2016 Kia Sorento Exterior lighting Problems

All tail lights of suv go in an out randomly.

NHTSA ID

11721535

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

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

NHTSA ID

11680806

Incident

Aug 14, 2025

Not recall

NHTSA ID

11676374

Incident

Jul 26, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11672522

Incident

Jul 4, 2025

I am having an issue with my Kia headlights when on dim. The lights are so dim I am afraid to drive the car at night because I am scared I will hit a person, animal or object. I am replacing light bulbs frequently. Cars are flashing their lights at me (when I need to drive at night) because of the dimness. I took my car to a Kia dealer and they could not diagnosis the problem. They advised to replace the entire headlight assembly with a cost of $2,600.00. I am on Social Security and can't afford to have the repair made. I have read a lot of complaints of other Kia lighting issues. I feel a recall should be made immediately due to the seriousness of the issue.

NHTSA ID

11621648

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

I own a 2016 Sorento SXL AWD and this issue just started. I work evening shift and get off at 11pm. I always have the lights set to "auto", while driving home on a rural road at night and the headlights switch off on their own. I have to manually switch the lights off and back to auto for them to come back on. Potentially dangerous situation and Kia should issue a recall. Can find any recall but have done research and find it is an on going issue seems be be a multi function switch.

NHTSA ID

11607808

Incident

Aug 9, 2024

My left headlamp always goes off. The lights go off all the time. I changed the bulb but its Not it. It the faulty light cable connections. I replace higher lights 12000k and the left light cable never stays on. Cause the left light cable is crap and never probably done. So i bought a lemon new off the lot

NHTSA ID

11606942

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

while driving at night the headlights will go out. it has done so several times in the past. it is very scary when it happens on the freeway. Also the brake lights, specifically the drivers side, will stop working about every 2 weeks or so. I replace it and shortly after, it will stop working.

NHTSA ID

11605867

Incident

Jul 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear brake lights became inoperable on several occasions. The contact was pulled over due to the rear lights being inoperable. The contact noticed that the sockets for the bulbs had overheated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the bulbs. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11597902

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

While driving the auto lights shut off and I must turn on lights. This has happened a few times

NHTSA ID

11574616

Incident

Feb 27, 2024

Issues with headlights turning off while I'm driving in the dark. Sometimes happens when I use turn signal other times just driving on a straight road in the dark country. Also transmission slips every so often but enough that passengers notice and want to know what is happening. Now car can not be shifted out of park even with foot on brake and steering will lock up and key can't be turned. Of course dealer says would cost over 1k to check it all out and even with 2 warranties nothing is covered. Please advise me what to do next. Lights have been doing this for at least 4 years. Can't remember on the trans issue for sure. Steering locking up about a year and just recently can't shift.

NHTSA ID

11556228

Incident

Nov 26, 2020

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the headlamps became inoperable. The contact stated that the light switch was jiggled, and the lamps illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 152,000.

NHTSA ID

11553996

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

152,000 mi

At various times the headlights shut off while in "auto" mode. Since it is "auto" mode it is always at night and you suddenly cannot see the road. We have found when this happens that the system goes to the "Parking" light mode. Rotating the multi-function switch to a different position other than "auto" and back allows the headlights to come back on. We have not found a pattern in this dangerous event where we are able to repeat the failure.

NHTSA ID

11541051

Incident

Aug 27, 2023

"Auto" mode on headlights sometimes causes the headlights to turn off while in use in dark conditions. Auto mode also sometimes causes the lights not to turn on automatically or turn on randomly, even when the car is not in use and key is not in the ignition. Lights can turn on randomly when not occupied or being driven.

NHTSA ID

11537349

Incident

Aug 9, 2023

When driving at night with the light switch in auto position, headlight will turn off. Sometimes, turning the switch to off and back to auto will make them work. Sometimes wiggles the switch will make them work. Sometimes you have to switch them to on to make them work.

NHTSA ID

11532603

Incident

Jul 9, 2023

Vehicle is consuming an excessive amount of oil, I see this is a common issue with this make and model , even a TSB regarding this issue. Yet, dealership states it is normal. I’m sorry but I have never owned a vehicle where it is normal to have to add 4 qts of oil between oil changes. This is a serious concern for engine wear and tear. I would like to escalate this issue to seek resolution. Another issue I see is both rear window regulators failed at same time. This I believe is due to poor design and low quality parts being used. Plastic pieces are used to hold metal wire in place to raise and lower windows. This plastic easily breaks over time causing windows to fall down suddenly and potentially shatter sending glass and debris in rear passengers. Headlight switch is defective causing headlights to turn off randomly while driving and then not being able to turn back on immediately. Huge safety concern at night.

NHTSA ID

11528652

Incident

Aug 12, 2022

My headlights go completely out, pitch black, going over 50mph, several times now. I have turned them off the automatic setting as this has happened more than 5 times over the past year. Everything out front goes black including fog lamps, meeting cars, not meeting cars, lights, no lights on the roadway, no rhyme or reason. No warning lights, no sensors covered. My children have been in the car everytime but once. Nobody knows what's going on with it as it happens intermittently and no codes appear.

NHTSA ID

11507485

Incident

Jun 7, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the exterior lights failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the headlamps and brake light bulbs had been changed approximately 2 - 3 times per year. Additionally, the horn failed to sound off while being depressed. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light failed to illuminate to notify the contact that the oil level was low. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was jump started. The vehicle was started and there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine. The mechanic performed an oil change on the vehicle. The cause of the failure with the exterior lighting was not yet determined. The contact stated that the bulbs were replaced at Walmart. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11501461

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

20,000 mi

When lights are turned to automatic setting they often turn on during daylight or off at night. They have now turned off while driving at night on unlit roads and highways and we are lucky we did not have an accident. Typically jiggling the knob on light lever will reset the lights to be correct, but this leads to distracted driving often while not being able to see the road.

NHTSA ID

11495718

Incident

Nov 30, 2022

Drive side brake light keeps burning out, even after several replacements. The bulb becomes black each time. Not sure if it's related, but headlight will intermittently turn off when in Auto light mode, even at night.

NHTSA ID

11493715

Incident

Oct 9, 2022

There was an instance where I was driving in heavy rain and the windshield wipers just stopped working. I had to drive about 5 more miles without them working. They worked the next time it rained a couple of days later. There has been 2 instances in the last week where I have had my car parked in my driveway off and locked. In the middle of the night, the headlights and taillights come on on there own. The headlights setting has been set to auto. I end up having to go out and start and turn off my car, then when I lock it back the lights go off.

NHTSA ID

11490245

Incident

Oct 17, 2022

This has been an ongoing issue, headlights set in automatic mode will turn off at night with no warning. They will also turn on in direct sunlight. This is an intermittent issue. Have taken to Kia service on two separate occasions, told they can not find issue or replicate problem. Have video of lights at night turning completely off set in auto mode.There is no warning when headlights turn off, which has happened to us in the rain and on roads that have no overhead lighting creating very dangerous situations.

NHTSA ID

11485328

Incident

Sep 17, 2022

When I make a left-hand turn, the right-hand signal light will come on as I'm making the turn. My vehicle is available for inspection. This puts me and the drivers around me in immediate danger of an auto accident. I have not taken the vehicle to a dealer for this problem. The vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to it first appearing three or four months after I purchased the vehicle in May of 2020. I don't want to get rear-ended or accidently pitted because of this problem (especially with passengers in my vehicle).

NHTSA ID

11481106

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Unknown. The blind spots warning sometimes works and sometimes it doesn’t. The same goes for the backing warning. The car will not lock itself with the key control or manually. This problem has happened a few times already. One of the lights at the driver side isn’t working. (Inside light)

NHTSA ID

11451283

Incident

Nov 2, 2021

Occasionally when using the left turn signal the Right turn signal will turn on after turning left. Vehicle has not been inspected

NHTSA ID

11449686

Incident

Jan 31, 2022