Headlights and lights Kia: problems by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the Kia models it appears in.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Carens IIIFaulty brake light switch: the lights may not come on when brakingA 2013 alert notified by Germany covers 2006 to 2011 Carens over a brake light switch fault, which can stop the lights coming on when the pedal is pressed or leave them on, and which can also affect stability control (ESC), cruise control and the automatic gear lever.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Optima IIIIntermittent brake light failure caused by a carbonised switchYes: in 2013 the British DVSA logged a recall of several Kia models, including some Optimas built between August 2010 and April 2011, because the contacts of the brake light switch could become carbonised. The switch is replaced.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Sorento IVIndicators that may fail because of the multifunction switchYes: Sorento and Sorento Hybrid units built between 1 April and 31 August 2022 (39,110 units worldwide) were recalled because the indicators could sometimes fail to activate, so other road users did not see the manoeuvre. It is fixed with a software update.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Sportage IIBrake light switch failureYes: the British DVSA registered two campaigns to replace the Sportage's brake light switch: one in 2009 for a defective switch (units built between September and October 2006) and another in 2013 for carbonised contacts that caused intermittent failures and could affect the ESC and cruise control.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Sorento IVDaytime running light may not come back on after using the indicators or hazard lightsYes: in 2025 Kia recalled Sorentos built in 2023 and 2024 (123,701 units according to car-recalls.eu; KBA ref. 14998R) because, after using the indicators or hazard lights for more than five minutes, the upper part of the daytime running light may stay off. It is fixed by updating the software.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Ceed IILight faults: dipped beam, front and rear lights and indicatorsThe TÜV report in Auto Bild shows that, from the third inspection onwards, second-generation Ceeds fail more than usual on dipped beam, front and rear lights and indicators.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Picanto ILighting faults: rear lights, headlights and instrument panel bulbsOn the Picanto I, lighting is what fails most often at TÜV inspections, according to Gebrauchtwagenberater (rear lights and, to a lesser extent, dipped headlights), and fiches-auto has isolated cases of a headlight lens needing replacement and instrument panel bulbs that switch off.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Picanto IIMisted headlights and faulty dipped beamsGebrauchtwagenberater reports that the Picanto II's headlights mist up 'fairly often' and that dipped beams feature among the recurring defects in TÜV inspections.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Picanto IIIDipped beam misaligned at the second technical inspectionThe 2026 TÜV report, covered by Auto Bild and T-Online, says the Kia Picanto III too often reaches its second technical inspection (the TÜV) with the dipped beam badly aimed.

By Kia model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Parts for your Kia for faults with headlights and lights

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Frequently asked questions

What faults with headlights and lights do Kia cars have?

In 8 models from Kia there are 9 documented faults with headlights and lights. The most important: faulty brake light switch: the lights may not come on when braking, intermittent brake light failure caused by a carbonised switch and indicators that may fail because of the multifunction switch. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which Kia models have the most problems with headlights and lights?

Kia Sorento IV (2 faults), Kia Picanto I (1 fault), Kia Sportage II (1 fault) and Kia Carens III (1 fault).