2016 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Headlights too dim or fail
- 44owner reports
- 33,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 10, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
67 of the 1,252 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 44 of those describe headlights.
Tick what matches of 44 reports
Headlights on other Sorento years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
What this problem usually is
Headlight complaints fall into two camps. In one, a headlight goes out, often more than once, or fills with moisture behind the lens. In the other, the lights work exactly as built and the owner still can't see the road at night because the beam is too dim or too short. Owners in that second camp often report a dealer telling them it's 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 Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the exterior lighting on the Sorento
Headlight failure. Closed jan 25, 2022.
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.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Kia Sorento that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR (WTY031) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Multifunction Switch Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY031) to repair the multifunction switch knob on 2016-2018MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles, produced at Kia Georgia from October 27, 2014 through March 7, ...
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR (SC330) This bulletin provides information to repair the multi-function switch knob on certain 2016-2018MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles manufactured from October 27, 2014 through March 7, 2018.
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR This bulletin provides information associated with the "Multifunction Switch Warranty Extension Program" (WTY031) to repair the multifunction switch knob on 2016-2018MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles, produced at Kia Georgia from October 27, 2014 through March 7, ...
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPAIR This bulletin provides information associated with the 'Multifunction Switch Warranty Extension Program' (WTY031) to repair the multifunction switch knob on 2016-2018MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles, produced at Kia Georgia from October 27, 2014 through ...
1 more on the 2016 Kia Sorento page.
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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 357 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 216 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 163 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 124 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 121 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 70 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 55 reports
- Vehicle fire 45 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 39 reports
- Engine leaks oil 38 reports
- Rolls away in Park or will not shift out of Park 27 reports