NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
56 reportsClear category filter30,000 miles · Mar 4, 2011
Exterior LightingFire
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. …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10386504
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2011
Exterior Lighting
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 MODE…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10378504
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 5 TIMES AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES. THE 2006 KIA SORENTO WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS EVIDENT. I DO A GREAT DEAL OF DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT BEING DEPENDABLE. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT TH…
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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 5 TIMES AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES. THE 2006 KIA SORENTO WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS EVIDENT. I DO A GREAT DEAL OF DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT BEING DEPENDABLE. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT GETTING PULLED OVER BY LAW OFFICERS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10378399
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2011
Exterior Lighting
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
NHTSA ODI #10376406
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2011
Exterior Lighting
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
NHTSA ODI #10375347
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
HAVE REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULBS 6 TIMES, REPLACED BRAKE LIGHTS 3 TIMES, THE DOME LIGHT HAD COMPLICATIONS WITH COMING ON WHEN OPENING DOORS, LICENSE PLATE LITE IS OUT AS WE SPEAK, ALSO THE LOCK ON REAR LEFT MAKES A STRANGE BUZZING NOISE WHEN YOU ENGAGE LOCKS, CAR HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES GOING ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10366492
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THIS 2006 KIA SORENTO HAS OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES OTHER THAN JUST THE BRAKE SWITCH. WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS. THIS IS BECOME A COMPLETE PAIN IN THE NECK. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE HOW MY LIGHTS GO OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED…
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THIS 2006 KIA SORENTO HAS OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES OTHER THAN JUST THE BRAKE SWITCH. WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS. THIS IS BECOME A COMPLETE PAIN IN THE NECK. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE HOW MY LIGHTS GO OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT DURING THE DAY WHEN WE ARE NOT USING THE DASH LIGHTS THAT WHEN WE APPLY THE BRAKES THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND SO DO THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE FACT THAT I DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT KNOWING WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE BLOWN OR NOT CAN CREATE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335973
12,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010
Exterior Lighting
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
NHTSA ODI #10304055
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2009
Exterior Lighting
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10266773
28,000 miles · Apr 21, 2009
Exterior Lighting
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 H…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10266205
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
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