Random obscure problem.... brake lights will not go off when parked

[Montanaman]

I didn't have to Google this issue because no one has ever heard of this randomness. I parked my 2021 GT1 in the driveway ( 1700 miles) and my neighbor came over to tell me my lights were on. Well yes and no. The only lights that were on were the brake lights including the upper rear glass light. Hmm. So I checked to see if the pedal was stuck and made sure the parking brake was not on. Started the car and stopped it. Locked it... etc etc.. and nope. Brake lights fully engaged. I had to disconnect the battery so as to not drain it over night. Now of course I can't open the hatch as KIA opted to not put an internal release in the car! I have to crawl through the seats to use the emergency release and deal with it tomorrow. Iv'e had over 30 cars in my 60 years and never heard or had this happen. It's probably a fuse but this car is one more issue away from a lemon law suit.

 

[Stock_stinger]

There's an inductive switch that trigger the tail lights that maybe too wide. Simple way to test it. Take a butter knife and put it between the sensor and pedal (the sensor is green and white). See if the light turn off. If they do, switch is out of alignment. If they don't, switch may have went bad or a short somewhere

 

[Montanaman]

Thanks. Either way its a trip or a tow to the dealer. Not good on s brand new car.

 

[DoctorStiches]

I didn't have to Google this issue because no one has ever heard of this randomness. I parked my 2021 GT1 in the driveway ( 1700 miles) and my neighbor came over to tell me my lights were on. Well yes and no. The only lights that were on were the brake lights including the upper rear glass light. Hmm. So I checked to see if the pedal was stuck and made sure the parking brake was not on. Started the car and stopped it. Locked it... etc etc.. and nope. Brake lights fully engaged. I had to disconnect the battery so as to not drain it over night. Now of course I can't open the hatch as KIA opted to not put an internal release in the car! I have to crawl through the seats to use the emergency release and deal with it tomorrow. Iv'e had over 30 cars in my 60 years and never heard or had this happen. It's probably a fuse but this car is one more issue away from a lemon law suit.

I had this happen to my 1989 Nissan. There is a toggle swith for the brake pedal. The small peice that pushes this switch can break or fall out and the car thinks (from the brake switch) that you are on the brakes and the lights go. This is a super easy fix and very odd for a new car to have this problem.

 

[Montanaman]

So after crawling through the back seats to pop the hatch and reconnect the battery the brake lights now seem to be functioning as they should. However my neighbor noticed they were on the night before so twice they would not turn off. I'll have to take it in and hope it's something they can trouble shoot and fix as this is a major safety issue it it continues to fail. Not good on a brand new car.

 

[Montanaman]

And to top it off I never noticed the dreaded hatch rattle but I drove it to charge the battery and with the spare tire cover and the floor cover off the rattle appeared. I really like this car and I just had to choose between this and my Honda Ridgeline. Kept this. I hope I don't regret it

 

[Snowwhite]

make sure it's not something rattling in the jack/tools assembly, or the spare tire too loose. Every time I notice it, turns out to be I forgot to slam the seat backs fully into their locked position.

 

[EClapp3]

And to top it off I never noticed the dreaded hatch rattle but I drove it to charge the battery and with the spare tire cover and the floor cover off the rattle appeared. I really like this car and I just had to choose between this and my Honda Ridgeline. Kept this. I hope I don't regret it

You removed all the stuff that blocks noise. You are going to have more noise. What did you expect to happen?

 

[Montanaman]

Put the covers back on and pushed the seats back and no noise. Hmm

 

[MerlintheMad]

Put the covers back on and pushed the seats back and no noise. Hmm

How fortunate for you. It sounds like your issues are manageable ones that, though too many, will be resolved.

 

[Montanaman]

And after seeming to be back to normal I walk out to check on the car and the brake lights are magically back on again. Wow wow wow. Pull the battery again so it won't drain and the car goes in to the dealer Thursday. I sure hope this isn't one of those " well it seems fine now we can't duplicate the problem" issues. This is not only a battery drainer but a major safety issue.

 

[RedCal]

Take pictures / video to show the dealer... just in case they can't replicate it, at least ypu can show them proof it's happening

 

[Montanaman]

Take pictures / video to show the dealer... just in case they can't replicate it, at least ypu can show them proof it's happening

I did just that. Photos with the brake lights on with the battery connected and off when I pull the negative on the battery. Odd, bizarre issue and that combined with the transmission not shifting in comfort mode has me trying to sell out of this lease. Gave KIA a shot and at 1700 miles it's not going well. I know all all cars have issues but this is a bad start and regardless of warranty coverage its a hassle

 

[Montanaman]

Well I said goodbye to my 2021 GT1 AWD yesterday. I took it to the dealer I leased it from to have them try and find the brake light issue and they offered to buy out my lease and basically take the car back. They main reason I unloaded it is because weeks after I got it I was in a horrible motorcycle accident and broke my back and arm badly. I thought I could handle the low seating position but it was not working.

Because of the incredible values on newer used cars they basically bought out my lease because they can make money on reselling it. I lost my 3k down payment and 5 payments as the car just sat in my garage for 4 months. Hated to see it go inspite of the issues I had. On that note it took them a few hours to find the " never saw this before" brake light problem. Turns out it was a loose wire under the hood near the fuse box. Sure enough the brake lights did magically turn on when the car was sitting there. Service advisor was shocked and they found the loose wire that evidently happened when the car was built. It only had 1700 miles on it.

I'll miss the car as I still think its a brilliant beautiful machine.

 

[SafetyPilotCal]

Sorry to hear about your motorcycle crash! I agree, I don't think I could deal with getting in and out of that car if I had major back issues, it's just too low. Glad it worked out with them buying the car back.

 

[EClapp3]

you should get a Mercedes or BMW next

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

Well I said goodbye to my 2021 GT1 AWD yesterday. I took it to the dealer I leased it from to have them try and find the brake light issue and they offered to buy out my lease and basically take the car back. They main reason I unloaded it is because weeks after I got it I was in a horrible motorcycle accident and broke my back and arm badly. I thought I could handle the low seating position but it was not working.

Because of the incredible values on newer used cars they basically bought out my lease because they can make money on reselling it. I lost my 3k down payment and 5 payments as the car just sat in my garage for 4 months. Hated to see it go inspite of the issues I had. On that note it took them a few hours to find the " never saw this before" brake light problem. Turns out it was a loose wire under the hood near the fuse box. Sure enough the brake lights did magically turn on when the car was sitting there. Service advisor was shocked and they found the loose wire that evidently happened when the car was built. It only had 1700 miles on it.

I'll miss the car as I still think its a brilliant beautiful machine.

Holy shit I am so sorry about your accident! That is horrible!

 

[DoctorStiches]

Hrv for sure lolol

 

[Montanaman]

you should get a Mercedes or BMW next

Been there done that. I've had them all. Vette's, 911's etc. Never was a big Mercedes fan. BMW used to make great cars. They have a few good models but you pay through the nose for every option and maintenance? Good God. BMW stands for "bring more wallet". They make great motorcycles though.

I am drawn to the Korean brands because if the Warranty but then again who keeps high end cars for 10 years any more? Mazda is making some of the best driving, best looking most reliable cars and SUV's on the planet now days because they are all screwed together in Japan where the workers actually care. Their power trains are getting a bit boring but if they come out with that new in-line 6 look out.

Bottom line is we are probably all going to be driving some kind of hybrid/electric sled soon enough. Especially if this new socialist administration has it's way.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

Been there done that. I've had them all. Vette's, 911's etc. Never was a big Mercedes fan. BMW used to make great cars. They have a few good models but you pay through the nose for every option and maintenance? Good God. BMW stands for "bring more wallet". They make great motorcycles though.

I am drawn to the Korean brands because if the Warranty but then again who keeps high end cars for 10 years any more? Mazda is making some of the best driving, best looking most reliable cars and SUV's on the planet now days because they are all screwed together in Japan where the workers actually care. Their power trains are getting a bit boring but if they come out with that new in-line 6 look out.

Bottom line is we are probably all going to be driving some kind of hybrid/electric sled soon enough. Especially if this new socialist administration has it's way.

The Stinger was the biggest purchase of my life so far! (I'm pretty young - picked up the car at 26 years of age)

I saved up for many years before grabbing this toy. I want to keep it stock and take advantage of the ten year warranty!