Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Dec 9, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 153 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Kia Forte submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming exterior lighting
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 9, 2025
The centered high mounted brake light overheated during normal vehicle operation. The plastic bulb socket and housing melted, causing the bulb to dislodge and fall into the interior of the vehicle. The bulb was extremely hot and burned holes through an interior fabric item that was stored in the rear cargo area for less than 15 minutes. There was no collision or modification involved. This created a potential fire hazard inside the vehicle. No warning lights or dashboard messages appeared prior to the incident. The cause of overheating is unknown. The damaged bulb, socket, and surrounding components were available for inspection at the time of the incident.
NHTSA ID
11703885
Incident
Dec 8, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 2, 2023
Fire reported
Light in trunk exploded and melted. This was the original light that came with the car. Thankfully the trunk was empty and it did not catch fire.
NHTSA ID
11547751
Incident
Sep 30, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 18, 2019
REAR PASSENGER LIGHT CONSISTENTLY GOING OUT REGARDLESS OF LIGHT REPLACEMENT. REPLACED LIGHT BULB NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAD HARNESS REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL REMAINED.NOW ALL REAR LIGHTING HAVE STOPPED WORKING WHILE CAR IS ON.
NHTSA ID
11256490
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed May 21, 2019
BRAKE LIGHT STAY ON ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF
NHTSA ID
11209149
Incident
May 21, 2019
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 24, 2019
THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS ARE BURNING OUR VERY 3 WEEKS WITH THE PLASTIC BULB CONNECTOR GETTING VERY , VERY HOT.
NHTSA ID
11171813
Incident
Jan 9, 2013
Mileage
33,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureExterior lighting
Filed Mar 17, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported
TRAVELING 45 TO 55 MPH RAN INTO FOUR LARGE DEERS AND RAN OFF ROAD. DAMAGE FRONT OF CAR. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON BUT DID NOT FLATE. I SUBSTAIN SEVERE SHOULDER INJURY.
NHTSA ID
11079973
Incident
Feb 21, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 27, 2018
I KEEP HAVING TO REPLACE FOG LAMPS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLAMPS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED FREQUENTLY. THE COMPONENT YOU PLUG THE BULB INTO KEEPS GETTING HOT AND MELTING SOMETIMES CAUSING THE BULB TO BREAK. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS 8 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND THE FOG LAMPS 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS.
NHTSA ID
11075198
Incident
Feb 12, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 22, 2018
I KEEP REPLACING LIGHT BULBS AND THE PART WHERE U INTRODUCE THE LIGHT BULBS IS MELTING. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK FOR RECALL ON THESE. THANKS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER 1 YR AGO AND HAD REPLACED LIKE 4 BULBS WITHIN A YEAR.
NHTSA ID
11064298
Incident
Jan 15, 2018
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own