Paul's Travel Pictures

Kia Sorento Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, reverse, parking or side marker light bulb in a 2010 to 2015 Kia Sorento.

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-001
2014 Sorento Tail Lights
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-002
Open Tailgate - Two Screws
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-003
Remove Phillips Head Screws
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the second generation (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015) Kia Sorento SUV in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, side marker, reverse or parking bulb in the tail light housings.

Owners of other Kia and Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Forte, Cadenza, K900, Rio, Sportage, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis and Equus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

Replacement bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Brake # 2357, Rear Turn Signal # 1156A (or 1156NA), Side Marker # 168, Parking Light # 2357 and Reverse Light # 921.

The tools needed to replace the bulbs include a Phillips head screwdriver and a flathead screwdriver.



 
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-004
Remove Lower Phillips Screw
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-005
Two Phillips Screws Removed
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-006
Pull Off Tail Light Assembly
The first two steps are to open the tailgate door and then move to the side of the vehicle with the burnt out tail light bulb.

Remove the two screws along the inner edge of the tail light housing by turning them counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.

Set the two screws aside in a safe place.

Pull the tail light housing straight off the rear of the vehicle.

The assembly is still held in place by two metal pegs on the back side near the outer edge that act as friction fasteners.

If you have trouble removing the tail light housing, try gently wiggling it back and forth while pulling it straight off.

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-007
Turn Over Tail Light Housing
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-008
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-009
Remove Brake Light Bulb Socket
Turn over the tail light housing to access the brake, rear turn signal and side marker bulb sockets.

Rotate the large grey brake light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-010
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-011
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-012
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Push the old brake light bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push a new # 2357 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

To replace the turn signal bulb, rotate the orange socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-013
Remove Turn Signal Bulb
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-014
Rear Side Marker Socket
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-015
Replace # 168 Bulb
Push the old turn signal bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push a new amber colored # 1156A bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place.

To replace the rear side marker bulb, rotate the small grey plastic socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from the housing.

Pull the old side marker bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 168 bulb.

If necessary, you may also be able to use any other miniature wedge base bulbs such as the # 158, 194, W5W, 2825 or a compatible LED unit.

Re-insert the side marker bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.



 

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-016
Line Up Metal Pegs & Grommets
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-017
Replace Phillips Screws
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-018
Tighten Screws Clockwise
To re-install the tail light housing, line up the two metal pegs or "spikes" on the back side with their corresponding plastic grommets.

Push the tail light assembly back in to place on the rear corner of the vehicle.

Replace the two screws on the inner edge of the housing and tighten them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver.

Try to avoid over tightening the two screws to prevent from cracking the plastic tail light housing.

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-019
Tailgate Light Housing
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-020
Open Tailgate - Access Cover
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-021
Screwdriver In Notch
The parking light and reverse light bulbs are located in a separate housing on the tailgate door.

To access the bulbs, open the tailgate door and locate the rectangular access panel.

Pry open the access cover by inserting a flathead screwdriver in to the notch on the top edge.

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-022
Access Panel Removed
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-023
Parking & Reverse Bulb Sockets
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-024
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
Set the access cover aside in a safe place.

Rotate the large orange parking light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push a new # 2357 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place.

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-025
Reverse Bulb Socket
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-026
Pull Out Old # 921 Bulb
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-027
Line Up Access Cover
To replace the reverse bulb, rotate the small grey socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Pull the old reverse bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 921 bulb.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Line up the access panel and gently pop it back in to place.

Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-028
Push In Access Panel
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-029
Test Turn Signal & Reverse
Kia-Sorento-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-030
Testing Brake Light Bulb
To test the new tail light bulbs, have someone step on the brake pedal, activate the hazard signals and place the transmission in reverse.

For more, check out my other Kia Sorento DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

If you found this guide to be helpful, please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com "Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.)

Main Menu       Home       Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures       Articles       My Blog

 

Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
 All Rights Reserved ®

Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Policy     About Paul & Author Contact Info