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2011 Kia Sportage lights problems

12 complaints (7% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 27,000.

owner complaints
12
of this car's complaints
7%
typical mileage
27,000
crashes
0
recalls
2

Which part fails

  • Tail lights
    1
  • Headlights
    1
  • Brake lights
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Kia Sportage lights problems in other years

1995200020052010201520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Kia Sportage lights

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Headlights 5

Related recalls

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported June 9, 2015 · 7,722 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sportage vehicles manufactured March 7, 2011, to June 8, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may intermittently fail.
Risk
Whenever the brake switch is not working, the brake lights will not illuminate, reducing the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC121.

Recall number 15V360000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported April 1, 2013 · 980,377 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Recall number 13V114000 · Recall details

What 2011 Kia Sportage owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jun 20, 2026 · Electrical, Lights · GA

Front headlights went out also rear brake lights now I have a problem with brake light and tailgate lamp staying on when car and lights are off. The suspension has had a issue ever since I bought it it makes awful loud noises when driving and especially hitting bumps in road. Passenger front and rear windows won't roll down. Had to replace battery as well. Inside door handles fell off as well as outside rear handles.tire pressure indicator light stays on as well as the park assist and drive train lights stay on.problem with car going in drive sometimes it locks up and have to restart and slam on brakes several times to unlock

Filed Aug 12, 2024 · Electrical, Lights · IN

My 2011 kia sportage had a recall #23V65200. On [XXX] my radio started smoking and my headlights would not shut off even with car off and keys out. You had to unplug cable from battery for lights to go off and not run battery down. I called kia in bloomington indiana they said to not drive and call customer service to have towed. i called on [XXX] and talked to a lady, she was very rude and dismissive. Said they would not tow due to my kia being a 2011 it was to old and they would only tow if above 2015. She then said I had to pay and only if the lights and smoke was because of recall they would pay. But I did not know or have extra money for this and nowhere in our papers about recall does it say it had to be a certain year to tow, only to stop driving and call. So my disabled husband drove it to the dealership in bloomington on [XXX] and dropped off even though they were at risk. I did not hear anything from kia and called to make sure they received auto. They had said they found my car and did not know it was there on June 19th. My husband told a person there he dropped it off and I guess they didn't get messages. After having my car and me telling them what had happened they then said they fixed recall but would have to run a diagnostic for them to see if the other problems were because of it. Bloomington then said they could not say it was not because of the recall this happened they did not know. So they sent my car to headquarters to engineers is what bloomington told me. Did not hear from them again until July 19th stating again they were not sure. And we had to pay for diagnostic check of 195.00. On Aug 6th they messaged us and said they found issues but it was not because of recall. And we would have to pay roughly 2500.00 to fix, yet they stated my washer fluid was fine when in fact it is not hooked up, line broke. How is that? I said I was going to talk with someone and get back with them. My car is still there. Not once did they offer INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Filed Jun 19, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · 105,500 miles · PA

The rear lights are turned on for night driving they all blink randomly as well as rear license plate light

Filed Dec 30, 2016 · Lights · MD

The brake lights don't reduce to let another driver know that you are stopping.

Filed Dec 28, 2016 · Electrical, Fuel system · 27,000 miles · TN

2011 kia sportage at times won't start but all lights and radio and electrical stuff work. Had new battery put in and checked out it is not battery. It is doing this more and more and I have to let it set for long periods of time then it will start. It can't be boosted off either when this happens. It started and has never stopped.please help.

Filed Dec 13, 2016 · Acceleration, Lights · 100,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia sportage. While the vehicle was stationary, the brake lights malfunctioned and the cruise control stopped working. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Sep 5, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 19,000 miles · NJ

The stop lamp switch in this vehicle intermittently malfunctions. The malfunctioning stop lamp switch has caused the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed. Additionally, the malfunctioning stop lamp switch has resulted in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

Filed Apr 17, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · TX

While changing the driver side headlight bulb, I noticed that the connector had burned and that the wires going to the connector were not connected to each other due to the burning. I noticed when barely grabbing the back of the bulb, that the electrical harness for the main light would spark and started to smoke causing the headlamp enclosure to fill with soot and smoke. Small sparks can be seen when trying to remove the headlight bulb itself as well as when trying to adjust the wires. The passenger side wiring has no defects or damage.

Filed Jun 10, 2013 · Brakes, Lights · 32,243 miles · NJ

Push button start would not work due to faulty brake light switch. This model year is not on the recall list as most other year models for this problem but should be. Problem clearly extends past 2010 year models.

Filed Jun 22, 2012 · Lights · 31 miles · MI

This vehicles only rear turn signals are two small rectangles down in the rear bumper. When I contacted the dealership service center, they confirmed that the turn signals don't signal in the tail light area like almost every (if not every) other vehicle on the road.

Questions about the 2011 Kia Sportage lights

Does the 2011 Kia Sportage have lights problems?

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the lights of the 2011 Kia Sportage, 7% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2011 Kia Sportage lights problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 27,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2011 Kia Sportage lights?

Yes, 2 recalls: 15V360000, 13V114000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Kia Sportage have the most lights problems?

The Kia Sportage model years with the most lights complaints are 2017 (15 complaints), 2007 (12 complaints) and 2011 (12 complaints).

Other 2011 Kia Sportage problems

Engine 84Electrical 38Brakes 25Transmission 23Acceleration 10Fuel system 10Steering 9Driver assistance 6Body 5Suspension 5Visibility 5Airbags 4Seats 1Tires 1

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