Kia Battery Drain SOLVED 2013-2023 This Might Be Your Problem

[@floodway2955]

Wow! I'm on my fifth battery in my 2015 Kia Sorento. It's been a mystery since I bought it new. Kia couldn't find the problem. Six local shops couldn't find the problem. Now, perhaps this video has solved the mystery. Nice.

[@carquestions]

Let me know if it works please - Cheers from Canada!

[@floodway2955]

I'll keep you posted and cheers from Winnipeg Canada.

[@carquestions]

@@floodway2955 thanks

[@earthtrotterjones7835]

@@floodway2955any updates curious thanks!

[@keithrust3144]

I noticed the headlight switch is in the Auto position, which is what I have been doing for years. Two days ago, I came out to the car and found the parking lights were on, but the leadlight switch is still in Auto. Apparently, we need to keep this in the Off position as well to avoid a battery drain. Oh, I also found the tailgate light being in the Door position caused a battery drain.

[@carquestions]

Thanks for the info Keith - the more we know the better - Cheers from Canada!

[@jupitergal23]

Holy smokes. I have replaced my battery 6 times in my 2014 Kia Soul. I was using the mirror yesterday and I didn't shut it - I distinctly remember thinking that it was silly to shut it when I can just flip up the sun visor. Today, my car wouldn't start. Battery was nearly dead. Again!! I had it towed to my mechanic tonight. I will tell him this tomorrow after he inspects my battery.

[@carquestions]

Jupiter - battery should be fine after charging - make certain to close the mirror door after every use even if you flip it up - let me know what happens - he should find nothing wrong - Cheers from Canada!

[@MetalGuitaristATX]

I just found this on my kia and ur video was extremely helpful!!!! I immediately lowered my visor and saw the mirror with the light on. Was a facepalm moment for me haha

[@carquestions]

Hopefully it helps MGA - Cheers from Canada!

[@danastevens7124]

I have a Kia Sedona. I sure hope this is the problem; if so, I thank you sooooo much for posting this! I do have the sliding right passenger door automatically opening though too, it was replaced and still happening. I shut the auto door off but who knows. Still much appreciated!

[@carquestions]

I think you have a door alignment issue or a faulty switch - let me know what happens - Cheers from Canada Dana!

[@jimwood8123]

Thank you so much for this video. I never would have figured this out. Came out to a dead as a doornail battery a couple times.

[@carquestions]

Glad to hear it and cheers from Canada

[@user-zs2xr1tk7o]

I hope this helps. It is the darn TRUNK switch that is draining the battery and causing radio and LED issues! Taking the trunk fuse out seems to fix the problem and no more draw. putting the fuse back in causes the problem. You can simply keep the fuse OUT and drive the vehicle, you just wont be able to use the trunk. There seem to be a switch/box in the trunk that went bad. Only kia dealerships sell this and they have to program it themselves.

[@user-zs2xr1tk7o]

How it all began: I tried the key fob and the car didn't respond. Lights worked fine, key fob had new battery. I had to unlock car manually but couldn't lock it back. Couple days later, I heard the music blasting and the radio was on in the middle of the night while the car was OFF. Battery officially died the next morning. I put in a new battery and drove to a trusted local mechanic. Ran diagnostics and current draw test (paid $125). They found out that the trunk access switch was the problem. If you guys buy the part from kia you will have to resend it them with the car to program it. i was told only kia dealership can do so.

[@carquestions]

@@user-zs2xr1tk7o Should also get any fault codes out of it

[@carquestions]

I'm not sure that was the root cause - music blasting??? - not the same system as the trunk - what were the codes found?

[@user-zs2xr1tk7o]

@@carquestions Good call. I don't see any codes on the paperwork I received from my mechanic. This was written on the receipt " With key off confirmed significant battery draw, pin point test indicated trunk access fuse hot all the time, we removed the fuse and draw went away and all electrical operations were restored. Suspected internal failure in smart junction box, recommending kia dealer to install a new one and reprogram it." END according to the mechanic, there is a box buried deep inside kia that it is best for kia to go in there and replace. It costs time and money. I am a girl so I am confused myself. I won't contact kia dealer until September when I return from my family trip.

[@carquestions]

@@user-zs2xr1tk7o you should check NHTSA for a recall that may apply - their free - check them once a month - if you had this problem others will

[@ricardowilson4356]

Thank you so much for this information. My battery has died at least three times since I've had my 2016 Kia optima. And I wasn't sure of the issue. And it's always when I leave it for longer than 5 days without driving.

[@carquestions]

Get the charging system checked to make sure it isn't a charging issue as well as a bad battery - Cheers from Canada Ricardo!

[@Fueler]

I have this exact same problem in a 2016 Sorento sx. Random fully battery drain happens every 5-6 months. From Newfoundland

[@carquestions]

Try this and tell me if it works on yours - Cheers from Ontario

[@Fueler]

@@carquestions I will certainly thank you!

[@Fueler]

@@carquestions also my Sorento is parked within 10 feet of my fob every night. Very close and maybe activating the approach feature.

[@carquestions]

@@Fueler I'd definitely move it further away or put it in a Faraday pouch or metal box - let us know your results please.

[@earthtrotterjones7835]

@@carquestionsmy car is about 20-25 feet away from my fab and I’m having this issue the last few months could that be it?

[@w0251605]

Same here! Thank you because I just figured out what was going on with my Genesis

[@carquestions]

Glad it worked for you - Cheers!

[@jaytopiwala9659]

Thank you so much this just solved a problem with my 2018 Kia Sorento Sx.

[@carquestions]

Very good to hear Jay - Cheers from Canada!

[@LowKeyHiFi]

Very great find there. I have 16' EX+ and same problem, a random drain on battery and I couldn't figure out why. Dealer inspected it and said nothing's wrong with my electrical system so they just recommend to get a new battery. Thanks from NB!

[@carquestions]

So this solved your problem? - hope so - let me know

[@vincentpina3320]

I'm having battery drain issue as well on a new 2023 k5. Was really hoping this was the issue but it happened 5 times already and I'm only at 5k miles

[@carquestions]

What's the dealer saying Vince? - it's still under warranty

[@vincentpina3320]

I'll post here when I get an update. Last time they held the car for a month just to change the battery with no other feedback. held up for 3 months before it started again.@@carquestions

[@carquestions]

thanks sounds good @@vincentpina3320

[@im4uca]

@@vincentpina3320Any update on this? Our 2023 K5 randomly died yesterday, no changes to anything we do with it, just dead. Jumped it, drove it to Auto Zone, all components checked out fine. Woke up this morning and it barely turned over.

[@omgitsvmp]

​​@@im4ucagreat timing because I was about to reply here. After months and months with no resolution from the dealership. I was able to identify where my power drain was coming from, the Bluetooth adapter. In my Kia K5 I noticed that my phone would intermittently connect to my turned off vehicle. I began to test leaving my Bluetooth on and off on my phone over nights to see what happened. On nights it was left on, I'd get a power drain notice. On nights it was off I didn't get the notice. I've been testing this for 6 weeks and it's been consistent. I've even had guests connect to the car and see if other phones had an effect and it did. Overtime the consistent draw would kill my battery, I haven't had it die on me since January which says a lot since I was at the point of carrying a jumper box in my car.

[@Abamaine]

Did you consider ghost activity ?

[@carquestions]

of course - Cheers from Canada !

[@Abamaine]

@@carquestions 🤣

[@elsie8757]

Our 2021 Kia Sorento has a mysterious battery drain, too. The small side indicator light by the headlight keeps coming on even when the car is off and the fob is nowhere around. We noticed this phenomenon intermittently and tried fiddling with the lights and switches but couldn't figure it out. Finally, one day, the vehicle was just dead. We had it towed to the dealer, and they couldn't figure it out, but we had to buy a new battery. I think this light caused the drain, but Kia did not agree. We've had the car for less than three years. So frustrating. We also had transmission trouble with this car, and it was in the shop for almost FOUR months. Additionally, we had to replace the windshield after a mysterious hairline crack appeared. We still have the side light issue, which the dealership can not explain. Thankfully, our lease is up soon, so hopefully, this new batter ($350) will last until then.

[@carquestions]

Did you check the vanity mirrors?

[@omgitsvmp]

Fingers crossed here! I just got 2023 KIA K5 GT and my battery has been dying. I know for a fact I left this little door open on the vanity mirror and currently waiting for roadside. Hoping this is all it is, great find, but such a design flaw.

[@carquestions]

And techs will miss it - so hope this works - let me know - Cheers from Canada!

[@ashb4smoke]

We have a 2023 carnival that is randomly dying. It's a nightmare. Our vanity mirror has an on/off switch so they knew it was a problem and possibly fixed it. Anyways drove the van for 2 days and this morning it's dead again🙃

[@carquestions]

What you have is 2 problems Ash - 1. Dealer is incompetent, lying, stupid or all three - any mechanic can do a battery draw test to find what part/s are draining your battery. 2. Some kind of Kia defect the dealer doesn't have parts for. - let me know what happens - Cheers from Canada!

[@carquestions]

Also - your Kia has 2 electrical related recalls - free repairs - sliding door and trailer harness - check for documents on NHTSA website

[@earthtrotterjones7835]

If your slider was closed and visit down to say hold a window shade could that cause drain ? Bc I’m having same batter issues 🤷🏻‍♂️ thnx

[@carquestions]

Might be - experiment with it ETJ - Cheers from Canada!

[@vernellmoncrief6050]

I have a 2016 Kia Sorrento. I only have 61,000 miles on it and within this time my battery have completely died five times. There is never a warning sign that the battery is bad it starts perfectly and then I’ll just get up the next morning and its dead.

[@carmelle4ever]

I have a 2015 Kia Soul and the battery keeps dying every few nights. None of my lights are on. I turn off the headlights and have the interior and mirror lights set to off. What can I do to fix this?

[@carquestions]

Did you slide the cover closed? - may need a battery draw test - lots on YT that are good - good luck Cheers from Canada Carm!

[@syedsikander6929]

In my 2015 kia cerato daily at night the battery is down what is the issues I can't understand and I changed 5 new battery can you solve this dear please

[@carquestions]

Make sure the mirror door is always closed before locking the car - Cheers from Canada!

[@Lusandro]

So vanity was Kia’s greatest sin

[@carquestions]

That's funny -

[@warrengardner7763]

Hit key on fob and the doors did not unlock, unlocked it manually, tried to start but it was dead - no lights on dash. Got out and closed the door and the horn started blowing - realized I had left my keys in the ignition so I jumped back in, pulled the key out and hit the unlock button. The lights then came back on the dash and the car started…WTH…checked and vanity mirrors were closed…anyone have any ideas?

[@carquestions]

Depending on the mileage year of car etc - bad battery connections to replace the battery in the remote - Cheers from Canada Warren!

[@malcolmmeade6737]

Thank you Thank you,

[@carquestions]

Did it work for you? - let me know - Cheers from Canada Malcolm

[@mxkguitar]

Awesome! Thank you!!! I would imagine this applies to both visors/mirrors?

[@carquestions]

It should - Cheers from Canada MXK!

[@MasonLady]

My 2018 Rav4 dies every week and has to be jumped.

[@carquestions]

Did you do a battery drain test?

[@MasonLady]

@@carquestions: Yes, by Toyota and a private garage.