VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SALT-STATE: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC238) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia conducting Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace brake line(s) in certain 2014-2017 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In addition, an anti-corrosion material will be applied to the underbody components for added protection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Kia Forte Koup brakes problems
severe 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: BRAKE TUBE/LINE REINSPECTION/REPLACEMENT & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL REAPPLICATION (SC238A) - This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake tube(s)/line(s) for leakage and apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components on certain 2014-2017MY Forte and Forte Koup (YD) vehicles produced from November 7, 2012 through April 19, 2017, originally sold or currently registered in one of the 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt are used, that previously had the cavity wax and anti-corrosion material application completed under SC238.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER (RE)NOTIFICATION (SC238A) - The document is the owner (re)notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace brake line(s) in certain 2014-2017 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In addition, an anti-corrosion material will be applied to the underbody components for added protection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC238) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace brake line(s) in certain 2014-2017 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In addition, an anti-corrosion material will be applied to the underbody components for added protection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: BRAKE TUBE/LINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC238) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake tube(s)/line(s) for leakage and also apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components on certain 2014-2017MY Forte and Forte Koup (YD) vehicles produced from November 7, 2012 through April 19, 2017 and originally sold or currently registered in one of the 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt ar
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I received a voluntary service campaign letter dated August 19, 2022. The letter was in regard to corrosion of the brake lines. I was driving when my brake lines ruptured. I had the car towed, 11/ 22/22, to the Kia dealership in Jamestown, NY. I received a call from the service department, letting me know all the brake lines were 100% covered under terms of the recall. I was told they didn't have…
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2016 Kia Forte Koup?
It's a meaningful issue. 5 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 127,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.