4.0

definitely annoying
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
19,500 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace entire taillight assembly (3 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
  3. replaced tail light foam in right rear tail light (1 reports)
Get free help with your lemon!
close ad
2017 Kia Forte lights problems

lights problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2017 Kia Forte:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2017 Kia Forte Owner Comments

problem #5

Jul 032020

Forte

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I went into my local dealership because there was and inch of water in my passenger side tail light, again. this had previously been fixed about a year or two ago. At that time, they replaced the seal on the back of the tail light. At least that is what they told me. I never went and checked. When I brought it in, my wife and waited for 2 hours before the advisor came back and told us that they had to get with tech line about the issue. They gave us back the car, with nothing really being done to fix it. They hadn't done the oil change we had requested either, but that's a separate issue. I called back the following week and spoke with the manager who told me that they hadn't heard from tech line yet, but he was going to go ahead and order the tail light for me since he was sure that they would go ahead with that repair as I'm still under the standard warranty. I went back in this past Friday. as I had not heard anything from them. It's been 2 weeks. The manager told me that the part was on back order and that it should be here on Tuesday (tomorrow). We'll see how well this fixes the problem, considering that it seems to be a fairly common problem.

Update from Dec 10, 2020: About a month later, the other tail light had moisture building up in it. Took it back and after they left it sitting in the sun for several hours, the moisture was gone and they said they couldn't see any moisture. They replaced a seal in the tail light anyway, and let me go.

- Philip S., Athens, US

problem #4

Jun 052019

Forte ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,638 miles

I own a 2017 KiaFforte with same problem of condensation inside passenger side rear brake light. Looking for suggestion. HELP!!!!

- Particia A., San Antonio, US

problem #3

Feb 262018

Forte

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,313 miles

I called about the water in my taillights, it was back in February in the rain. They replaced the lights. Now that it is raining again, there is water in the light again. When I made the appointment to have the situation checked out again, they said the gaskets needed to be replaced. So on the follow up appointment, now they discover a crack in the seam under the truck rubber. They said I broke it. I never saw the crack and now its going to cost me $700.00 to repair.

I feel there is no way I could have cracked the seam of the light. The comment of the service department worker when I mentioned it was "It's broken so you broke it. How do I know it wasn't cracked when it was replaced? They were the only people who have removed or worked on the tail light. It just seems odd to me that its the same tail lights as the first time. Never been shown where the crack was before they it lights were put back on the car is crazy.

I am going to have make an appointment with the Service manager and speak with him about the whole situation and how it was handled and my concerns about his opinion on how I could have cracked the seam. Also I'm going to write a letter to Jim Bone the owner of the dealership.

- Janie S., Santa Rosa, CA, US

problem #2

Sep 272017

Forte LX 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,634 miles

The only reason I'm complaining is I see another person on here had the same problem on the same side with the bad seal. I caught it early enough so my light didn't short out from the condensation. Other Kia Forte owners may want to keep an eye out for this issue.

- dawn woody, Delafield, WI, US

problem #1

Nov 122017

Forte LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles

After a rain I noticed a lot of fine water beads on my passenger side brake light and found it odd because I hadn't waxed or rain-x'd it in awhile. I wiped the water away, only there was still condensation and a LOT of water beads INSIDE of the taillight. Not cool on a one-year old car. I took it to the dealership and they stated that it had shorted out the bulb and that they would need to replace the entire assembly. I was informed this is the second Forte that they have repaired with this issue.

- Ryan D., Blacklick, OH, US

Not what you are looking for?