2015 Kia Sorento: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Engine · 207,000 miles · OH

The contact rented a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the headlights and tail lights intermittently failed to illuminate or shorted out, and the check engine warning light illuminated. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly seized in the middle of an intersection, and the contact was unable to move the gear shifter out of gear. The local police department arrived on the scene and assisted the contact by disassembling components around the gear shifter in order to shift the transmission into neutral (N). The vehicle was then towed back to the rental business. The failure mileage was approximately 207,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Sep 3, 2026 · Electrical, Lights · TX

The headlights are so dim that I could not see at night. I am forced to drive with the fog lights on for any amount of visibility. I recently replaced the headlights with factory replacements and now the connectors going into the back have failed and power only makes it to the lights when Mercury is in retrograde. This is unacceptable and a severe safety hazard.

Filed Mar 14, 2026 · Lights · PA

I’m tired of replacing my headlight bulbs every month!!! Both high and low beam go out all the time! It’s expensive. Also it is a safety concern. The low beams are dim to begin with and having one go out I have to drive with high beams on due to inability to see. I even upgraded bulbs in hopes of brightening but they also go out all the time.

Filed Feb 4, 2026 · Lights · TX

Formal Complaint on Seized Headlight Sockets and Kia’s Obstruction of Essential Safety Maintenance 1. Incident & Discovery of Defect: I am the owner of a 2015 Kia Sorento. Recently, one of my headlights failed. Upon attempting a routine bulb replacement, I discovered a critical hardware defect: the bulb socket is physically seized. It cannot be rotated or removed by any standard manual force. This is not a simple wear-and-tear issue; it is a mechanical seizure of a component that must remain accessible for safety maintenance. 2. Kia’s Refusal of Technical Guidance: To resolve this without damaging the entire assembly, I contacted Kia America (Case #[XXX]) specifically requesting technical instructions or any written explanations to safely disengage the seized unit. Despite multiple attempts via phone and email, Kia explicitly refused to provide any technical guidance, flatly stating they are "not technically trained" or authorized to share such information. 3. Obstruction of "Right to Repair" & Safety Risk: I firmly believe that a vehicle owner has a fundamental "Right to Repair," especially for essential safety components like headlights. By withholding basic maintenance instructions, Kia is intentionally obstructing my ability to maintain a street-legal, safe vehicle. Driving with a non-functional headlight is a Critical Safety Hazard that severely impairs visibility and creates an immediate risk of fatal accidents—yet Kia has chosen to leave me in this dangerous situation. 4. Exploitative Business Practice & Systemic Failure: This appears to be a deliberate and Exploitative Business Practice. By failing to provide a manual and refusing technical support for a defective, seized part, Kia is effectively forcing consumers into a "forced monopoly" where we must pay for expensive replacements at authorized dealerships for what should be a low-cost, simple bulb change. 5. Request for Investigation: I request that the federal safety agency initiate a formal investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF I

Filed Jan 22, 2026 · Lights · GA

The low beam headlights do not illuminate the highway sufficiently to drive safely. I lowered the aim of my high beam to be able to drive at night and not blind approaching drivers. This is unacceptable for a modern vehicle to be permitted to be sold in this condition.

Filed Sep 8, 2025 · Lights · GA

My problem is with the headlights, in that the condenser lens for the low beam lights has clouded so badly that driving at night has become so dangerous. I have changed the bulbs twice in an effort to correct the problem to no avail. And with the sealed unit not able to be disassembled to clean the lens, my only option is to replace the units at approximately $800 each. This condition in my opinion should not have occurred.

Filed Sep 8, 2025 · Lights · SC

Low beam headlights would work and some times not work and then one day they stopped working completely. We've had everything checked out and there is no explanation as to why this is happening. Replaced headlights, relays, and checked wiring.

Filed Apr 21, 2025 · Lights · 120,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on various occasions while driving at night, the front low-beam headlights failed to properly illuminate and was very dim. The headlight bulbs had been replaced approximately four times, but the failure returned after replacing the bulbs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Mar 20, 2025 · Lights · MN

In the last year I have had to replace my headlight bulbs at least 3 times on each side. My yearly mileage is only around 9,000-10,500. The body shop has tried different brands of bulbs, tried not having the automatic light setting on and only turning on when needed, etc. Nothing seems to correct the issue and once I had them both go out within the same week. They go out so frequently that the shop has an extra set on hand now for when I call. I'm worried if I don't notice one out because I don't drive at night every day that I'll be without either headlight until I can get into the body shop yet again to have changed out.

Filed Jan 23, 2025 · Lights · 115,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that on several occasions the front low-beam headlights failed and were no longer illuminated. The headlight bulbs were replaced but the failure eventually reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions and the driver’s and passenger’s side headlights failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that on one occasion there was a burning odor inside the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the front passenger’s side headlight had failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the passenger’s side headlight assembly had melted. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Dec 23, 2024 · Lights · 101,064 miles · SC

The lights dim way too quickly. HID basically is garbage. Major safety issue since most people can’t afford to be constantly replacing their headlight assemblies.

Filed Jul 18, 2024 · Lights · GA

Overtime the low beam headlights have become very dim. The bulbs have always blown a lot but I have recently replaced both bulbs and they are still very dim. I ordered high powered LED bulbs and still the low beams are very dim. So dim you can barely see 10 feet in front of you when driving at night. I have to drive with the high beams on to see where I am going. Research online shows this is an issues with the projector type headlights on these vehicle but no recall is there. The headlight are over $600 to replace for an off brand set. Not something that should be going bad on a 2015 car.