Exterior Lighting Problems of Kia Motor Sorento - part 1

Headlights burn out within weeks to months after replacing them, overheat, flicker when driving. Has been a recurring problem since being bought in 2019.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

At night when I am driving, the headlight goes off. The light switch does not work on some settings. I never know when or where this dangerous situation is going to happen. Therefore, I try to avoid driving at night, as much as possible. This problem was addressed to kia more than a year ago. They keep saying that they don't see a problem.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Vehicle: 2025 kia Sorento (leased) VIN: [xxx] mileage at failure: 11,345 incident dates: March 23, April 27, November 28–December 1 type: loss of power / electrical failure / safety hazard complaint description: I am reporting repeated electrical failures and complete loss of power in my 2025 kia Sorento that created unsafe situations for myself and my children. The first failure occurred on March 23, approximately 2½ weeks after leasing the vehicle. The vehicle died without warning and had to be jumped. I brought it to the kia dealership, but service would not perform a diagnostic without an appointment and sent me home with no repair. The second failure occurred on April 27. This time the vehicle was completely dead again. Kia’s service manager retrieved the vehicle from my home, diagnosed a failed battery cell, and replaced the battery. The third failure occurred between November 28 and December 1. The vehicle was again completely inoperable. I attempted to jump the vehicle on multiple days, but it would not hold a charge. I was stranded without transportation. The interior doors and trunk would not unlock because the power locks failed, and my belongings and large business related were inaccessible. Headlights flickered like a strobe light before the vehicle lost power entirely. Kia towed the vehicle from my home on December 1. These repeated electrical failures have resulted in multiple incidents of being stranded, including with my children, and have caused loss of use of the vehicle for several days. The defect is unpredictable and creates a serious safety concern, especially because the vehicle can lose power without warning and I am unable to unlock the doors. This raises a serious safety concern when transporting children. I am requesting that NHTSA document this as a potential electrical system safety defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving down the road at night, the headlights turn off automatically, by themselves. This caused serious distress for not only myself, but also for my children in the car at the time, as we have had instances where driving around curves at dark, the lights go out, or while on the highway at night during deer season, the lights go out. We live out in the country, so city lights are not abundant. Found on multiple sites once looked up after experiencing "100% of the recalled vehicles experience the issue where a software error in the body domain control unit (bdc) causes the headlights and taillights to momentarily lose power while driving. Kia is now recalling nearly 74,500 Sorento vehicles, including Sorento hybrid and Sorento plug-in hybrid models from the 2024-2025 model years. This issue arises from a logic flaw in the bdc, resulting in the temporary failure of the low-beam headlights and taillights, which poses a significant safety risk for drivers. Kia will provide a free software update to fix the issue" there were no warnings, warning signs, or dashboard lights, so it was very alarming.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

My vehicle has been slow to start and I have had all other issues come on on my vehicle as far as lights as far as the forward collision warning light has came on and the check driver attention warning light has come on as well while I’m running my hvac past the level 2. I have also had my battery tested and that has tested fine. I have had my alternator tested and the first time it came back good the second time it came back failed and the third time it came back good.

See all problems of the 2021 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Headlights and taillights went out while driving and a few seconds and then came back on and everything on the dash also went out and came back on. I was driving at night time when this happened it put me and my child at risk. I called the dealership and they refused to fix saying that my kia is not impacted by this recall. But that I could schedule an appointment to have my headlights checked, I explained to them there is nothing wrong with my headlights this is clearly a software issue, tonya at kia louisville east is still saying its not related to the recall, and is scheduling appt to have my headlights checked. No warning lamps messages or any other symptoms before this happened and has only happened the one time.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

My headlights come on even when the car is completely off for now reason.

When turning left, after the turn is complete and the multi function switch returns to home position, the right turn signal activates. This could lead to confusion by surrounding drivers resulting in safety concerns. At night, the headlights will randomly turn off while in auto mode while driving. Numerous times this happens and seems to be increasing in frequency. This is a serious safety concern as the visibility is limited to the driver and others on the road. Potential for a serious accident. After the vehicle is parked at the night, the exterior lights remain on all night if the headlight setting is in “auto”.

My headlights went out completely and without warning on a dark highway. No brights or even the orange running lights. Not even the front hazard lights would go on. There was no warning until after they went out. I pulled over as best I could but there was very little shoulder and semi trucks speeding past me at 70 mph about a foot away from my car. There was a ditch about a foot to the right. I stayed in my car and turned the interior lights on until after highway patrol officer escorted me to a safe turn off. Thankfully my rear hazard lights were working. My husband had to drive a hour to come pick me up. I got home 3 hours later than originally planned. I talked to a mechanic who said it was likely a fuse that went out. I asked him why there was no warning and he said the warning for the lights is likely on the same fuse as the lights! how is that helpful?! we weren’t able to find the right fuse late at night in the dark, so we had to leave it on the side of the road about 60 miles from home until we could go to an auto parts store and drive it home in the daylight. It was a very dangerous situation. I could have been killed.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The car the engine wast the oil in 1 week that every weeks it has problem in the ring of the engine , we just buy the car they tell us it has it had guarantee talking to the bank and the where I buy the car it don't show . It has a bad smell of wet and burnt oil . .

The right headlight has stopped working as of 1 week ago. The car was returned to the kia dealership for this issue as well as a hesitation while driving and a chronic bumping sound in the car while driving. The car was kept at the dealership for 3 days sept 3,4 & 5 2025 and the headlights per the dealership were realigned. The right headlight was on at the dealership but on sept 6 2025 is back out. No warning showing on the dash and no warning on the dash when the light was first noticed being off. I have used all the light selector switch settings and nothing changes, moved wires on the back of the light housing, nothing. Tapped on the light front and back, nothing. My concern is the light is out so no night driving and the lack of the sensors warning the light is out. Major safety issue.

Lighting and/ or electrical. When using the auto headlight switch, all lights will come on randomly and periodically and stay on until you notice them or they ware down your battery. This is something that could be checked out by dealer and I will ask about it. So, for now, I do not use the auto headlight switch. My other problem is a glass issue. For no apparent reason, when I shut my driver side door a few weeks ago. My entire rear window shattered into pieces. There were no signs of damage to the rear window. Happened in my drive way. But, it could have happened anywhere. Filed a insurance claim and had the rear window replaced.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

I was driving and my kia started over heating and smoking and smelled like plastic burning I got it towed to the hendricks of kia and it sat there for 2weeks and I contacted them about giving me a lender until they fix my engine problem and they told me that my engine is not under warranty but is a recall I didn’t blow my engine I recently bought it about 6 months ago.

See all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

Lights shut off by themselves at night in auto mode in dark environments!.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The headlights will randomly turn off while driving, mostly when turning on the right blinker. This has been happening a few times a month since I got the vehicle in 2017. More recently, the bottom brake lights and running lights have been shorting out.

Not recall.

My lights are set to auto but when driving they randomly switch off. The dash shows the switch from auto to off but the control is still set to auto. I have to manually switch the control off and then back on for the lights to come back on. I’ve also noticed a few times in the morning my lights are on. My switch is set to auto and my car is completely off but the lights are on. This is very unsafe as it happens at night and I can’t see the road.

I have now replaced the headlight bulbs in my 2016 kia Sorento 6 times and it's getting worse as it gets older. I believe it is a safety issue since the last time I was out of town, traveling in the middle of the night when it went out. I had to wait until morning to find an auto parts store to buy and replace the bulb. No inspections have been done by anyone. Yes, the warning lamp comes on and stays until reset.

Headlights turn off at night when set in the auto position and turn on when the car is off.

When I drive at night with the headlights on, sometimes the headlights will all go off until I click the button a couple of times then they will come back on, and this scares me because it can cause a wreck when I can’t see.

I have a 2019 kia Sorento that is available upon request for any inspection needed. I replaced the passenger headlight bulb for the low beams 4 times. Each time the bulb go out after a few days. Now, both headlights are out and I can only use my high beams which can cause a safety concern to other drivers as well as myself and family. Vehicle has been inspected by a licensed mechanic. The mechanic stated its a dealer issue after the replacement of the bulb 4 different times. No warning issues prior to failure just when it initially happened the dash warning light regarding low beams lights out starting with the passenger side now both passenger and drivers side. Kia dealer states my car VIN number does not have a recall. But there is a current recall for same issue for 2019 kia Sorento and I was sent a letter in the mail in febuary 2025. But when I called to confirm the dealer stated my car VIN number did not come up under the recall.

Vehicles instrument cluster goes black at times ( speedometer, tach and all exterior lights and turn signals are inoperative during this time) I took it to the dealership and they said they couldn’t duplicate the problem.

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

In the last year I have had to replace my headlight bulbs at least 3 times on each side. My yearly mileage is only around 9,000-10,500. The body shop has tried different brands of bulbs, tried not having the automatic light setting on and only turning on when needed, etc. Nothing seems to correct the issue and once I had them both go out within the same week. They go out so frequently that the shop has an extra set on hand now for when I call. I'm worried if I don't notice one out because I don't drive at night every day that I'll be without either headlight until I can get into the body shop yet again to have changed out.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

The contact owns a 2025 kia Sorento. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle brand new from the dealer and driving the vehicle to the residence, the contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 25v006000 (electrical system, exterior lighting) after conducting a VIN search the same day. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The mileage on the vehicle was 10. The actual mileage was 530.

Low beam headlights would work and some times not work and then one day they stopped working completely. We've had everything checked out and there is no explanation as to why this is happening. Replaced headlights, relays, and checked wiring.

Front headlights are fogging up and blocking headlights. Dealership has looked at the issue and waiting for kia to approve the replacement. No action yet, but if this is happening to my SUV, I'm sure others are having the same issue.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Sorento. The contact stated that on several occasions the front low beam headlights failed and was no longer illuminated. The headlight bulbs were replaced but the failure eventually reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions and the driver’s and passenger’s side headlights failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that on one occasion there was a burning odor inside the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the front passenger’s side headlight had failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the passenger’s side headlight assembly had melted. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

1) the headlights went out along with the rear taillights. 2) could have caused a crash. 3) no. 4)no. 5) no. Someone had to tell me the break lights were out and then we noticed that the headlights were also out as well. We notified the kia dealership of the problems and were told that a diagnostic of the problem would cost $150 plus repairs.

The lights dim way too quickly. Hid basically is garbage. Major safety issue since most people can’t afford to be constantly replacing their headlight assemblies.

When my head lights are on automatic, they will cut on and off on their own while driving at night! completely off! my break lights also come and go. I have had the bulbs replaced and still have the same issue.

All exterior lights and interior lights are turned off while driving. Exterior “running” lights turn on by themself.

While I was driving at night, my headlights would turn completely off. Sometimes it would happen when I turned my blinkers on, sometimes when switching from high to low beam, and sometimes totally randomly. Lights were set to auto at the time. It’s been extremely dangerous because most of the time I’ve been driving on dark county roads. Have not taken it to a shop yet was trying to self diagnose the problem first. Found information online that this has been a common occurance with kia Sorentos. No warning lamps light up.

I went in to the burlington, wa kia dealership for this recall fix. And after waiting an hour they tell me they don't have the right part. It's now been about a month later and I'm still waiting to hear when the part will be available. I don't think this is ok for a safety issue.

See all problems of the 2007 Kia Motor Sorento 🔎.

When in "auto" mode for headlights, the lights occasionally turn off while driving. I have to switch to "on" to get them to work again. Very dangerous obviously. Also, sometime the lights do not turn off, or turn on in the middle of the night when the vehicle is parked. Again, this is while in "auto" mode.

The stalk appears to be failing, specifically when lights set to auto. The most alarming aspect of this issue is when head (and maybe tail) lights go out entirely while driving [at night]. This has happened several times, at various speeds, drive times, vehicle occupancy, etc. Additionally, the head and tail lamps will turn on randomly when the car is off and locked. This can happen both hours or days after parking and has been the cause of replacing two batteries within two years.