YOU WIGGLE THE BLINKER ARM, THEY WILL COME BACK ON. BUT YOU ARE DRIVING WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE BECAUSE THE LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11389332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LA Vergne, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL OF THE HEADLAMPS / ALL TAIL/PARK/MARKER / ALL I/P ILLUMINATION LAMPS GOES OUT WHEN TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNALS WHILE DRIVING & SIGNALING FOR AN UPCOMING TURN. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY & IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. THE LAMPS USUALLY RETURN TO NORMAL WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO.

NHTSA complaint #11378044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,700 miles Tomball, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE KIA HEADLIGHTS REGULARLY AND SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND FLICKERED BACK ON WITH VARYING DURATION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS WAS NOTICEABLE AT NIGHT WHEN EVERYTHING WAS DARK AND SUDDENLY THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHEN WE NEEDED THEM AND QUITE OFTEN WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE TURNING SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED WHICH IMPACTED THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOR BOTH THE PASSENGERS AND OTHER SURROUNDING CARS AND PEOPLE. DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH NO STREET LIGHTS ON A 2-LANE ROAD WITH INCOMING TRAFFIC, THEN PLANNING A TURN AND ACTIVATING THE TURNING SIGNAL CAUSED SOME CONCERNS TO BOTH THE KIA DRIVER AND THE INCOMING VEHICLES WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AND CAUSED LOSS OF VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AT THE WRONG MOMENT. IT IS NOT GOOD TO NOT SEE AND NOT BE SEEN. I BELIEVE THIS WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT INCREASED THE RISK OF ACCIDENT PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT FIXED FOR ABOUT $400 TOTAL (PARTS AND LABOR) BUT I FEEL THIS HEADLIGHT ISSUE IS NOT NORMAL AND SERIOUS ENOUGH TO BE REPORTED TO HELP PREVENT UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA complaint #11365855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Attalla, AL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CONSTANTLY BLOWING BRAKE LIGHT, AND HAVE HAD BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HOUSING REPLACED IN 3MONTHS DUE TO THEM LITERALLY BURNING UP AND MELTING. FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AN EXPENSIVE NUISANCE

NHTSA complaint #11351442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Randallstown, MD

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PRIOR TO THE ENGINE INCIDENT I WAS EXPERIENCING THE LIGHTS FLICKERING , POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 6/21/2020(FATHER'S DAY MORNING). I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE STORE WHEN MY CARS ENGINE SEIZED SUDDENLY. I RECENTLY HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN 4/03/2020. NO PROBLEMS REPORTED AT THE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT. SO THE MORNING OF 6/21/2020. I STARTED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LEAVE MY BOYFRIENDS HOUSE. AS SOON AS I MADE THE LEFT TURN OUT INTO THE STREET I HEARD THIS KNOCKING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR I'M ASSUMING THAT WAS THE ENGINE THEN SUDDENLY ! THE CAR MADE THIS LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND I IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AS SOON AS I MADE THE LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE STREET THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS IF THE CAR WAS ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE ! THANK GOD ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET INTO A PARKING LOT IN NUETRAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO A SHOP USING MY INSURANCE AND I HAD TO LEAVE IT AT THE SHOP OVERNIGHT IN THEIR PARKING LOT BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSED FOR FATHER'S DAY. THE NEXT DAY I GET A CALL FROM THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY TRIED TO JUMPSTART IT, THE CHECKED THE BATTERY, OIL LEVEL, AND THEY SAID THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT OIL RELATED THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I HAD TO GO AND AND LOOK FOR AN ENGINE TO REPLACE THE FAILED ENGINE. IT COSTS ME ALOOOOOOT OF MONEY ! I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS. I GOT IT AT A DEALERSHIP BUT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED SO I WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT THROUGH THE WARRANTY. THE CAR JUST HIT 87,000 MILES ! I GOT THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AT 54,000 MILES. I DO NOT DRIVE LONG DISTANCES, I KEEP UP WITH ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR AND MY ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILED ! HELP !! THIS PROBLEM IS TOO COMMON AMONGST THE KIA FORTES. I HAVE A 2015 KIA FORTE5.

NHTSA complaint #11350161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Royal Palm Beach, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL OF THE HEADLAMPS / ALL TAIL/PARK/MARKER / ALL I/P ILLUMINATION LAMPS GOES OUT WHEN TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNALS WHILE DRIVING & SIGNALING FOR AN UPCOMING TURN. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY & IS WORSENING WITH BY THE DAY. THE LAMPS USUALLY RETURN TO NORMAL WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO.

NHTSA complaint #11349296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Fort Myers, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. WHEN THE PLUNGER ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS MOVED IT WILL GO OUT AND ON AND SOMETIMES IT WILL BLINK. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE VEHICHLE IS IN MOTION OR STILL. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2014 KIA FORTES AND 2015 KIA SUVS FOR FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES. THE PART NUMBER IS THE SAME, SO SHOULDN'T THE RECALL COVER MY 2015 FORTE AS WELL?

NHTSA complaint #11240768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TAKATA RECALL: MY BRAKE LIGHTS FROM BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE ALWAYS GONG OUT. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO REPLACE BULBS. I'VE EVEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE ENTIRE LIGHTING WIRES BRAND NEW AND STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11181120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,000 miles Springhill, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN I TURN ON DIRECTIONAL THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, I THEN HAVE TO TURN THE DIRECTIONAL ON AN OFF TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. CITY STREETS WHILE I AM COMING UP TO MY TURN.

NHTSA complaint #11151900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2015 KIA Forte problems

← Full 2015 KIA Forte report