'Actually Indestructible:' Man Hits Kia Headlight With a Sledgehammer. Why Doesn’t It Break?

"Why didn't they build their engine that way?"

Kia Headlights

Photo by: Unsplash.com

Nina Hernandez

By: Nina Hernandez

Sep 15, 2025 at 9:00pm ET

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A man sparked internet conversation by claiming a viral video is proof that Kia headlights are indestructible. Is this an urban legend or a little-known fact of automobile life?

Sherpa Offroad is an account that posts Reels about offroading and vehicle maintenance on Facebook. In a recent post, the man behind the account reacts to a video of another man taking a sledgehammer to a Kia’s headlight, presumably to demonstrate its toughness.

“Fun fact: Did you know that Kia headlights are actually indestructible?” says Sherpa Offroad. “You can whack it with a mallet as many times as you want and it ain’t going to break. You might have motor problems, but at least your headlights are going to be good forever.”

Viewers React to the Kia Headlight’s Toughness

In the comments section, viewers debated whether the original Kia video is truly a testament to the overall reliability of Kia headlights.

One person offered up a photo of their own wrecked Kia, which features a completely smashed headlight. “This is a false statement,” they wrote.

A second person said, “False. We got a yard full of Kias with broken headlights.”

“They should make their engines out of headlights…” suggested a third person.

Another person said, “Yeah, right. Is that the same guy that throws ball bearings at Cybertrucks?”

Are Kia’s Headlights Really Indestructible?

The original video was posted to Instagram three weeks ago by Ovis Auto. In the caption, Ovis wrote, “Kia logic: Engine grenades at 80k miles, but the headlights? Built like bulletproof glass — hammer approved.”

Are Kia’s headlights really that indestructible? Well, Kia headlights are made of a polycarbonate material that does hold up better in the face of damage than glass headlights. However, it should be noted that many modern car brands use a headlight made of a combination of polycarbonate and acrylic.

Kia’s headlights are in the news right now, but not for being indestructible. Back in January, the company announced the recall of 74,000 Kia Sorento models due to a software glitch that resulted in headlights and taillights shutting off unexpectedly.

What do you think?

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When it comes to engines, Kia is currently under review by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over a previous recall engine repair that might not have completely fixed the issue. The recall impacts nearly 140,000 vehicles, including Soul and Seltos from model years 2021-2023.

Motor1 contacted Sherpa Offroad and Ovis Auto via email for comment.

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