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Kia Sorento Lights and Bulbs

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Comments

  • criticuscriticus Member Posts: 3
    My local Kia dealer suggested I go to an auto-electric specialist who would be more familiar with the car's electronics than auto-mechanics. In fact, the dealership itself sent cars to the specialist for repairs, etc. I took his advice and had the sensors installed at a very modest cost with a professional expertise and finish I will never attain. Moreover, it seems that, as I was advised to do so by an authorised Kia dealer, it should not invalidate any warranties.

    Going to an auto-electric specialist might be the best solution for others who have described their Kia-related problems in this forum.
  • tneuftneuf Member Posts: 1
    So like many of you, I too, have been dealing with the exterior head & tail lights popping, sorry I haven't gotten here sooner. I haven't but will try the battery & fuse box (re)grounding and will report back periodically if no further issues, which will probably cause me to go blue:-). My clock comes and goes. Dome lights was, but has been okay for a while. Direction/Temp panel have never maintained data. Periodically I have my engine circulation fan stay on after driving a while, ya okay, but in Oregon @ 25°! Have to pop the hood and pull the fuse, then reconnect. Had the Bolt problem too, TWICE! and lost the engine the 2nd time @ 105K. Even though I proved it was the second time, and "this hasn't happened before (Kia rep)", replaced with a used Sedona engine with 45K, to the tune of 4K. Oh ya then a few weeks after I received a recall letter about the engine crank bolt! :mad: Polishing the lenses does wonders. I love my Sore so much, I just installed a set of H&R Springs (1.25/1.75) drop, with a new set of KYB shocks. Am also running 8.5 X 18 wheels with Nokian WRG2 255 x 55 tires. Debating on the matching sway bars. more later :-)
  • janskijanski Member Posts: 2
    I have had my Kia Sorento since 2005 and my husband is constantly having to change the headlights in the front. They go out about every couple of months. Who can I complain to about this and get some results. The Kia dealer here where I live sucks and refuse to believe its a defect in the electric system. There is no way I should be losing lights that frequently. I have had many cars before and never ever had to change the bulbs out at all. Let me know where to complain and I will for sure. I think they need to do a recall also and fix this mess. I'm tired of buying headlights.
  • rrrentorrrento Member Posts: 2
    We have a 03 Sorento and lost one headlight about a year ago. When the headlight went out I checked the voltage at the headlight. It seemed to fluctuate to much. so I grounded the fuse box to the engine from the wheel well ground of the fuse box. I also took electrical parts cleaner and sprayed the mess out of the fuse box, taking every fuse and relay out one at a time and sprayed into the fusebox. Then sprayed air into it from my aircompressor. I believe the fuse box is having a problem with corrosion and is causing shorts in the system all over the place. Like I said at the beginning we have been doing pretty well so far not blowing headlight. I think KIA knows but it would be very expensive to fix thier mistake.
  • sorrento_2005sorrento_2005 Member Posts: 1
    I have same problem with my KIA Sorrento, the headlamps has been changed couple of times. I have given up changing and running with fog lamps. I know its crazy. I will make formal complaint to NHTSA. If anyone have any feedback please let me know.
  • thomas620thomas620 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2003 Kia Sorento. One of the best automobiles I've ever owned.

    Make sure when changing the headlight bulbs that you DO NOT touch the new bulb with your bare hands. Touching the bulb will cause the bulb to burn out within a few days or a week. I'm not sure why that is, but my mechanic told me this and so did the manager at the auto parts store. Do an internet search for that answer and I'm sure you'll see that it is common knowledge. Wear gloves when replacing the lights.
  • gueraoriginalgueraoriginal Member Posts: 1
    Thank you sooooo much for this link! Thank goodness my family and I were not hurt and no one else was hurt during this incident, other consumers are at risk!

    My 2005 KIA Sorento Caught on fire on 12/26/11 while in the driveway. We were awakened by a good citizen banging and yrelling "fire" as I watched the firefighters extinguish the fire on the back end of my 2005 KIA Sorento I wondered how did this happen? After Phoenix Fire Department and Allstate Insurance conducted their investigation, the findings were that the fire was caused by the wiring of the left tail light. I found this very interesting especially because KIA just recalled the 07 Sorento for wiring in the door lights that "may cause fire."

    I paid on that car 3 years, gap insurance probably not gonna cover the difference of the loan due to "electrical malfunction" being an exclusion. I have no car and after Allstate paid just under $8000.00, I still owe $5900.00! I still have NO car!
  • crotty2crotty2 Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2012
    2012 Sorento, 8500 miles, dash lights fail intermittantly. dealer can't replicate the problem, just says "bring it in when it happens again", but then they are too busy to look at it, so keep it awhile, and it works fine. AAArrrghhh!
  • ccpsnccpsn Member Posts: 1
    Repeatedly had headlamps blow on my KIA Sorento 2011. Sent this message to KIA: "This is in reference to case # K241D635. Thank you for returning my call after I sent the previous message. I have read many blog entries concerning the same type of problem that I have been experiencing with my Sorento. I do not appreciate being talked down to by the representative that I talked to when I returned the call. I am not, as I am sure most of the other people in the blogs are not, just a disgruntled customer. I was having a repeated real problem with my vehicle that is probably a defect that possibly should result in a recall. I bought a KIA in good faith that it would be a dependable vehicle and that you would stand behind the product. I even purchased an extended warranty that did not cover my problem. I usually use the dealer for any work that needs to be done on the vehicle, but when your headlight goes out and you get stopped by the sheriff at 5:30 am, and you work for 12 hours that day, the dealer is closed and you must stop by a parts store and purchase a new bulb. It wasn't that it wasn't a "KIA" bulb or that I didn't have it installed at the dealer that was the root of the problem -- that is pure BS. I ended up spending $650+ for the dealer to replace the headlight assembly to fix the problem. I told the representative that this disgruntled customer fixed the problem by selling the son of a [non-permissible content removed]. I can assure you that I will never purchase another KIA. I just feel sorry for all the rest of the customers in the same predicament. "
  • tracy80028tracy80028 Member Posts: 1
    I love my Kia but like many others, I have been purchasing headlamp bulbs way too many often for my Kia. If it's not the left one, it's the right one and I am tired of it. I plan to file a complaint with the NTHSA. I agree with whoever it was that said that if we complain to the right people, maybe something will be done.
  • bkb89002bkb89002 Member Posts: 1

    POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO YOUR LIGHTING PROBLEMS -

    I have an 04 Sorento and have struggled with headlight replacement and dome light not going off. This worked for me. Instead of buying the expensive headlights at Wal-Mart or Autozone, I ended up buying Phillips brand from Kmart. Came in a 2 pack for like $20 ( I got a few boxes on clearance for $8 ea) and these have not burned out yet.

    Please ensure this is the right size bulb for YOUR vehicle before purchasing, however, it was the right size for mine.

    As for the domelight, I found it stayed on as a result of the drivers side door switch. Open your door and then press in the rubber button in the door jam. Does the dome light go off? If so, take out the screw in the plastic that holds the rubber thingy in place. Remove the rubber from the button underneath. Now affix something to that button (I think I used one of those sticky felt dots that protects your furniture from lamps, ect) so that when you reassemble it to the door frame and shut the door, it will allow the button switch to be pushed in far enough to turn off the interior light when the door is closed.

    OTHER THINGS I LEARNED THE HARD WAY WITH MY 04 SORENTO -

    Make sure you have the pressurized antifreeze coolant tank replaced under recall if it hasn't been already (seam opens up causing you to loose coolant and overheat, with other damage as a possible result).

    Make sure you have the crankshaft bolt replaced under recall. This will break costing you lots of money. Also make sure that if your mechanic replaces the timing belt, water pump ect, or removes that bolt for any reason, that he replaces the bolt with a new one. The same bolt can not be reused and must be replaced as the torque required to put it on (I think it was like 115lbs) and take it off causes it to become too weakened for re-use.

    Make sure that the butterfly valves in the air intake are properly threadlocked or the screws will come loose, and the valve will get sucked into the engine messing it all up and costing you lots of money.

    BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU OTHER THAN TO NOT BUY ONE (FOR SOME OF US IT IS TOO LATE!)

    Go to the website www.kiatechinfo.com and set up a free registration. Many of the Factory Service Manuals, Wiring Diagrams, Recall and dealership Service Bulletins, ect can be found there. This proved invaluable when I did major repairs to my vehicle. The site is not logically navigable (at least to me) but more than likely the information is there. Once you select your vehicle info you'll find your way to a page that sort of looks like a chart with 3 letter blue links that don't seem to reference anything. Just click on all of those one at a time and explore. They will open up pdf files and I suggest printing them off and creating your own Service manual. It's much easier than trying to find it later especially if you are doing work on your car.

    Anytime I have work done on my car I provide the shop with the web address and username and password in case they want to look something up. I also leave the manual I made in the front seat for them. I'd rather they look something up than do it wrong.

    There is also a site called www.kia-forums.com/ that can be very helpful.

    GOOD LUCK!!!

    Brian

  • coxotecoxote Member Posts: 1
    Where can I buy or dind the Instrument Panel Illumination for a Sorento 2003. I've been looking all over the internet and it's been impossible to find it!!
  • retgijaneretgijane Member Posts: 1
    2013 Kia Sorento SX: I noticed almost immediately after I bought the  dash lights would randomly dim/brighten. Instead of taking it back to the dealership and getting it 

    fixed, I tried to figure out what might be causing it. I quickly ruled out any relation to hitting bumps, the headlight switch position, and a/c/navigation/radio. Now, almost two years later, I noticed my headlight was out. Started to replace the bulb, but as soon as I touched the wiring harness, the bulb came back on. Ok, even though I am qualified to troubleshoot wiring, I do know better than to void my warranty... Took it into the service department, they troubleshot and found the wiring bundle behind the right headlight, "all melted together."  They are going to replace the whole headlight assy. Almost 40k and it is warranty work ($500+, parts alone!).

    Unlike most of the other posts, I don't love the car and I certainly don't think there's much of anything trivial about this problem. 

    I think I've had at least one occurrence of most of the other maintenance problems listed on here. Most annoying one is the sun/moon roof shades coming open.

  • FaustinewhehosFaustinewhehos Member Posts: 1
    What is the right headlight bulb number for high beam?
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