Kia Motors America: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Kia Motors America reported this defect to federal regulators on Dec 1, 2017 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 134,366. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
The risk
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
6 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Kia Forte | 444 | 3 | 36 | 32 |
| 2014 Kia Forte Koup | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 Kia Forte | 195 | 5 | 13 | 16 |
| 2013 Kia Forte Koup | 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 Kia Forte | 292 | 4 | 23 | 20 |
| 2012 Kia Forte Koup | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 17V773000.
Full record for the 2014 Kia Forte → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →