40 complaints reported

2016 Kia Sorento Exterior Lighting

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
40
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2020

MULTIPLE TIMES, WITH VEHICLE IN PARKED, WITH THE LIGHTING SETTINGS SET TO "AUTO", THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED "ON" BY THEMSELVES WITH THE CAR LOCKED AND EMPTY MORE THAN 4 TIMES THAT I KNOW OF - COULD HAVE DRAINED BATTERY OVERNIGHT IF I DID NOT CATCH AND CYCLED LOCK MECHANISM. MULTIPLE TIMES, WITH VEHICLE IN MOTION, WITH THE LIGHTING SETTINGS SET TO "AUTO", THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE CYCLED RANDOMLY FROM OFF TO ON, AND VICE VERSA, AND QUICKLY REVERSING TO NORMAL OPERATION AGAIN MORE THAN 10 TIMES THAT I HAVE NOTICED WHEN IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED (BY AUGUST 2ND 2020), BOTH DURING DAYTIME AND NIGHT EXTERNAL LIGHTING CONDITIONS, BOTH ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. NOTE THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE LIGHTING LEVEL OUTSIDE DID NOT WARRANT A CHANGE IN CONDITION. PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT WITH THE AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL LIGHT LEVEL DETECTOR. COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY WITH WIDE TIME SPACING (10+ DAYS BETWEEN OCCURRENCES). VEHICLE HAS 70800 MILES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020
Jan 2020

AUTO HEADLIGHTS GO OUT RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Dec 2019

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED RANDOM EVENTS WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FOR 5-10 SECONDS. THIS MAKES FOR A VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WHEN DRIVING IN THE EVENING AND IT ALL GETS DARK. WE NOTICE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, WE COULD BE IN THE CAR FOR SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME OR LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME, WARM AND COLD WEATHER, WET AND DRY WEATHER, HAVEN'T NOTICED WHILE TURNING BUT HAVE ON STRAIGHT ROADS, DASHBOARD GOES DARK TOO WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE SINCE IT IS VERY RANDOM IN NATURE. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES DUE TO THIS YET.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2019
Apr 2019

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT THE CAR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON. THE LIGHTS ARE IN THE "AUTO" MODE. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE DAYLIGHT ISSUE BUT NOT THE NIGHT. BOTH CORPORATE AND DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN "JUST CHANGE PARTS". WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO DO A RECALL? SOMEONE TO DIE AT NIGHT? AN ACCIDENT? THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON MY CAR @ 40,000, THEN 51,000 AND NOW AT 62,000 MILES. THEY ARE CLAIMING NO LONGER A WARRANTY ITEM EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN IN THERE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS NUMEROUS OF THESE COMPLAINTS OUT THERE, A RECALL OF THE K900 WAS COMPLETED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND SAME YEAR VEHICLES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2019
Apr 2019

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY GO OFF.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2019
Feb 2019

BOTH HEADLAMPS ARE CRYSTALIZING IN THE FAR TOP CORNERS AND ARE CONTINUE TO SPREAD RAPIDLY. THE PLASTIC IS ROUGH OVER THE AREAS AND CANNOT BE BUFFED OUT OR REMOVED WITH HEADLAMP RESTORE PRODUCTS. EVERY DAY THIS IS EXPANDING IN AREA AND WILL LEAD TO HEADLAMPS NOT PROJECTING THE LIGHT ON TO THE ROADWAY. THIS IS HAPPENING IN DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2019
Jan 2019

MY OUTER LIGHT BULB FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO THE MAIN LIGHTS IS OFF. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO BUY A NEW BULB BUT WHEN THEY CHECKED IT AND MOVED THE BULB A BIT IT TURNED ON. TECH SAID IT'S NOT THE BULB BUT THE CONNECTOR. THAT THEY'RE USUALLY MELTING NOT CONNECTING CORRECTLY. ENDING FRYING THE WHOLE FRONT LIGHTS. THAT IT KEEPS OCCURING.. I CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND NONE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Dec 2018

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND INTERSTATES, AND AT BOTH LOW OR HIGHER SPEEDS THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTING WILL TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SPECIFICALLY AFTER SUNSET WHEN IT IS COMPLETELY DARK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR AT MY LOCAL KIA DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY SAID THERE IS AN "OPEN CIRCUIT IN IPM (FUSE BLOCK)." I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND MAKE ALL THE VEHICLES SAFE FOR MY FAMILY, MYSELF AND FOR OTHER DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS ON THE ROAD WHO COULD END UP IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2018
Sep 2018

HEADLIGHTS CUTTING OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT . TOOK TO KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY LIGHT SWITCH LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN . IT WAS REPLACED . ONE WEEK LATER , IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING , THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO DID THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COULD NOT GET IT IN TO LOOK AT FOR 2 WEEKS . THIS MORNING WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE DARK , WHEN HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN , THIS TIME THE DASH LIGHTS ALSO WENT OUT . THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2018
Apr 2018

BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT, SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHILE DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SCARED THE [XXX] OUT OF ME. HIGH BEAMS STILL WORKED WHICH SAVED ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2018
Feb 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,800.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2018
Sep 2017

XENON HID HEADLIGHTS AUTO ADJUSTING, DRIVING DOWN HILLS THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DROP SHARPLY TO ABOUT 27 FT. IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, FRANK PETROZZI OF GRIECO KIA OF JOHNSTON RI AND DISTRICT MANAGER, BARRY ZOLL FROM KIA MOTORS AMERICA 732-372-8295 AT NIGHT.11/8/2017, SO THEY COULD SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THEY TELL ME THAT THIS IS THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK, AND ARE WORKING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO TO CORRECT IT. TODAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MR. TREVOR MY CASE MANAGER FROM KIA 800-333-4542. MY CASE # 12462124. MR. TREVOR WAS SORRY THAT HE CAN NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING AS SPECIFICATION AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE NEW KIA SXL SORENTO'S HAVE NEW HEADLIGHTS, BUT WILL NOT FIT IN MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KIA SHOULD CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS ISSUE CORRECTED, THRU KIA MOTORS, SINCE JULY 26,2017

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016
Aug 2017

WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, HEADLIGHTS TURN ON IN DAYLIGHT (WITH BRIGHT SKY ON DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY) AND STAY ON WHILE ON AUTO WITH CLEAR AND UNOBSTRUCTED DASHBOARD LIGHT SENSORS. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE A POSSIBLE CAUSE OR FIND ANY RECURRING CONDITIONS THAT MAY TRIGGER THIS. I TOOK THE CAR AS WELL AS A VIDEO OF THE ISSUE TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER (HORNE KIA, GILBERT, AZ) AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY TESTED THE LIGHT SENSORS AND THEY ARE WORKING FINE. I NOTICED THE ISSUE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT AROUND 15,000 MILES BUT I DIDN'T PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. AT 20,000 MILES, I MADE A VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE FOR MY RECORDS (AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). THE CAR HAS ALMOST 40.000 MILES NOW AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS. THANKS!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2017
Aug 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH TO THE LOW BEAMS AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,604.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2015
Jul 2015

NO ACCIDENT OR ANY SUCH THING HAS HAPPENED YET BUT I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS AS THEY ARE TOO EASILY COVERED WITH MUD WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS. I WAS DRIVING TO ANOTHER CITY 2 HOURS AWAY AND IT GOT DARK OUT AND WHEN I NOTICED I COULDN'T REALLY SEE AHEAD OF ME VERY FAR AND I KNOW THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS CAR ARE AMAZING. SO I STOPPED AND SURE ENOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ALL COVERED WITH SPATTER FROM OTHER VEHICLES TIRES SPLASHING THE WET ROAD UP ONTO THEM. FINALLY AFTER CLEARIN THE MUD OFF OF THE HEADLIGHTS I COULD SEE AGAIN FAR IN FRONT OF ME. BUT NOT EVEN 30 MINUTES LATER DID I HAVE TO STOP AGAIN TO CLEAR OFF THE HEADLIGHTS SO I COULD SEE IN FRONT OF ME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2016 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Kia Sorento has 40 Exterior Lighting complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.