2016 Kia Optima Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 47about this part
- Share
- 6%of 760 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 56,650miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2016 Kia Optima, 6% of the 760 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,650 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The headlights turn on when on auto on there own on a bright sunny day. This seems to happen intermittently. Also when the headlights are on, the passenger brake light goes out. When I turn the headlights off the brake light works again. This seems to happen all the time both when driving and parked in my driveway.”
NHTSA complaint #11354143, filed 2020-09, 2 miles“My headlights have gone out 3 times in the last four months. I've never encountered this type of problem with any other vehicle. This car is s 2016 Kia Optima and had left me without headlights .I notice others have complained about the same exact problem. This safety issue needs to be investigated . Very dangerous to drive without headlamps. Someone please make note of this serious situation immediately!!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11408214, filed 2021-04, 108,200 miles“While driving at night or during the day at random times the exterior headlights will go off and sometimes come back on without any changes from driver. The setting for my headlights are set to auto. In order for light to come on at night once they have automatically turned themselves off I have to switch the control to on. This is continuing to happen at random times while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11235201, filed 2019-07, 50,000 miles“I was driving down the highway at 9:40pm and my headlights turned off by themselves. They were set to auto. I pulled over and turned them to on and thankfully they stayed on until we made it home. This is very dangerous! I had my son in the car. We are lucky to be alive.”
NHTSA complaint #11329986, filed 2020-06, 26,000 miles“While driving during the day the lights randomly go off by themself while in auto mode. I've always let it go until I was driving at night and the headlights went out also while in auto mode. If you switch to manual it works properly, but in auto it's totally random. It is very dangerous when this happens at night on busy roads. I also noticed that all the lights on the dashboard went out too when the headlights went out. I've seen where others have the same problem”
NHTSA complaint #11339246, filed 2020-07, 57,300 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10170778Jan 21, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on…
- 10130102Feb 19, 2018TSB - SERVICE ACTION: OUTSIDE REAR COMBINATION LAMP HARNESS REPLACEMENT (SA334) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the outside rear combination lamp harness on…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 14 | 6% |
| 2017 | 15 | 6% |
| 2016 | 47 | 6% |
| 2015 | 23 | 2% |
| 2014 | 18 | 3% |
| 2013 | 40 | 3% |
| 2012 | 31 | 3% |
| 2011 | 88 | 15% |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 | 9 | 8% |
| 2008 | 8 | 6% |
| 2007 | 27 | 16% |
| 2006 | 16 | 10% |
| 2005 | 4 | 3% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% |
| 2002 | 2 | 2% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2016 Kia Optima
426 complaintsOther or unknown
123 complaintsElectrical system
104 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
74 complaintsFuel system
62 complaintsBody and structure
41 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
38 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsEngine cooling
24 complaintsSteering
24 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology