Kia Sportage Tail Light
Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a brake, reverse, turn
signal, side marker or parking bulb in the tail lights of a 2011 to 2016 Kia
Sportage.
2014 Sportage Tail Light |
Two Phillips Head Screws |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the third generation (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) Kia
Sportage SUV in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal,
reverse, side marker or parking light bulb. Owners of other Kia and Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Forte, Cadenza, K900, Rio, Sorento, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis and Equus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The replacement bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Brake # 2357, Reverse # 921, Rear Turn Signal # 1156, Rear Side Marker # 2825 and Parking Light # 2357. The tools needed to remove the tail light housing and replace the bulbs include a standard Phillips head screwdriver and possibly also a plastic automotive panel removal tool. |
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Remove 2nd Phillips Screw |
Phillips Screws Removed |
Gently Pry Out Housing |
The first two steps
are to open the cargo tailgate 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 assembly by turning them counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the two screws aside in a safe place. Try to pull the tail light housing straight off the rear of the vehicle. The housing is still held in place by three friction fasteners (two pegs in grommets and one slot on a pop rivet anchor). If you have trouble removing the housing, gently pry along the front edges with a plastic automotive panel removal tool or a small flathead screwdriver covered in a micro fiber cloth to prevent scratches. |
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Friction Fasteners |
Grommets & Plastic Anchor |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Turn over the tail
light housing to access the bulb sockets. Rotate the black plastic brake light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from the housing. |
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Brake Light Bulb Socket |
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC |
Install New # 2357 Bulb |
Push the old bulb
down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling
it straight out. Push a new dual filament # 2357 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 |
Remove Reverse Socket |
Pull Out Old # 921 Bulb |
Re-insert the
socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in
place. Rotate the grey plastic reverse bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from the housing. Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket. Push in a new # 921 straight in to the socket. |
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Disconnect Power Plug |
Side Marker Bulb Socket |
Re-insert the
reverse bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to
secure it in place. I found it easier to access the small rear side marker bulb socket by first unplugging the black plastic electrical connector. Rotate the side marker bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove it from the housing. |
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Pull Out Old # W5W Bulb |
Re-Insert 1/4 Turn Clockwise |
Push In Power Plug |
Pull the old bulb
straight out of the socket and push in a new #
2825 bulb. If necessary, you may also use any other miniature wedge base bulbs such as the # W5W, 168, 194, 158 or a compatible LED bulb. Re-insert the side marker socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place. Be sure to plug in the black plastic electrical connector. |
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Metal Spikes & Grommets |
Slot & Plastic Anchor |
Push On Tail Light Housing |
Line up the two
metal pegs or "spikes" on the rear of the tail light housing with their
corresponding white plastic grommets. There is also a slot on the front corner of the housing that slides on to a white plastic pop rivet anchored in the metal body panel. Push the tail light housing back in to place. |
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Tighten Phillips Head Screws |
Turn Phillips Clockwise |
Parking Light Housing |
Tighten the two
Phillips head screws in the clockwise direction to secure the housing. Try to avoid over tightening the two screws to prevent from cracking the plastic inner edge of the housing. The parking light bulb is located in a separate housing on the tailgate door. |
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Plastic Access Panel |
Pry Out Access Cover |
Bulb Socket Exposed |
Insert a flathead
screwdriver in to the notch and pry open the plastic access panel. Set the access cover aside in a safe place. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC |
Install New # 2357 Bulb |
Rotate the parking
light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out
of the housing. Push the bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out. Push a new # 2357 bulb in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place. |
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Secure |
Re-Insert Tabs On Bottom |
Pop In Top Edge |
Re-insert the
socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in
place. Insert the tabs on the lower edge of the access panel in to the opening first and then pop in the upper edge. |
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Rear Turn Signal Light Housing |
Rear Wheel Well Liner |
Remove Phillips Head Screw |
I found that the
Rear Turn Signal light bulb was the most difficult tail light bulb to
replace on this 2014 Sportage. There are two possible methods. I was successful with the 2nd method further down this page. The first method is by going in through the wheel well liner just behind the rear tire. The second method is by going in through the under bumper panel. |
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First Screw Removed |
Remove Lower Screw |
Two Screws Removed |
Wheel Well
Method - Remove the two Phillips head screws along the outer edge of the
wheel well liner (or "splash guard") just behind the rear tire. Rotate the screws counterclockwise and then set them aside in a safe place. |
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Pull Back Wheel Well Liner |
Wedge Liner On Tire |
Turn Signal Housing |
Firmly pull back
the plastic wheel well liner.
You can wedge the wheel well liner against the tire to keep it open. |
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Turn Signal Bulb Socket |
Hard To Reach Socket |
Under Bumper Panel |
If you have long
arms and long fingers, you may be able to rotate the white plastic turn
signal bulb socket 1/4 clockwise before pulling it out. I wasn't able to get a good grip on the socket, so I had to continue with the 2nd method. Under Bumper Cover Method - Remove the black plastic screws in the fasteners below the rear bumper. Then pry out the larger outer section of the fastener. |
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Remove Phillips Screws |
Remove Third Plastic Screw |
Pull Back Panel - Housing |
There are three
plastic screws in three fasteners holding the under bumper panel in place
near the turn signal bulb housing. Set the screws and fasteners in place before pulling back the under bumper plastic panel. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Bulb Socket Removed |
Old # 1156 Light Bulb |
Reach in and rotate
the white plastic turn signal bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before
removing it from the housing. Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it out. Push a new # 1156 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 |
Re-Insert Outer Fastener |
Pop In Plastic Screw |
Re-insert the
socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in
place. Replace the larger outer pieces of the fasteners in to the under bumper cover. Then pop in the black plastic screws in to the fasteners to secure them in place. |
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Replace Wheel Well Liner Screw |
Replace 2nd Phillips Screw |
Replace Lower Fasteners |
If you removed the wheel well liner screws, tighten them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. | ||
Push In Plastic Screw |
Panels Secured In Place |
Test New Tail Light Bulbs |
Double check that
all of the wheel well liner screws and under bumper cover fasteners have
been replaced. Test the new tail light bulbs by having someone step on the brake pedal, activate the hazard signals and place the transmission in reverse. Check out
my other
2011-2015 Kia Sportage DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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