Exterior Lighting Problems of Kia Motor Optima - part 1

I own a 2017 kia Optima. My vehicle was brought in for the tail light recall at lupient kia, but the dealership only replaced a bulb and refused to replace the harnesses. I was told by the service advisor (brad baranowski) that my tail lights had “nothing to do with the recall” and that I would need to pay $210 for a diagnosis, even though I am still experiencing the exact defect described in the recall (shortage/failure in the harness causing tail light malfunction and warning lights). This incomplete recall repair is a safety hazard my tail lights continue to fail, and I have received tickets because of it. I request that NHTSA investigate kia’s failure to properly complete this recall. Lupient kia 6030 n green bay Ave glendale, WI 53209 phone: (414) 351-3000.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Vehicles low-beam headlights are very poor. Brought for service/adjustments and was advised that they were properly aimed and that nothing more could be done other than installing brighter headlights. While driving at night I need the fog lights or the high-beam lights on for proper visibility which could cause issues for other drivers on the road.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Unknown.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

When I turned the ignition on the car wouldn't start. But the abs light and all other lights flickering when trying to start the car. The alarm kept going off. Passenger side front and rear windows won't function. Smell like something was burning. This is the second incident ([xxx]). Fuses had to be removed to silence the alarms on the first incident on [xxx] because the lights were still flickering on and off when car wasn't on. I had my car serviced at the west broad kia dealership in richmond, va. Thank you! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Power train: at low idle or while slowing down, the car will lose power for a minute until you get on the accelerator and it all comes back on. Alternator had been replaced. And is going to be replaced again soon. Not sure if it's just a bad part. Power steering pump was replaced. The pulley seized. Unrelated. Lighting: third brake light constantly flickers. All lighting including head lights flicker on and off. Worse when slowing down. Lights on dash board, dome, rear light and head light bulbs have been replaced. At night when the head lights flicker I cannot see the road. Airbags: the air bag light on dash is always on. Codes have been ran and there are so many. Tried resetting codes it comes back on soon after. Not sure how to go about trying to fix it. All of this has been happening since I purchased the car in November 2024.

See all problems of the 2008 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The headlights and brake lights have been very dim for a while. I've had to replace both headlights and brake lights an excessive amount in the last several years. This year alone since December 2024, I've had to replace my headlights 3 separate times. I do not drive more than 10,000 miles per year, or use my vehicle on roads that would lead me to believe the issue is from road conditions.

While driving at night if the headlights will randomly turn completely off.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

My grandson was driving home last night on our clay county west virginia narrow unlighted road when his 2018 kia Optima headlights went out completely. He wrote that he was scared but finally was able to get lights back on before running off the road. Also, several nights while car is locked with one in the car: the headlights came on. He had to unlock the car and start it up to finally get the headlights off. The lights were off when he first entered the house. I have a service call set up for 09-27-24 with dutch miller kia, but there is a $180. 96 + tax diagnostic charge and then the cost to repair the situation. I see there are many NHTSA complaints on your website for this problem. Kia apparently has not issued a statement or recall. Help!.

After getting hecu recall done , it has caused issues with the hecu module to where the brake lights no longer work and the esc light comes on the cluster panel. Up on reading the code c2130, it says brake lamp relay error. Mind you that my car was in working order before this recall was even done. This a huge safety issue not having your brake lights work. I can get rear-ended and I have kids in the car. This has been a issue since July when I got the recall done and kia has yet to find a fix for this matter.

See all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Car caught fire, parked in driveway, partially damaged the house.

I drive with my lights on auto. Occasionally the lights go out for no apparent reason. Both inside and headlights. I then have to hold the high beam switch on until I can turn lights on and off or use directional. Sometimes using the directional will cause lights to go out as well. This can happen several days in a row or maybe once or twice a week. I have noticed a few times the box appearing in my dashboard saying lights were off. I had done nothing for them to go out. If a cop sees this happen I am sure to get pulled over. This has been going on for a year=3 trips to 2 different dealers. I brought my car to two different dealers and they both said without it happening when they have it they cannot do anything. I do not understand how a few years ago they fixed something incorrectly and I had to go back for a different part. Apparently this can't be done for this. So, I just risk my life every time I drive at night!!.

The contact owns a 2014 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at night, the low beam headlights was very dim. The contact stated that the high-beam headlights had to be used while driving in poorly lit areas. The contact had called a local dealer and was informed that diagnostic test was needed to check the headlights. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the reflective coating in the headlight assemblies had deteriorated to the point that there was an accumulation of reflective material debris on the headlamp floor and that other reflective material was peeling away from the sides of both headlight assemblies. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the heat of the light bulbs was degrading the reflective material. The headlight assemblies were not replaced. The contact changed the light bulbs and both headlights were still dim. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

I purchased my car in 2015 at 23k miles, now we're at 86k miles and I'm experiencing issues. How is there a recall for this car but no remedy yet when there is a high risk of fire? shouldn't there be a resolution for this safety concern? I noticed my car in 2022 would smoke here and there when driving, and I would smell burning. I took it to my mechanic and he changed the head gasket, and the smoking stopped. There is residue on my engine from a leak from the oil. My mechanic at the time told me I might still smell burning oil just due to that. As time went on things were fine but a year later, the oil smell came back stronger. I notice it only on longer drives, so I do believe my car is leaking oil. Also, the amount of time I've changed my break lights this year and head lights. They dim so fast over time and eventually go out to where I have to replace them. There is 100% an electrical issue going on.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

My front headlights on both signs shorts out while driving. If one goes the other goes. No warning. I have replaced the headlights since 2020, 3 times and the bulbs 4. There needs to be an investigation into to these headlights shorting out can cause an accident.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Check engine has failed. Glow relay stuck on or knock sensor or engine warranty. I don't know. Kia service will find out what's wrong with my car.

My car started losing its lights one by one. I lost the front right light first, then yhe right back side light, and now the brakes lights. I replaced all the bulbs and still does not work. Then my car just cut off while driving with no notification. I towed it in to mavis. They checked and said the battery was not keeping charge. I paid to replace the battery ,belt and alternator. Four days later my check engine light, battery indicator, airbag indicator, door indicator came on and still is on.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Driving in the dark, my auto headlight selector only works when it wants to. Like it’ll just just my headlights off at random no matter how dark it is.

Headlights will randomly turn on and off throughout while driving. Radio has the same issue.

I was driving at night and the headlights suddenly turned off for about 5 seconds and then it will come back on. Don't know whats going on with its headlight.

Motor failed and kia replaced the motor. Now my dim lights and fog lights will not work. All fuse, relay, etc. . Has been tested along with bulb replacement….

My high beams and low beams are starting to shut off randomly. When it happens, my dash shows that I am trying to turn my headlights from auto to another setting, which is not the case. It has happened at night and that poses a danger because I cant see the road and people cant see my car. I have not had it looked at yet. I do see multiple complaints online for multiple different kia models and years. There is no recall and I do not see a TSB.

Headlights will randomly turn off when driving. I then have to quickly turn the headlight switch from auto to off to on to get them to come back on. There are numerous complaints online regarding this very same problem with kia Optimas and other kia vehicles. This is extremely dangerous.

The contact owns a 2012 kia Optima. The contact stated that the brake lights continuously remained illuminated. The taillight bulbs blew out on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there were several unknown warning lights flashing. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

At 95000 car had problem accelerating and then all of a sudden on the side of the road did that 2 had 2 engine rebuilds done no but the problem is still there and the fuses all look burnt and half my lights don't work.

Because the brake stopper or brake switch are messed up and my brake tail light stays on all night causing it to drain the battery if the car is braking while I’m driving it and the traction control light comes on and the speed is decreasing as I’m driving because the car is braking on it’s own it has nothing to do with the lights nor the battery the root of the issue is the brake line because the tail light will not cut off because the brakes are still engaged even when the car is off causing the tail lights to stay on so the lights is what is draining the battery the lights stay on all night in a car the battery dies but the battery nor the lights is the issue it’s the brakes.

The headlights failed and yes it can be inspected . The headlights while my 16 year old daughter was driving at night. She could not see the road there were no streetlights. She had to hit her brakes turn the car off and restart and the lights came back on . This put her life in danger I cannot believe there are no recalls . We have called numerous mechanics to fix and they have not heard of the problem. I do not trust kia to fix this . She could have died . Before this happened the dash showed the lights changing themselves from auto to on to off . This also happened to me while driving at night . We now do not drive this car at night out of fear .

My 2012 kia Optima headlamps are extremely dim, even though I’ve replaced the lightbulbs with the highest possible lumens, multiple times, the headlamp assembly continues to dim. This requires that I ride with my high-beams on to drive at night. The lights have been dimming for more than 20,000 miles, but they are almost useless at this point.

I have my headlights on auto so they turn on but they turn on during the day and then off at night they turn on they have turn off when I'm diving at night on freeway and turn back on.

I was driving on the highway and all of sudden my car started decelerating. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed the brake lights were illuminated although I was not pressing the brake pedal.

When I drive at night the low beams are so dim I have to use high beams or fog lights to see.

Desconocido.

Low beam head lights visibility maybe reaches 3-4 feet infront of car at max. Have upgraded bulbs twice to higher lumens but still must run hibeams at night. I drive mountain passes daily and must use hi beams, not safe for oncoming traffic.

Headlights randomly turn off while driving. To get them back on you have to switch on and off before they turn back on. Very dangerous for my 17 yr old daughter driving down a highway at night. The lights will also turn on in the middle of the night and if we happen to notice, we have to go to the car and turn the lights on and off to get them fixed. There are numerous reports on this when google. I am not the only one. Really dangerous!.

The center console power supply is faulty, does not charge or hold usb port. The white paint on my car began to chip in large amounts.

Low beam headlights on my 2011 kia Optima with 150,000 miles are bright to look at them, however the beam pattern on on the roadway is terrible. I have tried replacing the bulbs with brightest bulbs, checked voltages and grounds. After checking over 10 forums I have found that the reflective service on the headlight housing has degraded and lost its reflective value causing a very safe condition. 1 person disassembled the headlight unit and installed foil tape, stating this corrected the issue. I have attempted to contact kia with out a return response. I feel this should be a kia recall issue.