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2018 Kia Sportage Lights Problems

4 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data

4
Complaints
Feb 2019Jun 2025
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (4)

mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2025

My check engine light has been on for some time . It will go off for a day and a half and then come back on . I was told by one garage that it was the catalytic converter. I have 99,339 miles on . It was tuned up and the light had gone off until the next day . Runs good and body is in great shape . I’m disappointed with this since it’s not covered ! And my lights are not working , the garage said it was a bad connection .

NHTSA #: 11664898
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: May 2019

HEADLIGHTS AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FLICKER AND GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. CAME BACK ON AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND CONTINUED TO FLICKER. AFLS APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY, THE OWNERS MANUAL SAID TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT, THIS TURNED OFF THE AFLS LIGHT BUT THE LIGHTS AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM CONTINUE TO FLICKER OCCASIONALLY. SCARED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.

NHTSA #: 11205235
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Filed: Feb 2019

I PURCHASED MY 2018 KIA SPORTAGE EX BRAND NEW 6-8-18. LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE DARK. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW GAUGE DIMMER CLUSTER BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL FAILED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING THE CAR WHEN BRAKING ON THE HIGHWAY. AGAIN, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESURFACED THE BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO WARPING. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ON 1-28-19 THE ENGINE DIED ON THE HIGHWAY PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO LIMP HOME MODE. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER TRYING TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT AMPLE ENGINE POWER. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER AND IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. I GOT THE BBB INVOLVED NOW AND I AM TRYING TO GET THE LEMON LAW IN PLACE. I AM CURRENTLY IN A RENTAL.

NHTSA #: 11173712
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: May 2018

REAR TURN SIGNALS AND REVERSED LIGHTS ARE NOT INTEGRATED WITH BACK BRAKE LIGHTS. THEY ARE TOO LOW AND PLACED UNDER THE BUMPER AND ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO CARS BEHIND. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 6 WEEKS AND HAVE HAD A FEW VERY CLOSE INCIDENTS ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY IN TRAFFIC. CARS DO NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN I INDICATE AND I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE MOTORISTS HAVE TOLD ME I HAD FAILED TO SIGNAL AND MANY INSTANCES OF MOTORISTS HONKING. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CHANGING LANES AND MERGING. REVERSE LIGHTS CANNOT BE SEEN. VERY THIN, NOT INTEGRATED WITH OTHER BACK LIGHTS AND PLACED TOO LOW DOWN. THEY LOOK LIKE REFLECTORS AND ON A WHITE CAR CANNOT BE SEEN. I PURCHASED TWO SPORTAGES. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES ONE AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. I OWNED A SORENTO AND FORTE WHICH I TRADED IN TO GET AWD VEHICLES WHICH I THOUGHT WERE SAFER FOR COLORADO DRIVING. SPORTAGE IS THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS ISSUE. KIA WON'T INTEGRATE THE TURN SIGNAL WITH THE BRAKES. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11097858

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