[@ppy.tbhp]

Originally Posted by BhayanaV

Can we request to convert this to a new thread. This might need more attention.

It would be great if the underlying causes are correctly identified and steps are taken in right direction to resolve this critical issue at the earliest. I thank all fellow BHP-ians have who have actively responded adding great value to all owners and automotive enthusiast. Lets start by making everyone aware and raising caution to drive carefully since these flawed design and manufacturing of lighting assemblies can cause dangerously low visibility increasing the risk of accidents.

Originally Posted by 1:1

Ignore it. its not a big deal my 2019 seltos also has it. And company does not consider it as a defect. I had reached out to Kia they said it can happen and it wont hamper life or light coming from the LED's

As I’ve mentioned before, this is a well-known issue that has been around since the KIN models were first introduced in India. As a concerned owner, I’ve personally experienced how the vehicle lights have turned yellow and the light output on the road has dropped significantly, all within just four months of owning the car. Despite being told that this wouldn’t impact the life or performance of the lights, it’s worrying to see such a reduction in visibility, especially when it comes to something as important as road safety.

What’s even more frustrating is that after KIN replaced the lights in my car, they used the same defective ones. Within just two days, the new lights fogged up again, reducing visibility once more without addressing the core issue. The lights will damage themselves over time of use again. It’s clear that they can’t design or manufacture basic front lighting system that works consistently in all weather conditions without any issues. This shows a lack of concern for customer safety and a focus on profits over the quality of the product.

I believe reporting this issue to the relevant consumer protection agencies is a necessary step to challenge these ongoing malpractices. Automakers must be held accountable for their actions and ensure they comply with the quality and service standards required when designing and manufacturing vehicles in India. Taking this step will help protect consumers and encourage companies to put safety and quality above everything else.

Originally Posted by vsm9009

Hi Kia Users,

Greetings of the day.

I drive a Kia Seltos 2023 model HTX 1.5 Diesel MT. I picked this car on Jan 01, 2023 from Taapasi Kia, Bangalore. Within a week of taking delivery of the car & even before the first service @1000 kM, I noticed the fog lamps are fogged badly. I could see water moisture inside the fog lamps. On complaining to the dealership & a strongly worded mail to KIA India Customer support, the service personnel visited my residence & replaced the fog lamps. The odometer was around 450km on replacement of the fog lamps. After about 3 days of driving the car, the fogging re-appeared on the fog lamps, to which I raised the query to KIA India & the dealership. I also told them that the mileage was 850km then & they requested me to visit the service center for a resolution along with the first service.

I then went to the Taapasi Kia service for the scheduled first free service on January 21, 2023. They fitter Moisture Absorbent vide part code 921252W255 on the fog lamps costing Rs 210 each. The cost for the inserting the moisture absorbent in both fog lamps was Rs 420.00, which I had to pay as it is classified as a consumable. I was then told that the headlamps already have this Moisture Absorbent & the expected life is around a year. They will need replacement as & when the fogging appears.

Again during the return journey from Chennai to Bangalore, I noticed the same fogging on both headlamps & the fog lamps. The car was also due to the 20000 kM service. During the service on raising the concern on September 05, 2024, the same Moisture Absorbent was replaced on the two headlamps & the two fog lamps. The part number for the headlamp moisture absorbent is 92125G6150 costing Rs. 252.54 totaling to 505.07. For the fog lamps the moisture absorbent was also replaced vide part number 921252W255 @ Rs. 233.06 totaling to Rs. 466.11.

I was informed by the service advisor that they have a technical bulletin from KIA India which specifies that the fogging complaint on noticing or reporting by the customer will require the Moisture Absorbent to be replaced at the cost to customer as it is classified as a consumable.

So is this a manufacturing problem or a design issue, is difficult to conclude. But we have this additional burden of replacement of this Moisture Absorbent regularly on appearance of the fog on the headlamps & the fog lamps.

I honestly can’t even put into words how frustrated I am with how Kia is handling the fogging issue with the Seltos.

This is beyond frustrating! KIN is treating what seems like a design or manufacturing flaw as if it’s just a temporary fix by replacing desiccant pads. Every time the fogging comes back, owner will be asked to pay for these "consumables" that never address the actual problem. It’s pretty clear to me that there’s something wrong with the lighting system, but instead of fixing it, KIN just keeps passing the cost on to the customer. It feels like we’re just being taken for a ride.

The worst part is that KIN isn’t even taking responsibility for this recurring issue despite knowing about it since the start. They’re putting the burden on us, the customers, to keep paying for fixes that don’t actually fix anything. It’s frustrating, and it’s honestly unfair. This is not how a company should treat its customers, and it’s high time they took accountability and actually resolved this once and for all. All desiccant pads were replaced free of cost in my case. The lights started failing so they replaced all front lights. There's no mention of desiccant pad as a consumable item requiring replacement in maintenance schedule provided in the owner's manual , kindly get money paid to KIN and KIA dealership refunded back to you as soon as possible. I was provided replacement desiccant pads at no cost by KIN dealership. Considering the costs you have mentioned all front lights will require Rs 1500 consumable part every six months. The desiccant pads don't last for an year, they loose their ability over time and require frequent regeneration or replacement in 3-4 months.

look at what these manufacturers are doing now! Apparently, the desiccant pads in our cars have a "yearly life," just like how your engine needs oil changes. I mean, who wouldn’t want to replace a moisture-absorbing pad every year, just like you'd change your engine oil? It’s such a vital part of the car's operation, right? Just like how your engine wouldn’t function without fresh oil, the fog lamps simply can’t function without new desiccant pads every 12 months. Clearly, it’s all part of the brilliant design—because what better way to maintain car quality than by treating moisture pads like regular consumables? Forget about actually fixing the issue—let’s just keep replacing pads and charging the customer. Genius !

Just wanted to let you know you’re definitely not the only one dealing with this. KIN really needs to be called out for how they’ve handled this issue. they know they have sold defective productive and services to owners and now it's a huge problem for them to fix. Lights are turning yellow and failing in warranty period for many users. It's foolish on part of global brand like KIN to engage such practices and risk road users safety on roads !

Originally Posted by navin_v8

Seriously mate, I was flabbergasted to read some comments saying that the headlight condensation in Kia/Hyundai cars is normal and does not cause any issue as told by the authorized service center. I mean this is the height of the infamous, "Chalta Hai" attitude of our gullible Janata. Even after paying close to/more than 2 million rupees people are fine with such manufacturing defects and accept the bull crap explanation given by the authorized service centers. Safety attitude in India, the less said the better!

Thanks mate for raising a very important point here.


The technical mumbo jumbo about thermodynamics, temperature differential phenomenon, DBT/WBT/Dew point principles all sound very good but that is the headache for the manufacturer to handle and not the buyers of these 2+ million rupee cars. It is embarrassing to see cataract eyes on a brand new car within just a few weeks/months and the reasons given by the authorized service center is like making a fool out of the person twice!

The sentence highlighted in bold is the moot point of discussion. I still do not agree with the sentence highlighted in italics as there are a lot many cars using LED lights, Hell! even motorcycles nowadays have full LED setup. I have seldom come across condensation affected headlights on such vehicles.

Exactly, so as per your post and I quote, "it looks like breather valves are designed inadequate or not working to remove the moisture build up in time." is indeed a manufacturing defect from Kia/Hyundai as it is more prominent on their cars than any other cars.

Fair enough! but does BMW mention "getting it checked" is free (during warranty period) or involves charges?

Thanks for understanding that it's not the owner's problem if a vehicle with critical design and manufacturing flaws is sold to the owner. The design and manufacturing flaws built into the products are resulting in safety issues, and these products have been sold to thousands of vehicle owners. These products were marketed and sold as highly safe, with six airbags, ABS, and other safety systems. Front light assemblies have critical defects, which cause them to go weak and ultimately fail in all weather conditions. This reflects very poorly on the quality of the product and undermines faith in the proper functioning of other safety systems as well. It creates a sense that the vehicle is unreliable and all built in systems can malfunction at any point in time, the manufacturer is trying to avoid a recall and trying all low cost band-aid measures after selling vehicles at a cost nearing 25 Lakhs on Road. What's worse is that the manufacturer is asking money form owners for the cost of this temporary band-aid solution despite this being a critical issue that compromises the safety of road users in all weather conditions due to low visibility. This critical safety issue will affect all owners at some point in time. The manufacturer is only engaging in making money, completely disregarding the safety of road users. It's clearly evident owners are being cheated on and sold defective products by these Global manufacturers in very large numbers.

Originally Posted by navin_v8

Similarly, condensation also happens on the inside as well, especially during monsoon (4 months). This is when the car is parked and the outside temperature is hotter than the car's inner temperature. In this case there is condensation all over the entire glass area in a parked car. So the temperature differential that you say never happens in Bombay is untrue. Are you saying this temperature difference affects all car headlights/taillights? If yes, then why doesn't the LED tail lamp of my RE Thunderbird which is parked in open during rains build condensation? ditto for my car which is parked in the open, albeit it has halogen lamps.

So are you deducing that this happens in all cars and more so in Hyundai/Kia cars as the condensation is more visible/prominent on Hyundai/Kia headlights due to thermodynamic principles?

Indeed but excellent build quality and durability does make science tilt in its favor when exposed to nature's elements, just a little longer.

This happens in all cars and more so in Hyundai/Kia cars as the condensation is more visible/prominent on Hyundai/Kia due to wrongly designed and manufactured light assemblies, incorrectly placed and housed desiccant material. I am attaching images for reference , see how these caps are holding desiccant material very close to heated engine , this heat along with the heat generated by LED light chipsets during their working cause the desiccant to re-release absorbed moisture and increase and trap humidity severely inside lighting assemblies when engine and lights are switched ON and vehicle is driven normally for about an hour. When the desiccant cools down after the car engine is turned off and lights are switched off it reabsorbs moisture back gradually making the light lenses visibly clear reducing humidity to certain extent inside light assemblies.

[bobbyblr]

Hi @ppy.tbhp,

If you could purchase these caps (which holds the desiccant) separately, then also purchase the snap-in or screw-in Gore Vents. Drill these new caps to the size of the type of Gore vents and add these new vents (facing outside) without any desiccant.

I know that for the caps you have to wait for few weeks and for the Vents you may have to import it by paying shipping charges and custom duties.

But I think this should be a simple solution to the condensation or moisture issue in the Kia headlamps. I don't know how difficult it is to add these kind of vents to the Fog lamps.

I don't know why Kia has messed up the design of these LED headlights & fog lamps by using a desiccants. With so many years of experience in automotive fields, a simple ePTFE vents like Gore vents would have solved the condensation or moisture issue. I think Lumax might just manufacture these lamps as per the design provided by Kia.

[@ppy.tbhp]

Originally Posted by navin_v8

Seriously mate, I was flabbergasted to read some comments saying that the headlight condensation in Kia/Hyundai cars is normal and does not cause any issue as told by the authorized service center. I mean this is the height of the infamous, "Chalta Hai" attitude of our gullible Janata. Even after paying close to/more than 2 million rupees people are fine with such manufacturing defects and accept the bull crap explanation given by the authorized service centers. Safety attitude in India, the less said the better!

Thanks mate for raising a very important point here.


The technical mumbo jumbo about thermodynamics, temperature differential phenomenon, DBT/WBT/Dew point principles all sound very good but that is the headache for the manufacturer to handle and not the buyers of these 2+ million rupee cars. It is embarrassing to see cataract eyes on a brand new car within just a few weeks/months and the reasons given by the authorized service center is like making a fool out of the person twice!

The sentence highlighted in bold is the moot point of discussion. I still do not agree with the sentence highlighted in italics as there are a lot many cars using LED lights, Hell! even motorcycles nowadays have full LED setup. I have seldom come across condensation affected headlights on such vehicles.

Exactly, so as per your post and I quote, "it looks like breather valves are designed inadequate or not working to remove the moisture build up in time." is indeed a manufacturing defect from Kia/Hyundai as it is more prominent on their cars than any other cars.

Fair enough! but does BMW mention "getting it checked" is free (during warranty period) or involves charges?

You’re absolutely right, and I completely understand your frustration. The fact that so many people are willing to accept subpar quality—especially in cars costing over ₹2 million—is honestly baffling. It feels like safety and quality are taking a back seat in our market, and that’s just not okay.
On the severe Headlight Condensation Issue reducing visibility, damaging light components housed inside them creating great safety hazard for road users. Let’s be clear—severe condensation in headlight assemblies, no matter how “technically explainable,” must not happen this often, especially in modern cars. We’re talking about vehicles with advanced engineering and price tags to match! If budget bikes and entry-level cars can manage LED setups without this issue, why can’t Kia and Hyundai?The reality is, this is a design flaw. Whether it’s poorly designed breather valves, bad placement, or substandard materials, the manufacturer has dropped the ball here. And to make matters worse, brushing it off as “normal” is a lazy excuse. When you’re paying a premium for a car, you expect a premium product—period.

The "Chalta Hai" Attitude Needs to Stop, This is where the real problem lies. As buyers, we’ve been conditioned to accept mediocrity because:
1. Lack of Awareness: Many people don’t have the technical know-how to challenge these explanations. Authorized Service centers know this and throw around jargon to confuse or pacify customers.
2. No Accountability: Authorized Service centers are reluctant to admit flaws because it reflects poorly on them, and most people don’t escalate issues further.
3. It’s Easier to Give Up: Honestly, who has the time to keep fighting? For a lot of buyers, it’s just easier to live with the problem than go through the endless complaints process. But the truth is, this attitude only encourages manufacturers to cut corners. And that’s why it’s so important to speak up.
Why Is This Happening More with Kia/Hyundai?
You’re spot on—LED headlights aren’t new, and they’re on everything from scooters to luxury cars. Yet, this condensation issue seems to haunt Kia and Hyundai cars more than others. It points to:
• Poor design of the breather valves. They’re not doing their job of expelling moisture effectively.
• Subpar materials in the headlight assembly that don’t seal properly over time.
• A refusal by the company to address these recurring complaints properly.
Instead of saying, “It’s normal,” they must step up, acknowledge the issue, and fix it.
What Can Owners and prospective buyers do?
1. Demand a Fix: This isn’t something to brush off. Insist on a permanent solution—whether it’s replacing the headlight units or upgrading the defective components, asking for lifetime warranty on these units.
2. Escalate It: If the Authorized service center dismisses your concerns, take it up with the regional or national customer care teams. Social media is a powerful tool, and so is filing formal complaints with consumer forums like the NCDRC.
3. Raise Awareness: Talk about it on forums , share your experiences, and let others know they’re not alone. Collective pressure can force brands to take these issues seriously.

Final Thoughts:-
When you spend over ₹2 million on a car, you have every right to expect top-notch quality and safety. Letting manufacturers get away with dismissing real concerns just sets a bad precedent. It’s up to us, as buyers, to hold them accountable and demand better.

I am attaching screen shots of KIA Seltos owners manual that clearly mentions these are Sealed units. They can't be repaired by changing the lamps as traditional headlight assemblies can be repaired in case anything stops working. These sealed light assemblies have cost around Rs 55000 to fix. These units must be of traditional designs wherein if the Lamps fail ,they can be easily replaced with new parts. All front Lights are sealed units in my Seltos making it difficult to repair when the lights are turning yellow with reduced light visibility on Road in just four months and 15000 Kms of normal driving.

Originally Posted by bobbyblr

Hi @ppy.tbhp,

If you could purchase these caps (which holds the desiccant) separately, then also purchase the snap-in or screw-in Gore Vents. Drill these new caps to the size of the type of Gore vents and add these new vents (facing outside) without any desiccant.

I know that for the caps you have to wait for few weeks and for the Vents you may have to import it by paying shipping charges and custom duties.

But I think this should be a simple solution to the condensation or moisture issue in the Kia headlamps. I don't know how difficult it is to add these kind of vents to the Fog lamps.

I don't know why Kia has messed up the design of these LED headlights & fog lamps by using a desiccants. With so many years of experience in automotive fields, a simple ePTFE vents like Gore vents would have solved the condensation or moisture issue. I think Lumax might just manufacture these lamps as per the design provided by Kia.

I have not purchased any caps, these are already present in all front lighting assemblies of Kia Seltos 2023, majorly failing and causing all sorts of severe problems. My concern for not trying the solutions suggested by you—my car is still new and under five year warranty, and I don’t want to risk voiding it. If I start modifying things like the headlight caps or adding aftermarket vents, Kia might use that as an excuse to deny any warranty claims, especially if something goes wrong with the headlights or electrical systems later.

After spending over ₹2 million on a brand-new car, I really shouldn’t have to resort to DIY fixes for what’s clearly a design or manufacturing issue. KIN must take full responsibility for this and fix it timely and properly under warranty.

Here’s what I’m planning to do instead of modifying anything myself for now:
Document the Problem: I’ll take photos and videos of the condensation and show how it affects visibility. The more evidence I have, the better.
File a Warranty Claim: I’ll push the service center to fix this issue under warranty. If they dismiss it as “normal,” I’ll escalate it to Kia’s regional or national customer care. They have already replaced all front lights with the same defective assemblies having the same defects.
Demand a Proper Solution: I won’t settle for quick fixes like replacing desiccants. I’ll make it clear that I expect a permanent solution, especially since other manufacturers don’t seem to have this problem.

The way I see it, the warranty exists to protect me from exactly these kinds of issues. Kia needs to take responsibility and sort this out. I’m not going to modify anything and risk losing my warranty—I’ll hold them accountable instead.