24 complaints reported

2006 Kia Sorento Exterior Lighting

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
24
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to illuminate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V130000 (Exterior Lighting) and associated the recall with the failure. The contact contacted an unknown dealer and was awaiting a call back. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V130000 (Exterior Lighting) because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2022
Jan 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WHICH SHE LINKED WITH HER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Feb 2015

SINCE PURCHASING MY SORENTO IN 2008 MY HUSBAND HAS HAD TO CHANGE HEADLIGHTS AND\OR BREAK LIGHTS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH SOMETIMES MORE. ON TWO OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK WHEN I'VE LOST BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. SO IN 7 YEARS WE HAVE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 84 HEADLIGHTS AND/OR BREAKLIGHTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2015
Jan 2014

I JUST GOT MY KIA A YEAR AGO AND I LOVE IT BUT WE ARE CHANGING THE HEAD LIGHTS EVERY MONTH AND I NEVER GET THE RECALLS IN THE MAIL FOR ANYTHING SO I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. BUYING LIGHTS EVERY MONTH ADD UP TO A LOT OF MONEY AFTER AWHILE. AND IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND BOTH WENT OUT AT NIGHT SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2012
Jul 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED WHEN NOT DECELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 03/01/13*LJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
Feb 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2013
Dec 2011

I REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS AT LEAST EVERY 3-6 MONTHS, I'VE EVEN REPLACE PARKING LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. I BOUGHT MY 2006 KIA BRAND NEW AND EVERY YEAR SINCE, ITS THE SAME THING... KIA REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS, AS THESE SORENTOS CAN RUN FOREVER BUT IF WE CAN'T SEE WHERE WE ARE GOING, THAT'S A PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2006
Nov 2011

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST A HEAD LIGHT AND/OR TAIL LIGHT ABOUT ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE BUT NONE TO BE FOUND; PLEASE HELP! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2007
Nov 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND HE CONSTANTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DID NOT PROVIDE AN ACTUAL DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ONLY USE THE LIGHT BULBS SOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER, NOT AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2007
Oct 2011

I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HEADLAMPS AND REAR BRAKE LAMPS. THE REAR LAMPS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS DEFINATELY A DEFECT, AS LAMPS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2011
Aug 2011

THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 LIGHTS AT LEAST 6 - 10 TIMES EACH, SINCE BUYING THE 2006 SORENTO BRAND NEW. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM NUMEROUS OTHERS THAT THIS IS A NORM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR. YOU CAN REPLACE ONE LIGHT AND IT WILL BE OKAY FOR AWHILE, BUT THEN ANOTHER ONE WILL GO OUT, I HAVE ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THIS IS NORMAL, SEEING I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE LIGHTS IN MY 1996 CHEVY A FRACTION OF THE TIMES I HAVE THE SORENTO. THE REPLAY WAS, NO THIS IS NOT NORMAL THAT THEIR MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. IT WILL NOT RESUME, OR ACCELERATE. THE OTHER TWO BUTTONS WORK AS DESIGNED. *KB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2011
May 2011

HAD THE CAR 2 YEARS AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES. REPLACED WITHIN LAST 5 MONTHS AND NOW ARE OUT AGAIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
May 2011

HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM), TAIL LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS CONSISTENTLY. ALWAYS HAVE TO REPLACE WHICH IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. CAR IS A 2006 KIA SORENTO EX. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2011
Apr 2011

I PURCHASED A 2006 KIA SORENTO BACK IN FEBRUARY 2011. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. 3 TIMES. EVERY FAILURE OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 64. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THEM CHANGED WHERE THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE LAMPS AND HAVE COMPLETED A PROPER INSTALL. IT APPEARS THAT FOR A SECOND THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH OFF THEN ON. THE HEADLIGHTS GOING ON THEN BACK ON IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. THE LAST OCCURRENCE YESTERDAY 6/3/2011 HAPPENED ABOUT 2 AM WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST AND MADE THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE UNTIL DAYTIME HOURS WHEN IT COULD BE SAFELY DRIVEN TO A SHOP FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO SEE TO DRIVE HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY SOME 45 MILES FROM OUR HOME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2011
Apr 2011 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2009
Jan 2011

OUR 2006 KIA SORENTO BURNS OUT ALL LIGHTS ON THIS CAR. I HAVE CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 10 TIMES THIS YEAR ALONE. WE KEEP EXTRA BRAKELIGHTS IN THE CAR BECAUSE THEY GO OUT AT LEAST EVERY 3 WEEKS. I WILL BURN THIS CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. I HAVE SEEN OVER 1000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME MODEL FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2011
Feb 2010

FRONT HEADLIGHTS ON KIA SORENTO 2006 MODEL CONTINUES TO BURN OUT OR FLASH ON THEIR OWN HAVE REPLACED 6 SETS OF LIGHTS IN FRONT AND HAVE ON 38,000 MILES FIRST SET WAS AT 16,000 AND EVERY 6 TO 8 MONTHS THERE AFTER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2009
Apr 2009

I HAVE A 2006 KIA SORENTO. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE EXTERIOR FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS A LEAST 3-4 TIMES. THE INTERIOR LIGHT HAS BEEN CHANGE 1 TIME AND THE AC CONTROL PANEL GOES OFF AND ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN EVALUATED 2 TIMES WHILE THEY WERE CHANGING BULBS AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. I HAVE SPOKEN TO ANOTHER SORENTO OWNER AND SHE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. KIA RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT IS THEY BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE THE BULB IS NOT THEIR BRAND. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I HAD THEM REPLACED WITH THE BULBS AND THEY DID NOT LAST. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM AND I AM AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT. IF YOU HAVE AN QUESTIONS YOU MAY CONTACT ME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2009
Apr 2009

2006 KIA SORENTO - THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT BECAUSE OF SOME KIND OF SHORT OR ENGINEERING FLAW. NORMAL REPAIR IS TO TAP THE LIGHTS AND THEY COME BACK ON, HOWEVER THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS WHEN THEY SHUT OFF CANNOT BE CONTROLLED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE OTHER KIA OWNERS ONLINE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. MY HEADLIGHT BULBS ARE NOT BURNED OUT, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED A FELLOW KIA SORENTO OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SHOWED ME HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2009
Apr 2009

I HAVE REPLACED ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN MY LOW BEAMS. IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER 10 TIMES AND IT HASN'T JUST BEEN ONE SIDE. ALSO, I HAVE REPLACED ALL OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE CAR NEW IN JAN. 2006. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEVER COULD FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I DON'T THINK THE LIGHTS SHOULD BE REPLACED NOT AT LEAST IN THE EXTENT I HAVE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2009
Feb 2009

REPLACED DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLIGHT ON JANUARY 3, 2009 WITH HI-PERFORMANCE SYLVANIA HEADLIGHTS AFTER INITIAL HEADLIGHTS BURNT OUT. THE NEW HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ONE BY ONE ON FEBRUARY 16TH AND 18TH. HAVE ALSO REPLACED TAIL-LIGHT BULBS THREE TIMES. INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WORKS ON OCCASION AND POINTS TOWARDS A SHORT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2009
Feb 2009

I HAVE REPLACED WELL OVER 10 HEADLIGHT BULBS IN MY KIA SORENTO. I'M A FANATIC ABOUT MAKING SURE MY CAR IS IN THE BEST OF ORDER. ONCE A BULB IS OUT IT IS REPLACED THE SAME DAY. AT FIRST I THOUGHT, "YEAH BULBS BURN OUT," BUT COME ON ALREADY. I HAVE EVERY RECEIPT SHOWING HOW MANY I HAVE BOUGHT AND REPLACED. WHAT GIVES? DOME LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND SUCH HAVE BEEN REPLACED TOO HOWEVER THERE HAVE BEEN WAY MORE LOW-BEAM LIGHT BULBS REPLACED THEN I BELIEVE IS NORMAL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2007
Aug 2007

BOTH HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) WERE OUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY $98.15 TO GET THEM REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE WARRANTY IS GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK I ALSO HAD BOTH TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT AND HAD TO PAY FOR THEM AS WELL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2007
Mar 2007

MY SISTER-IN-LAW OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO AND BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS ARE OUT AND DO NOT FUNCTION, ONLY THE 3RD MIDDLE LIGHT WORKS. I HAVE SINCE PERSONALLY OBSERVED 4 KIA SORENTOS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA ON THE ROAD WITH THE LEFT, RIGHT OR BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED 3 KIA SORENTOS IN THE SF BAY AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. OTHER KIA PRODUCTS MAY ALSO HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM/CONCERN WITH THE SORENTO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. YOUR ACTION TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER IS NEEDED FOR A LONG TERM SOLUTION AND/OR RECALL. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 KIA SORENTO, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2007

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Kia Sorento has 24 Exterior Lighting complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.