2016 Kia Optima · symptom sheet
Headlights too dim or fail
- 38owner reports
- 57,300median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Feb 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
47 of the 756 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 38 of those describe headlights.
Tick what matches of 38 reports
Headlights on other Optima years
No other Optima model year has enough reports of headlights for a sheet of its own. See every Optima year.
What this problem usually is
Headlight complaints fall into two camps. In one, a headlight goes out, often more than once, or fills with moisture behind the lens. In the other, the lights work exactly as built and the owner still can't see the road at night because the beam is too dim or too short. Owners in that second camp often report a dealer telling them it's normal.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the headlight assembly (37 reports) and the bulb (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 31,500 and 69,500 miles, from the 22 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Kia Optima that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
What owners wrote
“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.”
Filed Sep 3, 2025 · 10,000 miles
“driving in the dark, my auto headlight selector only works when it wants to. like itâll just just my headlights off at random no matter how dark it is”
Filed Oct 4, 2023
“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.”
Filed Aug 8, 2023
“Headlights turn off and on randomly when headlight switch is in auto mode. Dangerous in the dark when suddenly the light disappears.”
Filed Sep 8, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 38 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 201 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 125 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 124 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 118 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 36 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 25 reports