Newer model kia sportage vehicles have low mounted turn signals that are seperate from the rest of the brake light assembly. this presents two issues: 1: the low mount makes it harder to see in general 2: the separation makes the turn signal not as apparent when the signal is use. i believe that these vehicles are a hazard on the road due to the design of the turn signal.
Safety issue: 2017 kia sportage rear turn signals not integrated into the brake lights and too low to be easily seen. i've been told on multiple occasions that my rear turn signals are too small (7 7/8" wide x 1 3/4" high), too low (23" from street level, on the rear bumpers), and too far away from my brake lights (20" from turn signals on bumpers to brake lights) to be seen by cars behind me, especially during daylight hours. what makes this even more unsafe is the signals wrap around the bumper, so that of the 7 7/8" of lamp, only 2 1/2" show in the rear. the rest of the signal lamp area is on the side of the vehicle and not visible to cars behind me. (please see uploaded photos.) if a driver is following too close or if i'm in bumper-to-bumper traffic, it's impossible for a car behind me to see me signal. this makes it dangerous for me to change lanes, merge, or make turns. after being notified by many drivers of my small, out-of-place and inconspicuous turn signals, i took the car to the dealer, thinking that the circuit to the brake lights was faulty, since the brake lights don't blink to signal a turn. the dealer checked the car and stated that this is the way the car was designed: brakes lights do not blink to signal a turn; the only rear turn signals are located on the rear bumpers. oddly, this dangerous design flaw shows up only on the sportage. other kia models have turn signals incorporated into or adjacent to the brake lights. it should be a simple matter for kia to incorporate the turn signals into the brake lights on the sportage, since all their other models already do so. to my knowledge this is the only car in the united states with tiny bumper-mounted turn signals and no signals in the brake light area. hopefully, this dangerous design is so radically out of step with recognized auto safety standards as to merit a safety recall.
Fmvss 108,table i-a, daytime running lamp (drl), device activation requires that drls be "automatically deactivated when the headlamp control is in any 'on' position." on the 2017 kia sportage the drls remain on with the headlamp control in all "on" positions. this gives the appearance that the high beams are on all the time. opposing drives have flashed their lights at me to indicate that my high beams were on when they were not. this creates tension and anger in both drivers. i was even stopped once by the police because of the high beam on appearance. since these light fail to meet fmvss requirements, kia should initiate a recall to remedy the problem. given the commonality of systems manufacturers use in several vehicle models, other kia models may be similarly affected.
The focused beam headlights on low beam are extremely bright when set to kia standards. oncoming traffic periodically flashes headlights at me to dim my headlights which are on low beam. a few oncoming cars have kept their high beam lights on even though i flash my high beams to let them know my low beams are on. the approaching high beam lights partially blind me restricting my vision. some cars i am following indicate my low beam lights are too bright by slowing down or using the turn signal flashers to indicate my lights are too bright. these actions occur on state highways while i am driving at night. i have an open case with kia. case number 12446047. kia customer service has advised they can do no more because the focused beam head lights are set per kia specifications.
Re: 2017 kia sportage ex. the rear turn signals and the back-up lights are in-conspicuously located. 16" lower than tail/brake lights and lower than license plate deems a probable traffic safety hazard. the 9" curved lenses illuminate approx 2-3 " in the rear and approx 6-7" on the side. a certain daytime hazard. very poor engineering this probable unsafe hazard takes place every time the turn signals are applied or the vehicle is in reverse. an accident has not occurred directly or indirectly to this complaint...yet. this complaint is ongoing since i purchased the vehicle, 5/17/2017. please investigate and return further information. thank you
When purchased in may, 2017, the headlights had to be adjusted as they were aimed too high. the adjustment made the lights too low and with a very short "cut-off" point. it is almost impossible to see the roadway in front of the vehicle at night.
Highlights to bright, can not drive at night without getting high beam by most cars that pass