2011 Kia Sportage Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 7%of 181 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 27,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2011 Kia Sportage, 7% of the 181 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While changing the driver side headlight bulb, I noticed that the connector had burned and that the wires going to the connector were not connected to each other due to the burning. I noticed when barely grabbing the back of the bulb, that the electrical harness for the main light would spark and started to smoke causing the headlamp enclosure to fill with soot and smoke. Small sparks can be seen when trying to remove the headlight bulb itself as well as when trying to adjust the wires. The passenger side wiring has no defects or damage.”
NHTSA complaint #10583420, filed 2014-04, 150,000 miles“Engine light is on and no power when you apply gas pedal. Dealer pulled codes for ob2 and found p2562 turbo boot control/position sensor. Rest both adpat values. After resting and rebooting ECM drivers windows would not go up. Asked dealer if car was safe to driver. Dealer stated yes and said the only problem was the window. After pulling out on to a major busy 6 lane highway I discover I had no turns signals. Pulled car off the road and checked to is what other lights where not working. I discovered I had no day time running lights, headlights, fog lights and power door locks did not work. …”
NHTSA complaint #10417326, filed 2011-08, 6,322 miles“2011 Kia Sportage at times won't start but all lights and radio and electrical stuff work. Had new battery put in and checked out it is not battery. It is doing this more and more and I have to let it set for long periods of time then it will start. It can't be boosted off either when this happens. It started and has never stopped.please help.”
NHTSA complaint #10937920, filed 2016-12, 27,000 miles“The stop lamp switch in this vehicle intermittently malfunctions. The malfunctioning stop lamp switch has caused the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed. Additionally, the malfunctioning stop lamp switch has resulted in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.”
NHTSA complaint #10631138, filed 2014-09, 19,000 miles“This vehicles only rear turn signals are two small rectangles down in the rear bumper. When I contacted the dealership service center, they confirmed that the turn signals don't signal in the tail light area like almost every (if not every) other vehicle on the road.”
NHTSA complaint #10462694, filed 2012-06, 31 milesRelated recalls
- 15V360000Jun 9, 2015Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sportage vehicles manufactured March 7, 2011, to June 8, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the…Covers: Kia Sportage 2011
- 13V114000Apr 1, 2013Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul…Covers: Kia Sportage 2007–2011, Sorento 2007–2011, Sedona 2007–2011 +6 more
Related service bulletins
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10170778Jan 21, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on…
- 10092102Mar 19, 2015Pitstop: stop lamp switch identification matrix (sc098) - kma has received a number of incorrect warranty return parts related to campaign sc098 and has determined that at times…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2024 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 4% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 3 | 4% |
| 2018 | 6 | 4% |
| 2017 | 15 | 4% |
| 2016 | 3 | 2% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% |
| 2011 | 12 | 7% |
| 2010 | 1 | 5% |
| 2009 | 7 | 9% |
| 2008 | 7 | 7% |
| 2007 | 12 | 16% |
| 2006 | 6 | 5% |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% |
| 2001 | 5 | 2% |
| 1999 | 5 | 2% |
| 1998 | 6 | 2% |
| 1997 | 3 | 2% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2011 Kia Sportage
77 complaintsElectrical system
38 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsElectronic stability control
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology