CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2nd generation Sorento (2011-2014) has just too many engine problems at early mileage, year after year.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,252 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Kia Sorento lights problems

lights problem

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2014 Kia Sorento Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #55

Feb 142021

Sorento

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Keep having to replace headlight bulbs and now headlights don't work at all ! had to drive home at night with only parking lights in fl keys, very terrifying and not safe at all. Prior to the lights not working I would have to replace a bulb at least every 3 months, got pulled over once by the police because a headlight was out and I didn't know it was out. I had just replaced it!

- Little Torch Key, FL, USA

problem #54

Jan 052021

Sorento

  • 70,000 miles
Low beam headlights, and tail lights, burning out frequently, and at the same time! this happens at least once per year, and both headlights go out at the same time, leaving my family and I driving in the dark. This seems to happen when you start the vehicle. It's been an ongoing issue for 3+ years. It's very scary and a significant safety issue, rendering the vehicle useless until repaired. I see online that there are thousands of others who have this same issue. Kia customer service will not acknowledge that this is a known issue (even though the local dealership did) and both Kia and the dealership agree that this problem is not covered under warranty because there has not been a recall. This is a life or death situation and Kia needs to take ownership of it before someone gets hurt. Cars need functioning headlights and break lights.

- Waukee, IA, USA

problem #53

Jan 012017

Sorento

  • 90,000 miles
Nighttime driving with this vehicle is horrible. While a well-lit interstate may not necessarily be an issue, dark roadways (rural, dark interstates, some urban streets) are. The headlights will blow randomly blow within as few as some days after replacement to a month after replacement. The headlight assembly uses projector lenses. However, the light does not project. I have tried adjusting the headlights and the headlights respond by projecting a scattered beam that barely illuminates the roadway. Cheap walmart flood lights do a better job than these projector lenses. I tried using leds to get more light. While the mission was technically accomplished, the beam pattern is still scattered. I detail cars and the plastic cover is not the issue. My state law tells me that my headlights should illuminate a pedestrian 400 feet away during nighttime hours. These lights do not do this. My function as a police officer is that of a traffic crash investigator (with extensive NHTSA training spanning from sfst through advanced traffic crash) as well and these headlights will contribute to animal/pedestrian strikes as they do not project the light where it is needed. There are a number of Kia forums talking about the same thing across many different models. This needs to be a recall that replaces the ground wire and the headlight assembly to project the light where it needs to be. These lights are dangerous. There are a number of electrical issues with these vehicles (such as the brake lights going out completely for no random reason or the brake lights remaining illuminated without application of the brake) but this one takes the cake. This has been an ongoing issue with this vehicle since we purchased it in 2016. This vehicle has a poor iihs rating for small overlap crashes. The lights don't illuminate the roadway well enough when passing another car on a two-lane highway.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #52

Nov 012014

Sorento

  • 4,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the front passenger's and driver's side low beam headlights failed on multiple occasions and were replaced six times. Also, the contact indicated that the front passenger's side accent light located above the headlights failed and no longer was illuminated. The cause of the failures were not determined. The local dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified of the failures however, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 4,000.

- New Port, RI, USA

problem #51

Jun 012019

Sorento

  • 60,000 miles
Low beam headlights are dangerously dim. I have tried multiple different bulbs (led and halogen), with no change. They are dim enough that there is a shadow of my car in front of me when there is another car behind me at night.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

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problem #50

Feb 102016

Sorento

  • miles
Lowbeam headlights are dangerously dim. Unable to see past 5 feet in front. Can't tell when they are on most times.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #49

Nov 122020

Sorento

  • 101,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light came on today while driving on the highway (roughly70mph), will not shut off, vehicle not under recall for airbags at this time. Headlights and taillights randomly come on and off, even with brand new bulbs, have changed bulbs almost monthly in last 3 years. Buttons on steering wheel do not work properly - including cruise control not working, volume button starts voice command, etc.

- Swansea, MA, USA

problem #48

Oct 012020

Sorento

  • miles
I have noticed that while driving at night, my headlights are extremely, dangerously dim. I have changed the bulbs, and I can still barely see in front of me without clicking on the high beams. What can be done about this issue? I am so terrified to drive at night, I only go five minutes away from my house if necessary. I'm also afraid I will get a traffic citation for driving with high beams on, but sometimes in my area with poor lighting, I have no other choice. I'm driving at night but depending on the car behind me to give me more light, which isn't good. If there's no traffic behind me, I'm definitely forced to put on the high beams.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #47

Sep 092018

Sorento

  • miles
Head lights keep blowing out and will not stay ajusted

- Waco, GA, USA

problem #46

Oct 252020

Sorento

  • 96,000 miles
Low beam headlight bulbs burn out and need to be replace every 3 to 4 months. This issues has occurred while driving on highways like interstate 81 or highway 322 and 11/15 in Pennsylvania. They have always burnt out with being stationary in parking lots at all times and season of the year. When one side burns out it can be a month to 4 months before the other side burns out. I purchased the vehicle in early 2019 and since that time I have replace almost 10 or more bulbs since owning the vehicle.

- 17011, PA, USA

problem #45

Oct 112020

Sorento

  • 79,250 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hello, problems with the headlights of Kia Sorento 2014, these are very dim and in the dark you can see little or nothing and this can cause a big accident on the road.

- Moca, PR, USA

problem #44

Oct 012020

Sorento

  • 33,000 miles
My stability light comes on while driving and my brake lights do not function, have been looking on internet and there seems to be a lot of problems of the exact same nature. You will be rear ended if you have no brake lights. My vehicle has 33000 miles on it. I think Kia needs to recall the Sorentos for this issue

- Cromona, KY, USA

problem #43

Sep 162020

Sorento

  • miles
Brake lights turn on and off. Brake lights will work sometimes when I stop and sometimes they want work.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #42

May 042020

Sorento

  • 60,000 miles
All the lights go out sporadically while driving. The danger is when it does it at night. While driving down a dark road, my lights went out completely on numerous occasions. It happens in the day time as well, as I can see the lights blink off and on from the reflection on vehicle in front of me. They come back on and may go off 2 or 3 times while driving maybe 5 to 10 minutes. On the day I took it to the dealer, it was happening on my way there, but the Kia dealer said they couldn't find a problem.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #41

Sep 252020

Sorento

  • 83,000 miles
The headlights don't shine on anything and it's hard to find your way at night. Speed ​​control does not work. The engine has a different rhythm at 3000 RPM.

- Moca, PR, USA

problem #40

Sep 232020

Sorento

  • 70,000 miles
Headlights, especially low beam are dangerously dim. I can barely even see them shining on the road when driving at night.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #39

May 052020

Sorento

  • 60,000 miles
My headlights continue to blow out every 2 months, no matter what kind of bulb I replace them with. Both headlights will go out, brake lights are also blowing out every 1.5 month. I brought it to my dealer: Kia of ventura, ca attention but they keep dismissing it as nothing is wrong. I have been pulled over twice so far this year for both break stop & headlights blowing out and not working during night time road travels across states. I feel this is. Very dangerous. Apparently, this isn't an isolated incident as I have come to know of 50+ Kia Sorento owners facing similar electrical safety issues. Also, ever I bought the car the mile per gallon the car is supposedly to give isn't correct, it only averages about 12-14 mpg. Please look into both of these safety issues as I drive with two under 5yrs kids and elderly mother. What is the NHTSA waiting for? multiple death fatalities before your organization takes action..do it now please. Any resulting fatalities will make you legally liable for failing to take action after soo many complaints.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #38

Jul 022020

Sorento

  • 75,000 miles
Low beam headlights are dangerously dim. They have already been replaced once, I do not believe it is the bulb as iihs has rated these lights on this model as poor as well. While driving on any road without reflectors or overhead lights in the evening it is very hard to see the painted lines. I feel very unsafe on paved country roads, even ones that are straight for miles. Turns feel more dangerous, and this is even a problem on the highway in major cities where no overhead illumination is present on the roadway.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #37

Jul 222020

Sorento

  • 80,000 miles
I am having an issue with my low beam headlights. The bulb has to be replaced at least every three months. When I turn the lights off sometimes they do not come back on so because of this issue I am forced to leave headlights on at all times and they still go out after a couple months. Owning the car for 2 years I have already replaced tail lights twice and headlights 7 times. There is something very wrong here, no car from 2014 should have replaced headlights 7 times much less 7 times since 2018!! on July 22, 2020 while driving home from work at night, both headlights burnt out at the same time and I was forced to drive home with my high beams on.

- South Amboy, NJ, USA

problem #36

May 222020

Sorento 4-cyl

  • miles
After 5 years of having my car, while keeping up with all required maintenance, I am constantly having issues with the lights. To start, the license plate lights burn out and I have to replace about every 3-4 months. The led strip over the headlight is a rip off, $700 to replace because you can't change the bulb you have to change the whole fixture"! why would any company approve of that design? so I have a missing led strip, but the other one no issue after 5 years. I just recently had the top brake light go out, another led fixture $150 to replace a 5' strip. Rip off!! a few weeks ago one of my fog lights went out, come to find out the bulb fell out. How does that even happen"! however the most problematic of them all is the driver side brake light! I've had the passenger brake light replaced one, but the driver side brake light is replaced at least every 6 months or so. Some I have paid for, some complimentary but super inconvenient to say the least. On top of that, I've had the harness replaced, tension pin repairs, and now I am having to replace the harness again for the 2nd time in 2 years. And I constantly see other Kia's, mainly Sorento's, with the driver brake light out. I have been pulled over several times regarding lights and one time even had guns drawn on me (when both of my license plate lights blew out). This is just ridiculous that I am always paranoid about lights. In addition this can cause an accident if someone can not see me, or possibly get me harmed if cops can't see my license plate. Kia needs to do a recall and upgrade the lighting to last for a normal amount of time and/or replace harnesses. Led lighting should be replaced for free for making it so difficult to replace the bulb. Or upgrade to lighting where we are able to replace the bulb without having to replace the whole fixture. I know I am not the only one and its not fair to consumers.

- Orlando, FL, USA

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