I know Kia extended the warranty on the multi-function switch to 150,000/15 years but got a "voluntary service campaign" letter yesterday to now proactively replace the switch if your vehicle is covered. So I called my dealer yesterday and shocker, they don't have the replacement part. They did say this is not a "inspect and replace" campaign but rather "mandatory replacement" if you got the letter. They anticipate replacement parts within two weeks and put me on the list to call when they are in and apparently I was the only one on the list so far. Covers 2016-2018 model years but not sure if all trim levels or only some.
Multi-Function headlight switch replacement now mandatory
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tom4416
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2017 Sorento SX V6 AWD, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Turbo, 2002 Honda S2000
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Yeah, my Sorento has the same issue. Still haven't replaced it yet, but I think leaving it ON all the time is a good solution to bypass the problem.
Anyway, I just don't understand why the stalk can 'physically' turn on and off the lights like that. But apparently it does. Does anyone know what fixes did Kia make on the new stalks?
I don't know if leaving it on all the time is a workaround, but that's what I do, and I haven't had inadvertent on/off issues (yet) LOL. As for causes, I wonder if cheap switches and contacts get worn and don't initialize or disengage properly. I have noticed a "glitchy" turn signal cancelling issue. It will cancel after a turn and cause the other direction to monetarily flash.
I got the letter yesterday. I'll just ask for it next oil change.
Kia dealer replaced our 2017 Sorento stalk several years ago, got Kia to reimburse me (only after I formally threatened small claims court), then in last 6 months I've received two letters from Kia saying it needs to be replaced... I don't get it.
I can think of several straightforward answers, the most obvious of which is that the replacement you received 'several years ago' was with an identical unit, still prone to the problem, and they're now offering to replace with a new design.
I had my multi-switch replaced last week and a couple days after I noticed that the steering wheel was mis-aligned. Now in order to go straight the wheel has to be 10-15 degrees to the left. I took the car in to the dealer and they told me that they don’t take the wheel off to replace the switch. They said that they would take a look at it but I would have to pay for any repairs. I never noticed this prior to the switch replacement.
That's true. No reason to do that. Did you not notice this as you were driving off the lot after the repair? This (at 10~15 degrees) isn't the kind of thing that wouldn't be noticed immediately if it had occurred at the shop.
Sound more like a serious front end / alignment issue.
Where I live there are not many straight sectons of roads, other than the interstate. So I didn’t notice it until I drove on there. On flat straight section of highway the car tracks straight with the steering wheel angle 10 to 15° to the left. The car doesn’t pour left or right. It’s hard to believe that my alignment can be that far off and my car would be able to track straight. I saw a video where someone was replacing the multi switch, and they had to remove the steering wheel, but that was on a 2017 Sportage. I wouldn’t think that the part would be that much different between the two cars. I can’t say for sure, but all I know is, I don’t remember having to steer like that before.
2017 Sorento SX V6 AWD, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Turbo, 2002 Honda S2000
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1,024 Posts
I had an oil change at the dealership and my car returned with driver side door that became harder to close. After I drove off the lot, I can even hear wind noise from the door gap… then I returned to the dealership right away and complained!
They didn’t want to accept any responsibility at 1st because why would oil change make any difference to the driver side door?
Thankfully manager decided to pull up garage video footage… sure enough, they saw the tech lowered my car with driver side door opened and then hit something…
I don’t know if you were doing other services as well? Could they potentially caused some damages to the alignment? Have them try 1st diagnose what’s reallly the problem… is it alignment or steering wheel really bolted back on wrong? Then ask if they have video footages in garage?
Good luck man!
They didn’t want to accept any responsibility at 1st because why would oil change make any difference to the driver side door?
Thankfully manager decided to pull up garage video footage… sure enough, they saw the tech lowered my car with driver side door opened and then hit something…
I don’t know if you were doing other services as well? Could they potentially caused some damages to the alignment? Have them try 1st diagnose what’s reallly the problem… is it alignment or steering wheel really bolted back on wrong? Then ask if they have video footages in garage?
Good luck man!
The service campaign says the recall is voluntary. The facility will test your headlight knob to see if defective then order a replacement that took a week. I called kia HQ and they confirmed that its up to an inspection to determine if it needs to be replaced. Its not a mandatory replacement for everyone. They said its the knob itself that gets replaced. It feels stiffer to rotate the knob than before. Took 1.5 hr to replace but most of that time was the vehicle sitting in a bay so it could take less time if there are no other cars.
Find the TSB (includes procedure) attached.
I just had my oil changed at dealer and service advisor told me they'd replace the switch under the recall letter, but they have to order one. I told him I know parts availability is an issue, and I'm not in a hurry to get it done. I leave the headlights on auto anyway, so the switch doesn't get constant wear.
Most of us haven't seen a failure, though personally, I'd rather not have it happen for the first time while driving down a curvy, secondary mountain road on a dark night.
This is typically an intermittent problem, and isn't likely to fail when they're watching in any case. If you really want it done, advising them that you've had your headlights blink out and come back when driving at night requires them to deal with your issue. The newer of the two letters (2025 vs 2023) was reworded substantially and now doesn't even suggest that you need to have seen this problem.
Mine is left in "Auto" all the time, so I'd be surprised if the contacts (where wear is the issue) have seen the switch cycled even 100 times in the life of the vehicle. I'll likely never see this problem, and will not bother with it for now.
2017 Sorento SX V6 AWD, 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Turbo, 2002 Honda S2000
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1,024 Posts
I’d advise not leave it on auto, that’s what I used to do and it turned the lights on in the middle of the night and drained my battery TWICE!!!
Simple fix is to just leave it ON all the time. Sorento will for sure shut the lights off and I’ve never experienced this intermittent problem again so far.
I still haven’t done this recall yet and I have really no reason to. If anyone wishes to use the stalk’s full functionality, it’s best you get it replaced!
Simple fix is to just leave it ON all the time. Sorento will for sure shut the lights off and I’ve never experienced this intermittent problem again so far.
I still haven’t done this recall yet and I have really no reason to. If anyone wishes to use the stalk’s full functionality, it’s best you get it replaced!
The failure doesn't cause them to come on as the switch is not powered when the car is off. The issue is that the lights will intermittently shut off when driving.
Ours has done very little driving at night since new but I remember having an incident driving to the airport late at night and the lights went off for a few seconds and I initially thought i did something. As soon as I reached to turn the switch they came back on. That was at around 30K. It happened a few times after that.
I did get it into the dealer to have it done at around 70K last year and we have a very bad dealer (service management side)here in Ft Worth and they did everything but what I asked them to do (another story but.) I did end up forcing them to replace the switch by having the sales manager tell him we weren't buying the sportage unless he fixed it today. They did have to order the part and it's not even a 1 minute fix. It's just the end cap of the lever. They can do it in the parking lot with no tools.
I guess I’m late to the party. I did receive the mandatory replacement letter recently but I was just beginning recovery from a total knee replacement, so I didn’t open the envelope until earlier this week. Last Friday I garaged my 2017 Sorento, as usual, during daylight hours so I know the switch was in the parking light on position. Sunday I went to start the car and the battery was dead, measuring 4.9volts. Fortunately I have a lithium-polymer portable jump starter to start the car. I noted all the doors had been closed and no interior lights left on. I was mystified as to what happened to my one year old battery, until I read the recall letter. I can presume that the switch malfunctioned during the night and drained the battery. Why and how, who knows. Anyway, it appears that only the switch block on the end of the stalk needs replacing. Is this correct? The dealer would only need to remove the steering wheel if they were to replace the entire stalk.
Here is the actual TSB for it with real information not he stuff you get in the mail.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10237138-0001.pdf
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10237138-0001.pdf
Appears to be identical to the one in post #30, this page. Not seeing anything that has been updated.
No change on that one but it has the actual information vs the mailer from Kia not sharing much actual info.
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