Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Mar 2, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 143 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Kia Optima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming exterior lighting
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 2, 2025
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.
NHTSA ID
11645823
Incident
Feb 27, 2025
AirbagsBody & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON SEPULVEDA BLVD ON SEP 6 AT 0800AM AND I WAS OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT WHEN I WAS STRUCK BY A TOYOTA MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT WHO DID NOT YIELD. THE DRIVER [XXX] STRUCK MY CAR ON THE FRONT AND LEFT DRIVER BUMPER AND FENDER CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. HE FAILED TO YIELD, LIED ABOUT IT AND THE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
11386753
Incident
Sep 6, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 2, 2014
I TOOK MY CAR IN ON 4 SEP 2014 I GOT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH FROM [XXX] I HAVE HAD MY CAR BACK AT LEAST 3 TIME ALREADY AND I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK ON NOVEMBER 3, 2014 WHERE MY LIGHT HAVE BEEN FLASHING AND MY LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN. MY GAS PEDAL WHEN I AM GOING ABOUT 40 OR 50 AND I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER CARS AND IT'S LIKE I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR I DON'T EVERY NO WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT. I HAVE HAD TO COME OUT ON MY JOB BECAUSE OF BREAST CANCER. AND THE MONEY THAT HAD WAS MY 2000 CADILLAC DEVILED WHICH THE ONLY GAVE ME 1500 WISH I FOUND OUT THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME MORE WISH MY WARRANTY RUN OUT IN LEST THEN 90 DAYS. I WAS UNABLE TO GET ANOTHER WARRANTY SO WHAT DO I DO I NEED A CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO THE DOCTOR. I NEED SOME HELP. SO PLEASE DON'T LET ME DOWN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10651979
Incident
Sep 2, 2014
Mileage
69,818 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 5, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETECTED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V114000 HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NHTSA ID
10533713
Incident
Aug 2, 2013
Mileage
38,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 16, 2010
HEAD LIGHTS ARE NOT ADJUSTED CORRECTLY,LEFT LIGHT IS LOW CAUSING A DARK SPOT ON THAT SIDE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN LOW BEAM IS USED. RIGHT SIDE SHINES OUT FURTHER,BUT IT TAKES EFFECT AT THE SOLID WHITE LINE AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. I HAVE HAD ONE CLOSE CALL I DID NOT SEE THE PERSON TILL HE GOT INTO THE LIGHT OF THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10320315
Incident
Jan 28, 2008
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 13, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE LIGHTING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $100 TO REPLACE EACH BULB. THE BUMPER WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE BULB. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE WAS NO DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,878.
NHTSA ID
10265125
Incident
Feb 1, 2009
Mileage
1,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 4, 2008
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS DIM AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OR JUST SLOWING DOWN. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10251332
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 8, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE DOWN A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE LOW BEAMS ACTIVATED, A BLIND SPOT WOULD APPEAR THREE CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF HIS VIEW. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 07/31/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08
NHTSA ID
10233497
Incident
Jun 7, 2008
Mileage
2,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own