This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) Kia Sorento SUV in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, reverse, rear side marker or inner parking light bulb located in the tail light housings.

Owners of other Kia, Hyundai and Genesis vehicles such as the Soul, Seltos, Sportage, Niro, Telluride, Forte, Rio, Optima, Stinger, Cadenza, K900, Sedona, Kona, Venue, Santa Fe, Elantra, Sonata, Accent, Veloster, Ioniq, Nexo, G70, G80 and G90 may also find these instructions to be helpful.

The compatible replacement light bulb parts numbers are as follows: Brake # P21/5W, Rear Turn Signal # 1156A (also known as 1156NA), Reverse # 921, Parking Light # P21/5W and Rear Side Marker # 2825 (or W5W).

If you would like to have brighter tail lights that will also last much longer before burning out, install some P21/5W LED, 1156A LED, 921 LED and 2825 LED bulbs.

The tools needed to access and replace the light bulbs include a flat head screwdriver, a 10mm socket with a short extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet and possibly a plastic pry bar tool.

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 light bulb.

Locate the plastic access cover situated on the side of the cargo area just in front of the primary tail light housing.

Insert the blade of the flat head screwdriver into the small notch on the rear edge of the access cover.

Gently pry out the access cover.

Loosen the two black metal nuts by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with a 10mm socket attached to a short extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

Set the two nuts aside in a safe place.

Carefully pull the tail light assembly straight off the rear corner of the SUV.

If you have trouble removing the housing, try gently wiggling it back and forth or use a plastic trim panel removal tool to very carefully pry along the front outer edge.

Do NOT use excessive force to prevent from cracking the plastic tail light housing and lens cover.

Turn over the housing to access the bulb sockets.

The large black bulb socket contains the brake (stop lamp) light bulb.

Rotate the brake light bulb socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction to unlock it from the housing and then pull it straight out.

If you would like to have brighter brake lights, install some compatible replacement P21/5W LED bulbs.

Re-insert the brake light bulb socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place.

The orange / reddish plastic socket contains the rear turn signal light bulb.

Rotate the rear turn signal bulb socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Push a new amber colored number 1156A 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 rear turn signal lights, install some compatible replacement 1156A LED bulbs.

The small grey bulb socket near the outer edge of the housing 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.

Push a new number 2825 miniature wedge base light bulb into the socket.

If you would like to have brighter rear side marker light bulbs, install some compatible replacement 2825 LED bulbs.

Line up the two metal pegs or "spikes" on the back side of the tail light housing with their corresponding plastic grommets on the rear corner of the vehicle.

Slide the tail light assembly straight on to the rear corner of the SUV.

Spin on the two black metal nuts a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to help prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

Tighten the two nuts in the clockwise direction with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

To test the new tail light bulbs, have an assistant step on the brake pedal and activate the hazard signals.

If you need to replace the reverse and inner parking light bulbs, continue to the instructions below.

Locate the square shaped plastic access cover on the tailgate's interior trim panel.

Gently pry out the access cover and set it aside in a safe place.

The reddish / orange colored socket contains the parking light bulb.

Rotate the socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Push a new number P21/5W bayonet style 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 parking lights, install some compatible replacement P21/5W LED bulbs.

The smaller white plastic socket contains the reverse light bulb.

Rotate the socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Push a new number 921 miniature wedge base light bulb straight into the socket.

For brighter reverse light bulbs that will last much longer before burning out, install some 921 LED units.

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

To test the new light bulbs, turn on the parking lights or the headlights and have an assistant step on the brake pedal before shifting the transmission into reverse.

Be sure to write down the bulb change in your vehicle's service records.

Please take a look at all of my 2016-2020 Kia Sorento DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.