About 2 years ago, I began experiencing occasional times when I would turn on the left turn signal and the right turn signal would come on. The first few times it happened, I thought I must've turned on the wrong signal as it happened infrequently. Now it occurs often, where engaging the left turn signal is very unpredictable, with it sometimes turning on the left signal, sometimes the right…
2016 Kia Sedona lighting problems
severe 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 27 lighting complaints filed for the 2016 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Kia Sedona we track for lighting problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 27.
Owners have filed 27 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report three major lighting problem clusters in the 2016 Kia Sedona.
Turn Signal Malfunction: The left turn signal lever frequently engages the right turn signal instead, cycles between left and right unpredictably, or fails to engage any signal. Some owners say the signal disengages then the opposite side flashes on its own. Multiple owners have complained to dealers with no resolution. At least one owner reports receiving a recall notice to address turn signal failure (requiring a computer-related change), but the problem recurred within three days of dealer service.
Headlight Failures: Headlights flicker, turn off abruptly while driving at night, or won't illuminate even with new bulbs. Owners describe losing all lights on dark highways—a serious safety hazard. Some report both low-beam headlights failing at once. Lights sometimes turn themselves on when the vehicle is parked and off. Dealers have been unable to diagnose intermittent failures.
Water in Rear Light Housings: Water and condensation accumulate inside rear brake and turn signal housings, shorting out bulbs repeatedly. Owners report replacing bulbs dozens of times over vehicle ownership. One owner described having to dump water out of casings before bulb replacement. Dealers acknowledge this "happens all the time" but won't cover it under warranty. Repair costs several hundred dollars per incident. Some owners have noted that later model years appear to have drain holes added to address the issue.
Same Kia Sedona lighting reports on nearby years: 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Turn signal activation malfunction (opposing side engagement)
Left turn signal lever engages right turn signal instead, or cycles between left and right unpredictably, or fails to engage any signal. Some owners report the signal disengages then the opposite signal turns on. Multiple owners have attempted dealer diagnosis with limited success.
When: Started 2+ years ago for some owners; occurs randomly at intersections and while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Left turn signal engages right turn signal instead; Turn signal switches back and forth between left and right; No turn signal engages when lever activated; Opposite signal flashes after main signal disengages; Right turn signal activates when left is intended; Sometimes requires pushing lever firmly or cycling it to function; Occasional fast flashing before returning to normal
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite multifunction switch as suspected cause; dealers unable to confirm or repair issue in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia made aware of failures per some complaints; at least one recall notice issued to address turn signal and taillight failures requiring computer-related change, though issue reportedly recurred within days after recall service
Headlight intermittent failure and random shut-off
Headlights flicker, turn off randomly while driving, or fail to illuminate even with new bulbs. Some fail at one bulb location; others lose both low-beam headlights. Drivers report lights turning off without warning on dark roads and highways, creating dangerous situations.
When: Started 2 years ago for some; occurs at night on highway and city streets; failure mileage around 68,000–136,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights turn off suddenly while driving at night; Lights flicker on and off repeatedly; Driver-side low-beam fails to illuminate; Both low-beam headlights fail simultaneously; Lights do not turn back on until switch cycled; Headlights turn on by themselves when parked and engine off; Dashboard lights go out before headlights shut off; Lights regain function briefly then fail again
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced bulbs with no improvement; dealer diagnosis indicated headlight assembly replacement needed in at least one case but was not performed
Multifunction switch electrical fault
Multifunction switch in AUTO headlight mode malfunctions, causing headlights to shut off randomly. When left turn signal is activated, flasher sometimes does not work and requires jiggling the stalk, turning it off and on, or the right flasher engages instead. Problem occurs intermittently over extended periods.
When: Ongoing for approximately 18 months per one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights turn off randomly in AUTO mode; Left turn signal flasher does not work without intervention; Right flasher engages when left signal activated; Stalk requires jiggling or cycling to restore function
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer service unable to confirm problem due to intermittent nature; no repairs completed
Water intrusion into rear brake/turn signal light housings
Water and condensation accumulate inside rear brake light and turn signal light assemblies, caused by cracking of plastic housing or poor seal design. Water causes bulbs to short out and become inoperable. Issue persists across multiple rain events and has become progressively worse for some owners. Multiple owners report dozens of bulb replacements over vehicle ownership.
When: Began at or shortly after 2016 purchase; recurring with each rainfall; failure mileage around 97,000–104,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water and standing water visible inside light housing; Condensation inside light assemblies; Brake light bulbs burn out or short out rapidly; Turn signal bulbs short out; Bulbs need replacement immediately after installation; Multiple bulbs fail in same housing on same side (sometimes dozens over vehicle lifetime); All rear lights (taillights, brake lights, reverse lights, turn signals) stop functioning; Right side bulbs fail faster or more severely than left; Bulb socket corroded due to water exposure
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report water must be dumped from housing before bulb work; replacement casings/housing assemblies recommended by technicians; some owners cite seeing drain holes drilled by other owners as DIY fix; repair costs several hundred dollars per incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer service stated this is a known issue ('Yeah, that happens all the time') but not covered under warranty; safety recall issued addressing taillight and turn signal failure (computer-related change), but owners report issue recurred within days after recall service; later model years reportedly improved or corrected the issue with drain holes
Brake lights remaining on when vehicle parked
Brake lights stay illuminated continuously even when vehicle is parked and brake pedal is not pressed. Drivers must press brake pedal multiple times to turn lights off. This creates confusion for drivers behind the vehicle.
When: Ongoing issue; one complaint mentions December 2020 start date
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights remain on when parked with engine off; Brake lights do not turn off without multiple brake pedal presses; Brake lights stay on during headlight operation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service unable to identify cause other than burned-out bulb; bulb replacement required frequently
Rear brake light dependent on headlight status
Brake lights and taillights malfunction when headlights are on, creating a condition where brake lights fail to illuminate during night driving or rain. Driver-side taillight goes out when headlights are on, causing middle and passenger brake lights to stay on; they only function when brake pedal pressed and only when headlights are off.
When: Started December 2020; occurs while driving or stationary
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side taillight goes out when headlights on; Middle and passenger brake lights stay on when headlights on; Brake lights only work when brake pedal pressed and headlights off; No warning lights illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Owner checked bulb for burn-out, corrosion, and loose connection; no visible issues found; replaced bulb twice; second replacement in same socket
Low-beam headlight visibility specification concern
Headlights are aimed downward too steeply, providing limited visibility distance on highway driving at night. Design meets manufacturer specification but is reported as inherently unsafe and dangerous at highway speeds. Owner reports using high beams continuously at highway speeds to achieve reasonable visibility.
When: Ongoing since ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Very limited visibility distance with low beams; Beam pointed downward too early in travel path; Limited reaction time to road hazards (deer, obstacles); Unsafe for highway night driving at normal speeds
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership said issue was normal operation; manufacturer stated it is looking into the problem
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while a State Inspection was being performed on the vehicle, it was discovered that water and condensation were present inside the driver's and passenger’s side rear brake light housing. The contact stated that the vehicle failed the safety inspection due to the failure. The water and condensation were removed from the housing and the…
Headlights will randomly turn off and flicker on and off. Has happened multiple times and on dark roads
Had lighting trouble with your 2016 Kia Sedona?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2016 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 57,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 73,213. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Kia/Sedona.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.