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Kia Forte LED headlights aimed wrong, dimming road view

NHTSA campaign 18V771000 · Reported 2018-10-31 · Kia Motors America

medium How serious is it? About this label

Reduced nighttime visibility raises your crash risk, so get it fixed soon; the notice does not tell owners to stop driving the car.

What's wrong, in plain English

Kia is recalling certain 2019 Forte cars that came with LED headlights. The low beams were not aimed correctly when the headlights were built, so they may not light up the road the way they should. That means you may not see as much as you should at night, which makes a crash more likely. The cars also do not meet the federal safety rule for headlights. Dealers will check the aim and replace the headlights if needed.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your Forte is affected. 2. Contact a Kia dealer or Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 (recall SC171) to schedule service. 3. Let the dealer check the aim and replace the headlights if needed — free of charge.

Affected vehicles (1)

2019 Kia Forte

Who to contact

Kia — official Kia recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-333-4542

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Kia headlight recalls: which models lose light at night? · all 3 Kia recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Safety risk: If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.