I OWN A 2005 AND A 2006 KIA SORENTO EX. IN BOTH VEHICLES I MUST REPLACE LIGHTBULBS CONTINUALLY. ON AVERAGE, I REPLACE HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY 60 TO 90 DAYS. BRAKE LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT IS LESS FREQUENT, BUT DOES OCCUR OFTEN WITHIN THE YEAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES BUT KIA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEMS. *TR
2005 kia Sorento lighting problems
moderate 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$250
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
LIGHTING (BULBS) VERY SHORT LIFE, BULBS LAST 1/5 TO 1/10TH OF THE LIFE IN OTHER VEHICLES. MOST RECENT BOTH LOW BEAM BULBS FAILED WITHIN 5 MINUTES LEAVING US WITH NO LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON UNLIT DIVIDED HIGHWAY. WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING BULBS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. WE ALWAYS REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHEN ONE BURNS OUT. MY OTHER VEHICLES LAST MANY YEARS, THIS VEHICLE IS THE ONLY ONE I HA…
HELP!! I AM CONSTANTLY REPLACING HEAD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS. EVERY SINGLE MONTH IT'S ONE LIGHT OR ANOTHER IN A CONTINUOUS CYCLE. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. I LOVE MY KIA SORRENTO OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MUCH AS IT IS A NUISANCE NOT TO MENTION AN EXPENSE!!! KIA, DO THE RIGHT THING!! PLEASE. [XXX] INFORMATION RE…
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2005 kia Sorento?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 33 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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