| Issue ID | 1079027 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10604941 |
| Manufacurer | Kia Motors America |
| Brand | KIA |
| Model | SORENTO |
| Model Year | 2005 |
| File date | 29/06/12 |
| Component | EXTERIOR LIGHTING |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | Note: purchased vehicle used approximately 1 month and 500 miles before problems initially started. 1) headlight bulbs blow out repeatedly either during driving or an onset of driving (come on momentarily just before blowing). Have had to replace low beam headlight bulbs on 5 occasions in the first year of ownership. Research on the matter indicates this is a wide spread issue among kia sorento owners. Observed on several occasions that the bulbs blew out after using the key fob. Stopped using the key fob and the bulb blowouts stopped, but issue #2 continues (see next incident description). 2) headlights low beams stop working intermittently. Headlight low beams stop working during driving at night or will not work from onset of driving. Incident occurs at least monthly driving approximately 600 miles per month. Low beams start working again on intermittent basis. Observed that if the headlights do not work at onset of driving, after switching the low beams on and off a significant number of times (20+) they will sometimes start working again (learned this after being stranded at night without ability to safely drive). |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 108500 |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | MADISON, AL |
| VIN pattern | KNDJD733855XXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | N |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | 0 |
| No. of fatalities | 0 |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | 6 |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | 0 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |