There are 50 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2011 Kia Sorentoin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Both low beam headlight out at same time with no indication or warning . On dash it showed lights operational
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? HEADLIGHTS How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? THE LIGHTS RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO Started a while ago. Haven’t driving it since fall.
My headlights are randomly turning off when driving at night. This is a serious safety issue and possibly a defect. Also have sensors (down hill assist) that have failed.
Headlights go on and off while driving at night, especially when using turn signals. We cannot use Kia Sorento at night. All bulbs are OK
My 2011 Kia Sorento headlights blink on and off when I’m drinking it’s very scary driving at night because I don’t know when it may happen it’s been happening on and off
Tail light continues to blow. Changed both bulbs twice in a week. The left socket has burn mark, and light blows immediately after replacing bulb. This has been continously over the past 2 years.
When driving at night my headlights flicker off and on for about 3 seconds, also when I attempt to use my turn signal, the lights will blink out and I have to jiggle the handle to get the lights to come back on. Sometimes when I turn the corner the head lights will blink off and then come back on and this takes about 3 scary seconds. Unable to drive in an unfamiliar or dark area because the lights are subject to go out. There is no warning light, message or other symptom to address the problem. I was told that there might be a recall on this issue. Is there any technical service bulletin addressing this issue. Please advise as this can be a very dangerous situation
Headlights you can't leave them on automatic the lights will stay on and kill your battery. The lights blink off and on sometimes when use turn signal, and sometime goes completely out while driving at night have a fear of running into someone or off hwy. No inspections. No lamp warning messages. I bought the Vehicle used May of 2021 and notice problems about a couple of months later.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at night at an undisclosed speed, the contact was noticed while making a slight turn, the driver’s and passenger’s side headlights stopped functioning as designed. The failure also occurred while using the turn signals. The contact had to manually activate the headlights after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. Subsequent to the initial complaint, in December 2021, the car owner, Ed Ruzicka, decided to see if replacing the turn signal/wiper control shaft would fix this problem. I did so at my own expense. The lights no longer blink off. Still this seems to be a manufacturer defect rather than mere wear. This has never happened on any vehicle which I have owned before. I am 70. The concern is that this is dangerous. I believe that it should be addressed.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving at nighttime, the front headlights turned off independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to his destination. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. A FEW WEEKS AGO, I LEFT FOR WORK AT 5AM, TRAVELING ON AN UNLIT ROAD WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY FLICKER OFF. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL DAYLIGHT TO GET TO WORK. WHEN I GOT BACK IN AFTER MY SHIFT, THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I REPLACED IT. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT WENT OUT AGAIN. MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT AND FOUND THE PART THAT THE BULB GOES IN WAS MELTED. NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK, CHANGED BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES, TRIED CERAMIC PARTS, EVEN REWIRED IT. MECHANICS TELL ME IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, BUT THEN THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY LOOK AT MY CAR. I'VE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SORENTO. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE TRAVELING AT NIGHT. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL ISSUE?
HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAMS) SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. OFTEN SEEM TO OCCUR WHEN USING SIGNAL OR AFTERWARDS. LIGHTS OTHER TIMES MIGHT JUST GO OFF BRIEFLY, OR REQUIRE DRIVER TO PUT HIGH BEAMS ON THEN TOGGLE DOWN TO LOW BEAMS. OCCURS OFTEN ON HIGHWAY AND SECONDARY ROADS. MANY SIMILAR REPORTS ON INTERNET. THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR LOW BEAM WIRE HARNESS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ASSOCIATED, HOWEVER ANY LOSS OF LIGHTS DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. KIA HAS A HISTORY OF MINIMIZING ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE SAFETY RECALLS. DEALERSHIP SERVICE AREA CONTINUALLY STATES THEY CANNOT RECREATE ISSUE, OF COURSE THEY ATTEMPT DURING THE DAY LIGHT HOURS.
WHEN TURNING ON THE LIGHTS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, THEY WILL GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN I TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS, THE SAME THING HAPPENS. AFTER THIS BACK AND FORTH, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY UNTIL THE NEXT NIGHT. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT NOW. MY MECHANIC IS RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS A RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM ON LINE. I HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT A RECALL YET.
THE ISSUE I AM HAVING IS THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING. ITS SPONTANEOUS WHEN IT DOES IT BUT IT SOMETIMES COMES BACK ON. THIS CAUSES ME TO BE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WITH NO WAY OF SEEING OR OTHERS TO SEE ME. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WHEN THEY REPLACED MULTIPLE PARTS ON THE VEHICLE.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while, driving at an undetermined speed at night and making a turn the headlights became inoperable without warning for a few seconds. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.
PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT KEEP BURNING OUT AS SOON AS I REPLACE IT IT SMELLS LIKE WIRES ARE BURNING AND WHEN I DRIVE ANY BUMPS WILL MAKE THE HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER
MY DOOR HANDLE OR DOOR LATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND ALSO MY LEFT BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR AND MY KIDS. ALSO, MY HEADREST HAS FALLEN OFF. I HAVE ISSUES WITH MY LIGHTS, THEY WILL NOT WORK FOR THE INTERIOR.
SC098XM RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE BUT THE SITE SAYS 'INCOMPLETE'. HOW CAN I GET IT CHANGED? I AM MILITARY STATIONED IN ITALY, I'M GOING TO SHIP THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE STATES BUT ALL RECALLS MUST BE COMPLETED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. *TR
WHILE MAKING A TURN BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE TURN SIGNAL IS ON. THEN AFTER MAKING TURN THEY COME BACK ON. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
HEADLIGHTS COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT CAN CAUSE DEATHS OR INJURIES. I'M VERY AFRAID AND EXTREMELY NERVOUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH WHICH IS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026