Brake Light problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Forte

I have owned my vehicle for approximately 6 years. Since 2017, I have started having an issue with the driver's brake light burning out. At the first sign of trouble and multiple replacements within a 4 month period, I took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer recommended replacing the entire taillight assembly. The replacement service was completed and the issue was fine for about 1 year. In 2018, I began having issues with the brake light again for the left and right. It started with needing to replace the lights every quarter. Now, I replace the brake lights at least every 1-4 weeks. The light either has become so hot and blown out, or when I hit a slight bump in the road -- the light dislodges. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer and they have surmised that the issue is not related to electrical wiring, but they believe the socket is not holding the bulb snugly to retain lighting. This is a major safety issue due to the inability for other drivers to know that I am braking. There was one instance that both brake lights went out at night. As a result, I carry a spare packet of taillight bulbs in my vehicle at all times. I intend to return to the dealership on 10/15/2020 to request another repair to the light and to purchase a new taillight assembly. I have taken care of the vehicle ensuring service is completed in a timely fashion. This has been the only negative experience with the vehicle, but it is a crucial issue as it puts my life and others' lives in danger. This is not a new issue with the 2013-2014 kia Forte. This is a common issue in forums. Yet, there is no recall.

I purchased this kia in 2014, since then, I have had to repeatedly replace the headlights, tail / brake lights and the license plate lights. The plastic part of the connectors have dried out and are breaking into pieces due to the wiring getting too hot, as the parts that are left are now starting to melt. I have owned several different cars and I have never had to replace the lights as much as in this car. Also, another issue is the driver side seat belt doesn't want to unlatch. I will be parked and it would sometimes take about 2 min for it to unlatch. Sometimes I would think it wasn't ever going to unlatch and I would be trapped.

I am the second owner of this vehicle which I purchased at 21,000 and it now has around 65,000. In the last three years I have had to replace several different lights multiple times. It began shortly after I purchased it with replacing rear driver's side brake light three times in a six month period. From there I have replaced the license plate lights twice the other brake light twice. When replacing the brake light in the back window, the socket was melted. This past year I replaced the driver side headlight and a couple big months later the passenger side. Now the driver side has gone out again.

During month of December 2017 discovered all brake lights (total of 3 bulbs) burned out. The center top brake light assembly discovered melted (self replaced with new ones). Three weeks ago, right brake light assembly and bulb both burned out and melted. I replaced the light bulb and used electrician tape to hold socket and bulb in place.

Right brake light was out took car to midas to have bulb replaced, where the melted light socket was discovered. Took car kia dealership the same day 9/11/2017 to find out if there was a recall on this item and was informed there was not. The kia advisor jack told me that they where able to replace the bulb but had to get approval to replace the whole socket. On 9/12 I was informed that dpsm denied the request to cover the part. Pictures sent to dpsm by kia dealership.

The exterior lights on this vehicle need replacing every few weeks along with the cruise control not disengaging when brakes are applied and gear shift does not engage. The brake lights will light when the interior light control is in the off position but when the car is on and lights have been turned on, the brake lights do not light. When it first began happening the car was taken to earnhardt kia in phoenix and they said they could find nothing wrong with the lighting system or electrical system. In the course of three years there have been 12-15 lightbulbs replaced including a headlamp.