AutoCodes – KIA – B251F KIA

B251F KIA Code - High Mounted Stop Lamp Circuit Short to Ground

Quick Answer

The B251F code indicates that the ICU detected a short-to-ground condition in the high mounted stop lamp circuit, commonly known as the center or third brake light. Common causes include Faulty High Mounted Stop Lamp Assembly, High Mounted Stop Lamp harness is open or shorted, High Mounted Stop Lamp circuit poor electrical connection. Severity is High - diagnose this code as soon as possible. Driving is not recommended if the warning light is flashing, the engine runs poorly, or safety-related symptoms are present.

What it means: B251F KIA indicates High Mounted Stop Lamp Circuit Short to Ground.
Common causes: Common causes include Faulty High Mounted Stop Lamp Assembly, High Mounted Stop Lamp harness is open or shorted, High Mounted Stop Lamp circuit poor electrical connection.
Severity: High - diagnose this code as soon as possible.
Can I drive?: Driving is not recommended if the warning light is flashing, the engine runs poorly, or safety-related symptoms are present.

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Code Popularity 12

How popular is this code, among other codes? Low

Repair Importance Level

Urgent (Diagnose now) (3 / 3)

Repair Difficulty Level

Advanced (Pro) (3 / 3)

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Table of contents Created and updated by William Orellana on Jun 01, 2026

Description
Possible Causes
How To Fix
Cost to Diagnose
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Code B251F KIA Description

The B251F code indicates that the ICU detected a short-to-ground condition in the high mounted stop lamp circuit, commonly known as the center or third brake light. The control module monitors the brake light circuits and sets this code when it detects excessive current flow or a direct path to ground in the circuit. Possible causes include a damaged brake light assembly, pinched wiring, water intrusion, connector corrosion, or an internal fault within the lamp.

An active B251F code may cause the center brake light to stop working or operate intermittently. In this report, the code is listed as a history fault, indicating that the problem was detected in the past but is not currently present. Because the vehicle also has multiple low battery voltage history codes stored in other modules, it is possible that a previous low-voltage condition contributed to this fault being recorded. If the center brake light is functioning normally and the code does not return after clearing, no further repairs may be necessary.

OBDII Code B251F KIA - High Mounted Stop Lamp Circuit Short to Ground - AutoCodes.com — B251F KIA Code - High Mounted Stop Lamp Circuit Short to Ground

What does this mean?

What are the Possible Causes of the DTC B251F KIA?

Faulty High Mounted Stop Lamp Assembly
High Mounted Stop Lamp harness is open or shorted
High Mounted Stop Lamp circuit poor electrical connection

How to Fix the DTC B251F KIA?

Review the 'Possible Causes' above and visually examine the corresponding wiring harness and connectors. Check for damaged components and inspect connector pins for signs of being broken, bent, pushed out, or corroded.

What is the Cost to Diagnose the Code?

Labor: 1.0

To diagnose the B251F KIA code, it typically requires 1.0 hour of labor. Rates vary by location, vehicle, and shop. Many shops charge between $80–$150 per hour; dealerships and metro areas may be higher, independents may be lower.

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About the author: William Orellana is a Master Mechanic and Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years of experience diagnosing and repairing vehicles. Learn more about his background.