1.9
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 86,962 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Headlights very dim no matter what bulb you put it. Cannot see more than 3ft in front of you when driving at night. Visited do not stay up fall down blocking view
- Attleboro, MA, USA
Head light are dim and have no visabilty
- Houston, TX, USA
Low beam headlights are too dim. Tried replacing the bulbs, but no change. Cleaned the outer lens to improve clarity and get rid of yellowing. But did not help. The outer lens looks just fine. When I removed the assembly to check if there's anything wrong inside, I was shocked. The projector bowl had caught rust on both sides, thus causing poor reflectivity and low light on the road. Turns out every 2006/2007 Optima owner has had the same issue. I found this out when I looked online to purchase a new assembly.
- Arlington, TX, USA
I was at the gas station and my son noticed that my brake lights were still on, the car was completely cut off. They would not go off. I had to take out the fuse to cut them off when I got home later that night. I noticed there was a recall for the brake switch, but, the recall started for 08. I have an 07. Why wasn't the 07 included in the recall?
- Stone Mountain, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. On several occasions, while driving at night, the headlights became extremely dim, forcing the contact to turn on the high beam headlights to see properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.
- Saint Paul, MN, USA
Headlight assembly to dim
- St. Paul, MN, USA
Unless the brights are on I can hardly see at night. I avoid driving at night because of this.
- Bloomington, IN, USA
Oem headlights go bad. Lights got progressively dim with time. Got to the point I could barely drive at night. Dangerous! started leaving lights on high beams - nobody would flash me because they were barely adequate. Checked voltage/ground was ok. Replaced factory headlight assemblies with aftermarket units - fixed the problem. Can now drive around safely at night. Kia should recall the defective head light assemblies.
- Warren, OH, USA
Frequent low beam and high beam headlight failures over last 4 years..last month I had to replace the whole passenger side headlight assembly..my left headlight assembly is currently out on the low settings..
- Yalaha, FL, USA
Low beam headlights extremely dim, problem reviewed by dealer. No resolution. Seems a electrical situation. Same problem noted by many other 07 owners. Problem has gotten progressively worse over time. Only low beam affected. Reviewed by many dealers with no solutions. Extremely dangerous situation as virtually no low beam light emitted. Bulbs have been changed. Circuits checked by dealer.... no changes in problem. Need a solution... no lights
- Fargo, ND, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the exterior headlights were extremely dim. The lights had to be on the high beam setting in order to see anything. The contact mentioned that the failure was a very serious safety concern because visibility was impaired while operating the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlights needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,805. The VIN was not available.
- Georgetown, SC, USA
The low beams are very dim. The fog lights light up the road better than the low beams. I replaced the lowbeam bulbs with sylvania silverstar ultra bulbs which are very bright in my other car, they still are very dim.
- Roeland Park, KS, USA
I bougjt this car in 2014. I have replaced both low-beam headlights, twice, a brake light, both rear blinkers, a front blinker, as well as both highbeams. I have never replaced even half the number of lights in the entire lifetime of ownership of any vehicle I have owned in the past. This is an obvious recall issue based on safety as well as quality if Kia cared. When the lights are working I have to drive with my high-beams on and I never get flashed or pulled over. It is extremely hard to see vs. Any other vehicle. I have had many friends and family in the car and have shared the story. And everyone says the same thing, its like the brights in this car is everyone else's regular lights. In fact, many people say the high-beams are not as bright as most vehicles low-beams. It is ridiculous and unfair that us owners have to spend $10-$35 on a bulb or two an average of every 5-8 weeks. Crazy....Kia step up and fix this quality and safety issue. Gov't I guess wont step in without someone dying first and it making the news because I see I am not the first by any means, and wont be the last!
- Arlington, TX, USA
Low beam headlights, keep replacing bulbs, exact bulbs required by Kia. Alternating either the driver's side or the passenger. Beside this problem, the headlights are so low that at night I have been running with high beams on for over a year now; on-coming cars don't seem to be bothered by the high beams. Usually high beams cause on coming vehicles to flash their high beams, but this is not the case, we've discussed with Firestone, they tested the bulbs and believe it is electrical. Since reviewing your on-line complaints on this issue, we'd expect a recall by Kia! we'd like to see that, at no cost, instead of it being our expense. I had several Chevy camaro for years, never experienced this problem. Only recalling headlights being replaced one or twice!
- Hamilton, OH, USA
I have a 2007 Kia Optima and it has terrible exterior headlights. The headlights are so dim that I have to drive with high beams on as much as possible. Per forum discussions I have seen online this is an ongoing issue.
- West Harrison, IN, USA
The visor on the driver side of the car fails to stay upright limiting visibility. The headlights are so poor that it's almost impossible to see when driving on a dark road at night. It's to the point where I don't drive the vehicle at night because the road leading out provides little to no light and I would constantly have to ride with the bright on to be able to see including the fog lights. Both are safety concerns that could possibly lead to an accident or someone being seriously hurt. I've seen several complaints but no further actions have been initiated.
- Houston, TX, USA
The headlights are very dim, was reported to Kia at the time and the car was under warranty at the time, Kia would not address the problem they just told me to pay to have them replaced. I feel like Kia should to replace them at there cost not mine, the replacement headlights are $360 a piece. We have tried restoring them and having them adjusted this didn't fix the problem { feeling hopeless }.
- Ririe, ID, USA
The headlights and brake lights/turn signal lights burn out repeatedly. At least one of them burns out every 2-3 months.
- Indianapolis , IN, USA
Headlight problems, the lights are so bad at night, that you can not even drive on dark roads at all. Not had an accident as of yet, only drive at night and very scared, carefully only if it is necessary. I bought this car in used condition, only had it for about three months now, had the lights replaced and worked on but they still don't work properly, I have been driving for over forty years with many different vehicles but this one is the only one in my lifetime that has ever had a head light problem. This problem could cause a very serious accidents, if its not taken care of, its dangerous to people out walking at night, animals, and to the driver w/passengers. I am a senior citizen, borrowed the money to purchase this car, so disappointed in it, did not personally even own a car until now. My dream was to be able to take vacations and long trips in my later years but this has put an end to that dream. I know I want be able to get help with this matter, but would like to let others know before they purchase a 07 Kia Optima, during daylight hours, for all to be aware and do not buy a car until you've driven it at night.
- Florence, SC, USA
- Richmond, KY, USA