Kia Sportage
Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake or rear
side marker light bulb in a 4th generation 2017 to 2022 Kia Sportage.
2018 Sportage Tail Lights |
Open Tailgate Door |
Pry Off Trim Panel |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the fourth
generation (2017, 2018, 2019 and probably also the refreshed 2020, 2021 and
2022) Kia Sportage SUV in changing a burnt out brake or rear side marker
bulb located in the tail light housings. Owners of other Kia, Hyundai and Genesis vehicles such as the Niro, Optima, Soul, Forte, Rio, Stinger, Cadenza, K900, Sorento, Telluride, Sedona, Kona, Santa Fe, Tucson, Elantra, Sonata, Accent, Rondo, Carens, Veloster, Ioniq, Nexo, Palisade, G70, G80 and G90 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement light bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Brake # 2357 and Rear Side Marker # 2825 (also known as W5W). If you would like to have brighter tail lights that will last longer, install some 2357 LED and 2825 LED bulbs. The tools needed to remove the tail light housing and access the bulb sockets include a small flathead screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool and a Phillips head screwdriver. The first two steps are to open the tailgate door for the cargo area and then move to the side of the SUV with the burnt out tail light bulb. |
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Pull Off Trim Cover |
Two Screws Exposed |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Locate the two
small notches on the outer edge of the black plastic trim cover. Insert the blade of the flathead screwdriver or the plastic pry bar tool into one of the two notches. Gently pry off the black plastic trim panel and set it aside in a safe place. Once the cover is out of the way, you'll be able to see the two black metal screws that secure the tail light housing to the rear corner of the SUV. Remove the two screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Two Screws Removed |
Pull Off Tail Light Housing |
Slide Assembly Off Car |
Set the two screws
aside in a safe place. Carefully pull the tail light housing straight off the rear of the SUV. The housing is still held in place by two metal pegs on the back side that are inserted into plastic grommets and also a plastic slot attached to the button head of a plastic pop rivet. If you have trouble removing the tail light housing, try gently wiggling the housing up and down or left and right while pulling it straight off. |
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Light Housing Removed |
Two Pegs & Slot |
Push Release Tab |
Turn over the tail
light housing to access the bulb sockets. You may want to place a towel on the rear bumper to protect the tail light lens cover and painted bumper from being scratched. I chose to disconnect the electrical connector for the entire tail light housing and set the housing down in the cargo area. To disconnect the power plug, push in the release tab and slide the connector straight out of its slot. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Rear Side Marker Socket |
Pull Out Old Light Bulb |
The smaller grey
bulb socket contains the rear side marker light bulb. Rotate the socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. Carefully pull the old light bulb straight out of the socket. If you have trouble removing a stuck or stubborn old bulb that might be rusted in place, try gently wiggling it back and forth while pulling it straight out. |
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Old Side Marker Bulb |
Push In New Light Bulb |
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Push a new number
2825 light bulb straight into
the socket. If you would like to have a brighter rear side marker light that will also last a lot longer before burning out, install a compatible replacement 2825 LED bulb. Re-insert the bulb socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Brake Light Bulb Socket |
Push Down 1/4 Turn CC |
The larger dark
grey bulb socket contains the brake (or "stop") light bulb. Rotate the socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. Push the old bulb down into the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out. The original OEM light bulb was marked as part number KHA12V28/8W. |
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Install New Light Bulb |
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Push In Power Plug |
Push a new number
2357 light bulb down into the
socket and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into
place. If you would like to have brighter brake lights, install some compatible 2357 LED bulbs. Re-insert the bulb socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place. If you disconnected the electrical connector for the tail light housing, push it back into its socket. |
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Line Up Pegs & Slot |
Slide On Tail Light Housing |
Tighten Screws Clockwise |
Line up the two
metal pegs (or "spikes") and the plastic slot on the back side of the tail
light housing with the corresponding white plastic grommets and the white
plastic pop rivet button head on the rear quarter panel of the SUV. Slide the tail light housing back into place. |
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Replace Lower Screw |
Push On Trim Piece |
Test New Tail Light Bulbs |
Replace the two
screws by turning them in the clockwise direction with a Phillips head
screwdriver until they are snug. Try to avoid over tightening the two screws to prevent from cracking the plastic inner edge of the tail light housing. Line up the black plastic trim cover and snap it back into place to secure the retaining clips. To test the new tail light bulbs, have an assistant step on the brake pedal and turn on the parking lights. Please check out all of my
2017-2022 Kia Sportage DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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