2018 Kia Sorento · symptom sheet

Headlights too dim or fail

30owner reports
0involved a crash

Newest report Feb 17, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

41 of the 252 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 30 of those describe headlights.

Tick what matches of 30 reports

too dim to see the road

a headlight went out

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 (26 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2018 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 2018 model year.

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

118

219

320

321

922

623

224

325

126

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.