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.
The headlights are dangerously dim. Purchased this vehicle used. Only used in the daytime the first months. My son started working night shifts and that's when we noticed that it did not light up in front of the vehicle. It was very minimal. I drove the car on a rainy evening and was terrified. Could not see in front of me. Had to drive next to cars to make sure I was in my lane. We cleaned the headlights, it did not improve. We purchased new and brighter bulbs. It is still too dim. It only lights up immediately in front of the vehicle and it is a very dim light. Light barely reaches maybe three feet in front of the vehicle, maybe only two. It is VERY dangerous. I am an experienced driver and I found it frightening to drive at night. My son is recently licensed and it does not feel safe to have him operate that vehicle.
Both low beam headlights no longer work although all fuses and bulbs have been verified to work. The high beam headlights do work. This appears to be the identical issue that 2011-2013 owners were dealing with. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10159259-0001.pdf. In this instance, the headlight connectors required replacement and Kia extended the warranty to cover that work. Kia will not extend the warranty to 2015 model owners who are having the same problem and the dealership quotes a price of $1880 for just the parts alone.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle at night, the low-beam headlights were extremely dim, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who examined the vehicle but found no issues with the vehicle. The low-beam headlights were replaced however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.
The running lights on the front and rear drivers side work half of the time, the plate light seems to turn off when they do. They'll come on for a split second and then go out, or on a good day they'll stay on. Seems like a short in the wiring. It could be a safety issue at night!!!
Upon accelerating causes a lot of exhaust smoke and bogs down so I can-€™t get out of the way and others behind me cannot see a thing. Two Kia dealerships refused assistance. The first after I called 12/3 to report that my vehicle issue made additional hazard involving a semi (thank goodness no one wreaked) and it was still smoking and smelled as if something was burning. The other telling me it would be six months at least. The warning dashboard lights did not trigger during or after incidents. The only light that came on ever was the oil light the prior weekend. I had the oil changed, filters replaced as well as the headlights for the third time. Around 44k miles when issues started and escalated quickly. Other problems reported to Arapaho Kia a few years ago consisted of back passenger door not latching. Someone flagged me down on the highway as I had my daughter in her car seat on that side. No warning lights triggered, dealership unable to duplicate issue. Steering control keys controlling opposite functions or not working intermittently. Was told steering control harness needed replacement. Think that was at 18k miles but not sure. Did not have replaced at that time as it mainly affected radio functions hands free calling did stop working. I usually didn-€™t make calls in the car anyway. I was left with no other choice but to trade the vehicle in before something really bad happened or it self destructed leaving me without out a car still paying on. I could not be without a car for six months as Peak Kia quoted timeframe. Untimely fixing of recall on vehicle likely manifesting these other issues and causing additional damage to vehicle.
- Highlands Ranch , CO, USA
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My low beam lives are so.com at nite. It is very hard to see.I replaced with others. But they are dim and kept blowing out. Took to Kia dealer for problem. They said I needed to purchase there factory bulbs. I had them replace both. And still they are to dim to drive at night. It is a very bad safety issue. Especially if it is raining out.
Lowlight beams are very dim. Poor visibility. NHTSA ratings are poor. I-€™m concerned as to why Kia will not fix the issue. There was no accident but for years I-€™ve been afraid to drive at night or avoid it. I-€™ve looked online and see I-€™m not the only Kia Sorento owner with these concerns. This does make me regret purchasing Kia and I tell everyone I know don-€™t buy this car.
The headlights are very dim on my 2015 Kia Sorento, when compared to other vehicles. They only illuminate about 10 feet in front of the car. They need to be replaced with a stronger bulb as it is dangerous driving at night.
Low beam headlights are dangerously too dim on my 2015 Kia Sorento LX. This is a well known reported issue by many owners. All drivers in my family had many close calls due to poor visibility when driving in the night. Yes I have changed lightbulbs several times, made sure that lenses and reflectors are clean and ground wire is not corroded. A simple search on the internet will tell you the extent of this problem. Many have reached to dealers and Kia but they are told -this is normal. Well it is absolutely NOT normal. It-€™s dangerous. feeling helpless. LX trim level don-€™t have fog lights too. Do something please.
Headlights keep burning out. I've replaced the driver's side low-beam bulb seven times in the last year and the passenger side twice. Both are currently blown out again.
Vehicle has low visibility on low beam, even with aftermarket LEDS there is still low visibility with the low beams, car need to be driven on high beam and it is illegal to drive with high beams as you blind cars driving on opposite direction, and a fine could be impose as well.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the headlights were dim and failed to produce adequate lighting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at night, the low-beam headlights failed to adequately illuminate the roadway, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to wallace Kia located at 3131 SE federal hwy, stuart, fl 34994 who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer recommended that the headlights be upgrade to led lighting. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 25,000.
After replacing bulbs, headlights, especially low beams, are dangerously low. Very low visibility at night and even more difficult to see when there is oncoming traffic and when it is raining. This morning on my way into work it was raining and almost missed a curve in the road due to low visibility. I slowed to make the curve and hit a patch of water (again, because of the low visibility I did not see) and hydroplaned almost hitting a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Fortunately I did not overcorrect and regained control before a collision took place. There have been several other times when I could not see the turn coming up or entrances to exit ramps on the highway. My hope was that changing the bulbs would help, but even with getting the brightest bulbs at the auto part store, the lights are still just as dim. In doing research, I am finding that this is a comin issue with these vehicles.
Took my car to the mechanic for a second opinion regarding low beam lights shutting off when I turn on the high beams. This occurred frequently when using high beams. Also, my headlights (low beams) consistently burnt out. Had to install 2-3 new bulbs in each headlight (within 1 yr.). mechanic said problem is more than just the lights, the knock sensor was bad and needed more work than what they were willing to do and recommended me going back to Kia. Driving home from my mechanic, I was on the surface streets to get on the freeway, a knocking noise occurred when accelerating, sounded like it was going to throw a rod, which led me to check the oil. My oil changes are completed on schedule and was not due for another oil change for 3,000 miles. The oil was bone dry. I put in 4 quarts of oil and drove on surface streets, back to my mechanic. Mechanic said it is about to throw a rod and that I needed to drive it slowly and get it to Kia. As I drove the car home on the freeway, I was in the number one lane, passing a semi-truck in the number two lane, car started shaking, all the lights started blinking, the orange steering wheel warning light went on and the entire car completely shut down. I had to coast to the shoulder on the freeway. I had no hazards or blinkers. Tow truck arrived and checked my oil, he said there were metal shavings and barely any oil. Towed the car back to the mechanic and they said I needed a new engine. Had the car towed to my home and it now sits in my driveway. Prior and during all of this, not one time did any warning lights on the dashboard go on (other than the one steering wheel light when the car shut down).
I logged into credit karma looking at my car details and saw there was a recall on the traction. Ive noticed my traction light on in the car; however, did not think anything of it as the button was pushed in as normal. The light is on consistently.
When driving at night, the headlights are very dim and do not project far enough ahead to see the road to be able to see. The bright lights must be on in order to properly see, however they too are not what they should be. The bright lights when on, are more of what the dims should be. All new headlights(bulbs) were installed and did not make any difference. The car has been like this ever since it was purchased. It is unsafe to drive it at night, especially when it is extremely dark at night and/or driving in wet/fog or snowy weather. Lights are so dim you would be unable to see deer far enough in advance to safely slow down and avoid them. This problem is the case on all roads except city streets that are lighted. I purchased this vehicle on 11/22/2019
Car was driven a night and headlight were terrible. Vaguely lights a a road sign on a dark street at 100 yards. Both bulbs have been recently replaced. Seems to be very common with these cars. Contacted Kia and got no help other than take to dealer and pay service fee. Others have received no help. Usual are told it is just the way these lights are. These light will not light a closed garage at night.
Low beam lights go off/on randomly. Sometimes will work for a while and then one or both lights will go out. When the dust cover is removed and the light socket assembly is touched, then light will come on. However, moving the wires or socket assembly does not cause light to go out. Then the light later randomly goes off. Also, I have replaced many low beam bulbs. This is a serious safety problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Corpus Christi, TX, USA