The defect
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sportage vehicles manufactured March 7, 2011, to June 8, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may intermittently fail.
The risk
Whenever the brake switch is not working, the brake lights will not illuminate, reducing the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC121.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Sportage | 2011 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage | 2011 | 181 | 6 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2015
23 of the 863 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2015 concerned the exterior lighting; Kia Motors America filed 82 campaigns in all.
| 15V861000 22 Dec 2015 | Ford Motor Company |
| 15V777000 20 Nov 2015 | Polaris Industries, Inc. |
| 15V759000 16 Nov 2015 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 15V630000 7 Oct 2015 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 15V575000 16 Sept 2015 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company |
| 15V566000 8 Sept 2015 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 15V520000 17 Aug 2015 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 15V519000 14 Aug 2015 | General Motors LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2015