LED High Beam out already :(

[Choppa]

Bought my GT2 three days ago. First drive to work this morning on some very dark roads, turned on the high beams and got warning messages and indicator lights I had an LED problem. Got to work and sure enough the driver's side High Beam is out . From what I'm seeing the entire head light assembly needs to be replaced. I'll be calling the dealer this morning, but somehow I doubt they will stock a headlight assembly that is over a grand.

 

[NS_Stinger]

You definitely don't have to replace your entire headlight assembly for a burnt out bulb. That would be a terrible design. You probably just need a new bulb.

 

[Choppa]

You definitely don't have to replace your entire headlight assembly for a burnt out bulb. That would be a terrible design. You probably just need a new bulb.

I hope that is the case, but every single thing I looked up states the LED w/ dynamic lighting has to have the entire assembly replaced because the led is integral to the unit. The halogen bulbs can be upgraded to LED, but not these.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Oh maybe you're right. Good thing they're under warranty if that's the case. It just seems crazy to me, if your low beam burns out what are you supposed to do, park your car and wait a month for a headlight to come in?

 

[Choppa]

I know right. I guess the thought process is since LEDs last so long you wouldn't need to worry about it ... but apparently I had to test that theory.

 

[Choppa]

So I have to take my car in Wednesday. They do not stock the assembly and said they need approval from Kia to replace it. I reminded them I just purchased the vehicle but they said their hands are tied and it needs to be diagnosed first I checked the plug and nothing is loose. So wait and see

 

[NS_Stinger]

Keep us posted, I haven't heard of this happening to any other members so this thread might end up being a good resource.

 

[CKeeler]

 

[Choppa]

Yup will definitely let you all know.

 

[Legendsk]

Yeah, diagnose. There was a cover on the rain sensor missing on mine. "Have to bring it in so we can verify it's missing." Brought it in. "Can you show me the missing part?" Duh . . . . No. I could if it wasn't missing, but the best I can do is show you the hole it's supposed to cover up." "Yup, it's missing all right. We'll have to order one, should have it in a couple of days. We'll call you."

Two weeks. . . .
Call them. Cover in yet? "Nope, can't get just a cover, have to order the whole rain sensor assembly. Be in, in a couple of weeks. We'll call you."

Two weeks . . . .
Call them. Cover in yet? "Nope, the whole rain sensor costs $1,400. They haven't quite decided what to do about it. Should have something in a couple of weeks."

Two weeks . . . .
Call them. Cover in yet? "Nope, 'they' haven't decided yet if they are willing to replace it or not." I decided they will. Do you want to, before or after we fight about it? "Uh. . . Let us talk to the sales manager and get back to you." Salesman called me to say they will have it in a couple of days. And they did. Problem solved.

Epilogue:
Got back from a 3 week trip with the dog in the car. Vacuumed all the dog hair out. Vacuuming under the passenger seat and sucked out the missing cover?????????? Threw it in the glove box. Didn't have the heart to give it to them and point out if they had vacuumed the car before turning it over to me, they would have found it before I ever got the car.

 

[Choppa]

Yeah they are telling me the light assembly has to be ordered after they "Diagnose" it due to the fact it is a new part and that's why they don't stock it. I thought they started making this car in 2018, so how is the headlight assembly a "New" part? The assembly costs over $1000, not on my dime.

 

[P22Tyler]

Yeah they are telling me the light assembly has to be ordered after they "Diagnose" it due to the fact it is a new part and that's why they don't stock it. I thought they started making this car in 2018, so how is they headlight assembly a "New" part? The assembly costs over $1000, not on my dime.

That is absolutely insane. I love my car but I cannot believe they designed it like this. Instead of swapping out a $15-$20 bulb you have to replace the entire assembly?!?! Maybe this is not unique to Kia, I don't know, but this is certainly the first car I've ever owned that is designed this way.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yeah, diagnose. There was a cover on the rain sensor missing on mine. "Have to bring it in so we can verify it's missing." Brought it in. "Can you show me the missing part?" Duh . . . . No. I could if it wasn't missing, but the best I can do is show you the hole it's supposed to cover up." "Yup, it's missing all right. We'll have to order one, should have it in a couple of days. We'll call you."

Two weeks. . . .
Call them. Cover in yet? "Nope, can't get just a cover, have to order the whole rain sensor assembly. Be in, in a couple of weeks. We'll call you."

Two weeks . . . .
Call them. Cover in yet? "Nope, the whole rain sensor costs $1,400. They haven't quite decided what to do about it. Should have something in a couple of weeks."

Two weeks . . . .
Call them. Cover in yet? "Nope, 'they' haven't decided yet if they are willing to replace it or not." I decided they will. Do you want to, before or after we fight about it? "Uh. . . Let us talk to the sales manager and get back to you." Salesman called me to say they will have it in a couple of days. And they did. Problem solved.

Epilogue:
Got back from a 3 week trip with the dog in the car. Vacuumed all the dog hair out. Vacuuming under the passenger seat and sucked out the missing cover?????????? Threw it in the glove box. Didn't have the heart to give it to them and point out if they had vacuumed the car before turning it over to me, they would have found it before I ever got the car.

Legend, you are a master spinner!

 

[MerlintheMad]

That is absolutely insane. I love my car but I cannot believe they designed it like this. Instead of swapping out a $15-$20 bulb you have to replace the entire assembly?!?! Maybe this is not unique to Kia, I don't know, but this is certainly the first car I've ever owned that is designed this way.

True. Unique. But, Kia isn't going to be trashing replaced headlight assemblies: they will repair and reissue them. Trust that.

 

[P22Tyler]

True. Unique. But, Kia isn't going to be trashing replaced headlight assemblies: they will repair and reissue them. Trust that.

I have no doubt they'll re-use them, they would be stupid not to. Which raises the question of why they have chosen this path. Do you think they'll refurbish them and just put them on other cars that have bulbs go out?

 

[Revvdmedia]

The stories like these, associated costs and the assumption that "no better option" may come up for some of these types of repairs is the reason I WILL NOT be keeping the car beyond the 5 year warranty. If I wanted to pay over a grand for what seems like every replacement part, I would have bought German.

I legitimately, honestly, thought the parts on the Stinger would be "relatively cheap" since they at least were a few years ago on other Korean cars. The cost of tech...

 

[ShannonC]

I have no doubt they'll re-use them, they would be stupid not to. Which raises the question of why they have chosen this path. Do you think they'll refurbish them and just put them on other cars that have bulbs go out?

Unlikely that KIA would make the headlight. It would have been supplied by a third party and there would be an agreement in place for failures.

 

[Choppa]

So this morning the warning lights were out and the high beam worked, all I did was let the car sit in the garage for over 8 hours However the sound in the infotainment went out and I had to turn off quantum logic. Going to the dealer either way tomorrow.

 

[P22Tyler]

The stories like these, associated costs and the assumption that "no better option" may come up for some of these types of repairs is the reason I WILL NOT be keeping the car beyond the 5 year warranty. If I wanted to pay over a grand for what seems like every replacement part, I would have bought German.

I legitimately, honestly, thought the parts on the Stinger would be "relatively cheap" since they at least were a few years ago on other Korean cars. The cost of tech...

What next? You have to replace the entire wheel and tire if you lose a valve stem cap?

 

[BlaydeX15]

That is absolutely insane. I love my car but I cannot believe they designed it like this. Instead of swapping out a $15-$20 bulb you have to replace the entire assembly?!?! Maybe this is not unique to Kia, I don't know, but this is certainly the first car I've ever owned that is designed this way.

I'm pretty sure that every car offered with LED headlights from the factory works like this. LED's are integrated into the assembly, and the whole assembly needs replaced if/when it dies. That being said, if an LED doesn't fail prematurely, they're rated for ~100,000 hours of on-time. Chances are, the rest of the car will fail long before that, as that's roughly 3.5 million miles if you're averaging 35 MPH over the life of the car, and 11.4 solid YEARS of leaving the headlights on 24/7.