2018 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet
Headlights too dim or fail
- 30owner reports
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Feb 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
41 of the 254 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 30 of those describe headlights.
Tick what matches of 30 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 (26 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2018 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 2018 model year.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 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 2018 Kia Sorento page.
What owners wrote
“The headlights will randomly turn off while driving, mostly when turning on the right blinker. This has been happening a few times a month since I got the vehicle in 2017. More recently, the bottom brake lights and running lights have been shorting out.”
Filed Aug 3, 2025
“When using my blinkers my headlights go out while the lights are in Auto mode. This is very dangerous as my headlights have gone out several times while driving in the dark.”
Filed Nov 15, 2023
“Headlights will shutoff completely when driving at night in auto mode after using the turn signal. Then turn back on a.couple of seconds later. Which has created some dangerous situations.”
Filed Oct 22, 2023
“When the heads lights are in Auto Mode and driving at night, the head lights will just go out. This has happened 4 times now and is very dangerous. I need KIA to fix this problem. I have a 2018 KIA Sorento and I've seen where others have had the same problem with 2017 & 2018 Sorento's. The lights going out at night while my wife is driving is extremely dangerous. This just happens with no warning. Please Fix.”
Filed Aug 21, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 30 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 48 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 41 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 31 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 26 reports