The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·16V862000·Announced 2016-11-30

Kia Recalls Sorento and Sportage Vehicles for Trailer Hitch Wiring Defect

Kia is recalling 2016-2017 Sorento and 2017 Sportage vehicles because a trailer hitch wiring malfunction may cause brake lights to stay on, confusing other drivers.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where the defect increases the risk of a crash, but no injuries or fatalities have been reported, fitting the 'High' severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Kia Motors America is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Sorento vehicles manufactured between October 27, 2014, and August 25, 2016, and 2017 Sportage vehicles manufactured between December 10, 2015, and August 26, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. Due to a malfunction of the tow hitch module, the trailer brake lights may remain constantly illuminated. This condition causes the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, which governs lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.

If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while the vehicle is being used, other drivers may be confused, which increases the risk of a crash. No specific injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text.

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
KIA SORENTO, SPORTAGE
Brand
KIA
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Category
Vehicle — SUV / Crossover
Hazard
Affected units
10,212

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • SORENTO
  • SPORTAGE

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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