TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: OUTSIDE REAR COMBINATION LAMP HARNESS REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace both outside rear combination lamp harnesses on some 2018-2019MY Sorento (UMA) vehicles, produced from January 2, 2018, through September 30, 2018, which may exhibit an intermittent inoperative brake light with the possibility of a "Check brake light" warning on the instrument cluster display.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Kia Sorento lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Kia Sorento have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Sorento | 79 |
| 2016 Sorento | 45 |
| 2017 Sorento | 92 |
| 2018 Sorento | 27 |
| 2019 Sorento (this page) | 16 |
| 2020 Sorento | 3 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2019 Sorento's headlights are delivering two distinct categories of failure. First, the low-beam design itself produces dark shadows, inverted half-moons, or a dark V-shaped void directly in the driver's line of sight—sometimes moving side to side as the vehicle turns. Owners describe dizziness, disorientation, and the sensation of obstacles ahead on dark roads. At least one owner noted the anti-glare design attempts to prevent upshining but creates severe visibility loss instead. The solution is worse: low beams are also aimed far too high, blinding oncoming drivers to the point state troopers are flashing at them. Kia has stated the design cannot change and is working as intended.
Second, the electrical side is failing. Bulbs burn out within days or weeks of replacement—one owner replaced the same bulb four times—and both headlights can fail simultaneously, stranding owners on high beams. One harness showed corroded wires melted together with no dash warning. Dealers deny warranty coverage, citing "damage," and offer no explanation for why wires overheat. A February 2025 recall notice arrived for the same issue on 2019 Sorentos, yet dealer VIN lookups show some vehicles as ineligible. Kia has closed cases and offered appeasement (free oil changes) rather than repairs. No solution has been offered for either design flaw or electrical failure.
Same Kia Sorento lighting reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Low-beam projection defects causing shadow artifacts
The low-beam headlight design projects dark shadows, triangular shapes, inverted half-moons, or a dark V-shaped void in the center of the driver's field of vision. These artifacts intensify when turning. Multiple owners report the shadows create visual obstruction, dizziness, and the sensation of obstacles ahead. The defect appears related to the anti-glare design intended to prevent upshining into oncoming traffic, but the result is severely compromised visibility on dark roads.
When: Present from delivery; reported on vehicles with under 1,400 to 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Dark shadow band or line across center of field of vision; Triangular or half-moon shaped dark shadows in headlight beam; Dark V-shaped void in the middle of road visibility; Dizziness and disorientation while driving; Shadows move side to side as vehicle turns; Shadows create appearance of obstacles or debris ahead
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer adjustment to factory specifications either had no effect or made the problem worse. Kia has stated the design cannot change and the vehicle is performing as designed. No solution offered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia Consumer Affairs opened cases, then closed or deferred them; stated vehicle is 'performing as designed' and offered appeasement (free 3-year maintenance) rather than repair. One owner received notice of a recall in February 2025 (same issue on 2019 Sorento) but dealer VIN lookup showed no recall eligibility. No assistance provided despite multiple owner complaints.
Low-beam headlights aimed too high
The low-beam headlights are set at an excessively high angle, directing light upward and blinding oncoming traffic. Owners report being repeatedly flashed by other drivers, including a state trooper, who believe they are using high beams. The high beams themselves provide no meaningful road illumination and instead light the tops of trees. This forces owners to drive with high beams to achieve adequate road visibility, creating a secondary safety hazard to other drivers.
When: Reported from early vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Oncoming traffic repeatedly flashing high beams at driver; State law enforcement flashing lights at driver; Excessive upward beam direction blinding other drivers; High beams light only tree tops, not road; Need to use high beams for adequate visibility despite low-beam setting; Dark area in center of road visibility
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer confirmed no ability to adjust the lights; Kia Tech Line personnel denied any issues existed. One owner reported dealer found lights set 8 inches too high, but adjustment to factory settings worsened the shadow problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia stated the issue is 'performing as designed' and refused to offer adjustment or remedy.
Headlight bulb premature failure and repeated burnout
Multiple owners report headlight bulbs failing within days to weeks after replacement, with some requiring replacement four times in quick succession. One owner noted corroded wires melted together on the driver-side turn signal, with subsequent headlight function degradation. Owners describe bulbs overheating, becoming brittle, and failing without warning lights on the dashboard.
When: Reported between 30,000 and 80,000 miles; some failures within days of initial bulb replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight bulbs burn out within days to weeks of replacement; Repeated bulb failures on same headlight (4 replacements cited); Both headlight bulbs failing, forcing reliance on high beams; No warning dash lights preceding failure; Bulb overheating and becoming brittle; Flickering when driving; Corroded wires in light socket assembly
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced passenger low-beam bulb four times before both headlights failed; licensed mechanic inspected and identified it as a dealer issue. Another owner found corroded wires melted together in the turn signal harness; dealer refused warranty coverage, stating it was damage, and refused to investigate why wires overheated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia dealer states vehicle VIN does not have a recall, even though owner received recall notice in February 2025 for the same issue on 2019 Sorento. Kia dealership offered to install new harness but provided no explanation for the corrosion or overheating. Manufacturer contacted but no assistance provided.
Headlight assembly and controller malfunction with bouncing/moving beam
At various speeds with low beams activated, the headlight beam bounces up and down and moves side to side, displaying visible shadows within the beam pattern. One owner had the driver-side headlight assembly and movable headlight controller replaced under warranty, but the failure persisted. This appears distinct from the static shadow artifacts described in other complaints and suggests a mechanical or electronic controller failure.
When: Failure mileage approximately 10,000 to 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight beam bounces up and down while driving; Beam moves side to side at various speeds; Visible shadow within the light beam; Visibility hazard for driver; Defect persists after parts replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Driver-side headlight assembly replaced; movable headlight controller replaced. Defect persisted after replacement. Another dealer adjusted headlights and stated they function as designed; vehicle was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was contacted but no further assistance was provided.
Taillight and rear lighting assembly failure
Driver-side taillight became inoperate with no warning lights on the dashboard. After diagnosis, taillight bulb, taillight assembly, and wiring harness all required replacement. The failure persisted even after these repairs. The complaint references a separate trailer hitch recall (NHTSA Campaign 22V703000) and a fuse replacement, but the taillight issue was not resolved.
When: Failure mileage approximately 45,220
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side taillight inoperable; No warning lights on dashboard; Defect persists after bulb replacement; Defect persists after assembly replacement; Defect persists after wiring harness replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Taillight bulb replaced, taillight assembly replaced, wiring harness replaced. Failure persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no assistance was provided.
Headlight failure with missing or incorrect recall eligibility
Front passenger-side headlamp failed at approximately 80,000 miles; replaced at Carmax. Then driver-side headlamp failed shortly after. No warning lights illuminated. Owner received recall notice in February 2025 for the same issue on 2019 Sorento, but dealer VIN lookup showed no recall eligibility for that vehicle despite matching year and issue.
When: Passenger-side failure at approximately 80,000 miles; driver-side failure followed
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger-side headlamp complete failure; Front driver-side headlamp complete failure; No warning lights on dashboard; Sequential failure of both headlamps
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger-side headlamp replaced at Carmax. Driver-side failure not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall notice sent February 2025 for same issue, but dealer states vehicle VIN does not match recall eligibility.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Headlights burn out within weeks to months after replacing them, overheat, flicker when driving. Has been a recurring problem since being bought in 2019.
Had lighting trouble with your 2019 Kia Sorento?
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 2019 Kia Sorento?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 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?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 28,003 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2019/Kia/Sorento.
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.