Headlight Switch problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Sorento

I've replaced the driver side low beam headlight 4 times in 2 months and the driver side front turn signal twice during the same span. There seems to be a short as the headlight will work until I use the turn signal while the headlights are on. The headlight burns out and then the turn signal only flashes when the switch for the headlights is off.

First warning sign was the headlight, low beams, and all interior electronics would shut completely off for about 2 seconds randomly when the turn signal was used. Next the driver side headlight, low beam, went out when replacing the bulb the replacement bulb worked until the bulb was placed in the socket. After cleaning the sockets to create a better connection, still nothing worked. I switched bulbs from driver to passenger to see if the bulb would get a good connection on the passenger side and now neither low beam headlight works. This is a light switch issue that was recalled for 2012-16 kia Sorento's but I'm having the same issue in a 2011.

My 2011 kia sorrento parking lights stopped working. Mechanic stated that wire harness had to be replaced from turn signal switch/inside steering column and down through to rear lights. He stated that the area was packed with dirt and debris even into the headlight assemble. Mechanic couldn't figure out why the area was so packed with dirt and water. Total repair cost $398. 00.

Original owner '11 Sorento 4cyl, awd w/tow package & approx 88k miles. Problem 1st noticed about 2 mos ago when seat belt light began flashing with audible clicking coming from relay behind dash. It was daytime when this happened 1st few times & I could not duplicate problem. This issue seemed to happen after starting car & would go away after a few moments of driving. Releasing & re-connecting seat belt had no effect. The 1st time it happened @ night I realized that the headlights & dash lights would flash on & off also. Still could not duplicate problem, but being a mechanic I watched for it to happen and tried different things to see if they had any effect on the issue. Always would begin after initially starting car, but not do it most times. Then 3 evenings ago, I found it happening every time I would start the car & would even do it afterwards driving down the road. I was 70 miles from home & tried to get back. It didn't matter whether the headlight switch was on, off or auto, it would still flash all lights & seatbelt light w/clicking from relay. On the way home, while driving a rural road, the lights again started blinking on & off causing me to hit a metal pole a drainage ditch thru farmer's fence into his field. Accident pushed metal bumper (behind bumper cover) back about 12", tore the entire front end &lights from car & bent hood back 1 1/2 feet and buckled it upward - all of this without ever deploying the airbag. These problems are prevalent in this car as I have read, but I now have a vehicle which despite it's damage will now duplicate the lights going on & off every time the car is turned on. Have contacted kia corp in hopes that they will want to use my car to get to the cause of this issue & finally correct it. As a mechanic I very well understand the need to be able to duplicate problem to find cause . . . . . Kia now has no excuse.

While driving at night the headlights will go off then come back on after being off for approx 2 seconds. It also occurs sometimes when changing lanes and using the turn signals. I feel that it may be a defect in the turn signal headlight assembly switch on the steering column.