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Kia Rio Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, parking or reverse light bulb in a 3rd generation 2012-2016 Kia Rio.

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2014 Kia Rio Tail Lights
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Bulb Socket Access Panel
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Pull Out Metal Tabs
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and also the updated 2016 model year) Kia Rio sedan in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, parking light and reverse bulb in the tail light assemblies.

Owners of other Kia and Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Forte, Cadenza, K900, Sorento, 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 # 1157, Rear Turn Signal # 7507 (or PY21W), Reverse # 921 and Parking Light # 1157.

No tools are needed to replace the brake or rear turn signal bulbs.

To access the reverse and parking light bulb, you'll need a Phillips head screwdriver.



 
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Raise Access Cover
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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7507 Turn Signal Bulb
The first two steps are to open the trunk lid and then move to the side of the car with the burnt out tail light bulb.

Locate the rectangular tail light bulbs access cover inside the trunk.

Gently pull out the two metal tabs to release the retaining clips and swing the access panel.

The Rear Turn Signal light bulb socket is located near the top of the outer housing.

Rotate the grey bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from the housing.

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

Push in a new # 7507 (or PY21W) bulb in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Brake Light Bulb Socket
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Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
Re-insert the turn signal bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

The Brake Light bulb socket is located at the bottom of the outer tail light housing.

Rotate the grey plastic bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from the housing.

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

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Re-connect Power Plug
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Pop In Retaining Clips
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Reverse & Parking Light
I disconnected the white plastic power plug in order to capture clearer pictures of the bulb sockets.

If you also disconnected the plug for more working room, push it back in to the socket.

Swing the access panel closed and pop in the two retaining clips.

The Reverse and Parking Light bulbs are located in a separate housing attached to the trunk lid.

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Trunk Lid Liner Fasteners
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Loosen Plastic Screws
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Pull Out Plastic Fastener
Loosen the plastic screws on the carpeted trunk lid liner by turning them counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver.

Once the screws are loosened, pull the entire fastener out of the trunk lid cover.



 

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4 Fasteners Removed
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Pull Back Trunk Lid Cover
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Reverse & Parking Sockets
You'll need to remove at least a few of the fasteners in order to access the bulb sockets. I removed four fasteners in total.

Gently pull back the trunk lid liner panel.

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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Parking Light Bulb Socket
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Rotate the grey plastic parking light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from 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 # 1157 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

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Reverse Bulb Socket
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Pull Out Old # 921 Bulb
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Push In New # 921
Rotate the small white plastic reverse bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it out of the housing.

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

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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Replace Trunk Lid Carpet
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Re-Insert Plastic Fasteners
Re-insert the bulb sockets in to the housing and rotate them 1/4 turn clockwise to secure them in place.

Replace the carpeted trunk lid liner and re-insert the plastic fasteners.

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Pop In Plastic Phillips Screws
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Trunk Lid Liner Secured
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Test New Tail Light Bulbs
Gently push in the black plastic screws to secure the fasteners.

Test the new tail light bulbs by having someone step on the brake pedal, activate the hazard signals and place the transmission in reverse.

For more, check out my other 2012-2016 Kia Rio DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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