3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,244 miles

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problem #9

Jul 012022

Optima

  • miles
1. Headlights randomly fail and yes. 2. Headlights will completely go out at night while driving. Not being able to see in the dark while driving can be fatal to me, my family, and any nearby innocent bystanders. 3. No. 4. No. 5. No warnings at all and it started almost 2 weeks ago.

- Smiths Station, AL, USA

problem #8

Mar 012022

Optima

  • miles
I have been driving at night going 70 mph on major rural freeway, as well as 55 mph on a two lane rural country road when the auto headights went completely dark, including all the interior lights. I could see nothing in the dark at those speeds... not even the road. The first time this happened, I panicked because I could not see the road. I slammed on the brakes. I turned the auto light switch from auto to off and then turned to regular on. The headlights and interiors lights came back on. The second time this happened, I was going 70 mph on a rural highway. I immediately took my foot off the petal and turned the auto light to off and back on to regular on. I told the Kia Dealership and they said I would need to pay $138 to have them investigate the problem. The Service Center said they have heard of the problem before but were very vague. This is a MAJOR SECURITY TRANSPORTATION RISK.

- Hamilton, NC, USA

problem #7

Oct 202021

Optima

  • miles
The vehicle automatically turns the headlights off automatically (at night). While driving and not touching the multi function switch, the vehicle indicate that the headlights were switched manually to the "off" position from the "auto" position on the multi function switch. This happens randomly at random intervals and most noticeable at night when the car is driving and the lights are turned off and is not reproducible on demand. The safety of both myself and the other vehicles around me are put at risk if my headlights cannot turn on or turn off by themselves at night while operating the vehicle. I went to the dealer, and they told me that even though the car is under warranty since the problem cannot be reproduced I would need to pay a $175 diagnostic fee, the dealer told me that Kia will charge them if they can't prove that the multi functional switch is defective. I contacted Kia customer service, they opened a claim, but did confirm that if the issue is not re-creatable on demand the dealer can charge a fee and there isn't anything they can do to waive that. They told me since it's a safety issue they could escalate the issue, so I agreed to escalate it. Then I never heard back after that. The lcd in the control cluster indicated that the lights were turned off (even though the switch was physically not touched and remained in the "auto" position for the lights). Other Kia Optima owners are experiencing this issue as seen here: https://www.optimaforums.com/threads/headlights-turn-off-automatically-at-night.169987/

- Maple Grove, MN, USA

problem #6

Jan 162021

Optima

  • 100,000 miles
The headlights will go off no matter if the switch is on auto or normal on. The lights cut off while driving, it happens on the street, highway, and even if the car isn't moving. It started about a month ago. There hasn't been any damage or wrecks to my car.

- Nashville, TX, USA

problem #5

May 202020

Optima

  • 68,000 miles
Bought my Kia 1 ago & always had a problem w/headlights always turning on & off when in auto mode. Trunk latch had to be replaced due latch not locking when trying to close trunk. Dealership said they get 20-30 latch issues w/my make & model of Kia every week. After vehicle starts car just dies & engine light comes on. At times car will stay on but stutters like its going to die.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #4

Nov 012019

Optima

  • 73,200 miles
When car is driving, or sitting the head lights will go on and off by themselves. Like when its dark they will shut off. Then come back on, switch is on automatic mode. Then when you switch to turn lights on it will do on and off. Been happening for several months, finally did it on my husband he was thinking I had lost my mind.

- Camden, OH, USA

problem #3

Jul 202019

Optima

  • miles
I was driving to work at night time for about a week straight my head lights would randomly turn on and off by their selves while I'm driving and then my car would be sitting in my parking space and my neighbors told me my lights would just be on all night and my car would be locked and everything and one day I went out to start my car and I couldn't even unlock it to get in it so I thought it might've been my car remote battery died and so I asked a neighbor that works on cars to see what it could be they popped my hood and checked my car battery and it was completely dead, they tried to give me a jump which was just enough to allow me to unlock and get into my vehicle but my car battery was completely fried due to headlight sensor.

- Columbia, TN, USA

problem #2

Aug 242019

Optima

  • 55,000 miles
When on automatic mode, the headlights suddenly shut off. Sometimes they come back on after a moment, but sometimes they do not come back on until you turn the headlight switch from automatic to on. This is very dangerous. It has happened numerous times while driving, in both day and night conditions.

- El Campo, TX, USA

problem #1

May 012018

Optima

  • 12,000 miles
Takata recall break lights not coming on. I noticed I had a notification come on my dashboard that read ''check brake lights' and both of my break lights were flashing on the image of the car on the dash. It would come off and on randomly throughout the day. I can smack my break lights and they come back on, and once I press my break they go back off.

- Herrin, IL, USA