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Kia Headlight and Parking Light Recalls: What Owners Should Know
These Kia lighting recalls concern three different functions: high beams on certain 2020 Tellurides, low beam aiming on certain 2019 Fortes equipped with LED headlights, and parking lights on certain 2025 K5s. The recurring concern is visibility, but the defects differ. Telluride high beams may fail; Forte LED headlights may have incorrect low beam aiming; and a Power-net Domain Controller software error may make K5 parking lights flicker. Each listed notice addresses a different model and model year, so none appears repeatedly in this group. The remedies also differ, ranging from headlight inspection and replacement to a software update.
Warning signs to watch for
- Telluride High Beam Headlights May Fail (SC299): high beam headlights may fail.
- Forte LED Headlights Aimed Incorrectly (SC171): improperly aimed headlights may reduce the driver's visibility.
- K5 Parking Lights May Flicker From Software Error (SC341): parking lights may flicker.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of these lighting notices tells owners to stop driving, and none includes a park-outside instruction. The 2020 Telluride high beam recall, SC299, does not tell owners to stop driving. The 2019 Forte LED headlight aiming recall, SC171, likewise does not tell owners to stop driving. The 2025 K5 parking light software recall, SC341, also does not tell owners to stop driving. Those are the driving instructions stated in the supplied notices; they do not provide an assurance about continued driving.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are free of charge. For Telluride SC299, dealers inspect and repair or replace high beam headlights as necessary. For Forte SC171, dealers inspect headlight aiming and replace headlights as necessary. For K5 SC341, the PDC software is updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 1 |
| medium | 1 |
| low | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report exterior lighting problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under exterior lighting for the Kia models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Exterior lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Telluride | 183 |
| 2019 Kia Forte | 15 |
| 2025 Kia K5 | 6 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2025 | Kia K5 Parking Lights May Flicker From Software Error | low |
| Feb 26, 2024 | Kia Telluride High Beam Headlights May Fail | high |
| Oct 31, 2018 | Kia Forte LED Headlights Aimed Incorrectly | medium |
Common questions
Can my Kia K5 parking light recall be fixed over the air?
The SC341 notice for certain 2025 K5 vehicles specifies a free PDC software update through either a dealer or an over-the-air update. The Telluride and Forte lighting notices instead specify dealer inspection and headlight repairs or replacement.
Does the Forte recall cover every type of headlight?
The SC171 notice identifies certain 2019 Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. Its stated problem is incorrect low beam aiming. Dealers inspect the aiming and replace the headlights as necessary, free of charge.
What does the Telluride headlight recall repair involve?
For certain 2020 Tellurides covered by SC299, dealers inspect the high beam headlights and repair or replace them as necessary, free of charge. The notice identifies possible high beam failure and does not tell owners to stop driving.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.