2016 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet

Headlights too dim or fail

44owner reports
33,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 10, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026

67 of the 1,246 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 44 of those describe headlights.

Tick what matches of 44 reports

too dim to see the road

a headlight went out

moisture inside the lens

the beam is too short

the dealer said it is normal

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the headlight assembly (35 reports) and the bulb (9 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2016 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the exterior lighting on the Sorento

PE20-008opened Jun 1, 2020

Exterior Lighting · model years 2011 to 2013

Headlight failure. Closed jan 25, 2022.

NHTSA summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) based on seventy-four Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting headlight failures on model year (MY) 2011-2013 KIA Sorento vehicles.In its response to ODI's June 25, 2020, information request letter (portions of which were submitted under request for confidentiality), Kia Motor America (Kia) provided design details of the headlight system showing that each headlight circuit is independently powered by the Smart Junction Box (SJB), a power control module. Kia claimed that the design minimizes the chance of both headlights failing simultaneously due to a headlight connector defect, a component located downstream of the SJB. Kia also advised that the SJB contains a safety feature designed to monitor power consumption for each headlight circuit; if excessive current is being demanded by either headlight the SJB will open the circuit (i.e., stop supplying current). Lastly Kia presented testing showing that the maximum headlight connector temperature achieved prior to the SJB opening the circuit was below the autoignition temperature of the plastic material the connector housing is made of, which Kia maintains eliminates the potential for a fire originating from an electrically overheated headlight connector. In its review of all available data, ODI determined that the majority of both VOQ and Kia customer complaints (1,339 reports in total) involved the loss or dimming of a single low beam headl

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 18,800 and 75,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.

315

116

217

518

519

1020

221

322

823

424

125

What owners wrote

“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.”
Filed Jul 10, 2025

“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”
Filed Aug 7, 2024 · 12,000 miles

“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.”
Filed Aug 1, 2024

“"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.”
Filed Aug 9, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 44 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.