Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Kia Optima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I’ve gotten my vehicle fixed four times now thinking it was an electrical issue, not aware of the recall. Did my research this fifth time when my brake lights completely went out and smoke at some point in times come through my air-conditioning. I’ve spent more money trying to fix the vehicle with no idea that there were issues already about it.
Low beam head lights visibility maybe reaches 3-4 feet infront of car at max. Have upgraded bulbs twice to higher lumens but still must run hibeams at night. I drive mountain passes daily and must use hi beams, not safe for oncoming traffic.
I purchased my car in 2015 at 23k miles, now we're at 86k miles and I'm experiencing issues. How is there a recall for this car but no remedy yet when there is a high risk of fire? Shouldn't there be a resolution for this safety concern? I noticed my car in 2022 would smoke here and there when driving, and I would smell burning. I took it to my mechanic and he changed the head gasket, and the smoking stopped. There is residue on my engine from a leak from the oil. My mechanic at the time told me I might still smell burning oil just due to that. As time went on things were fine but a year later, the oil smell came back stronger. I notice it only on longer drives, so I do believe my car is leaking oil. Also, the amount of time I've changed my break lights this year and head lights. They dim so fast over time and eventually go out to where I have to replace them. There is 100% an electrical issue going on.
Motor failed and Kia replaced the motor. Now my dim lights and fog lights will not work. All fuse, relay, etc.. has been tested along with bulb replacement…
When I drive at night the low beams are so dim I have to use high beams or fog lights to see.
Rear outer TAIL LAMP combination assemblies (NOT the inner lights on the trunk lid) have failed Virginia State SAFETY Inspection due to accumulation of moisture and standing water in BOTH left and right outer tail lamps, causing LEDs in the tail lamp assembly to burn out and not illuminate. There have already been multiple Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) on the matter (i.e. KIA TSB PS364, KIA TSB BOD143, KIA TSB BOD172), and the cause outlined in these TSBs has been a DEFECT in design leading to a gap between the tail lamp housing gasket and the vehicle body allowing WATER INTRUSION. KIA has neglected to inspect, fix, or add additional gaskets per their instructions during eligible warranty periods, and extended warranties refuse to fix the issue as they classify it as water intrusion. This pins the financial burden to fix the safety issue on the customer/driver, as KIA dealers have quoted $1,232.46 for replacement of these tail lamps. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Components: Rear outer tail lamp combination assemblies (both left and right) (NOT the lamps on the trunk lid). Inspection availability: LIMITED due to significant time pressure and inconvenience (since the tail lamps have caused the vehicle to fail Virginia State Safety Inspection, the car needs to be fixed ASAP to resume commute to work, etc.) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Lower visibility for others, may result in incident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by KIA dealer themselves. Also, multiple customer complaints on internet, as well as TSBs. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? KIA dealer did not inspect during warranty. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No and UNKNOWN.
REAR LED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES filling with water ! which could cause a short or electrical fire that could effect the driving of vehicle
Malfunctions: hazard lights severe malfunction. All Steering wheel control buttons stopped working. Center control buttons stopped working. USB charging port/Auxiliary media port/ right side auxiliary power port lost power. Battery alternator and starter had acceptable readings via multimeter. Suspect ECM failure? Symptoms similar to misfires when A/C is running. Parking break doesn’t always engage despite proper method. Inconsistent gas consumption drastic fluctuations
I have my driver side tail light out, when I bought the car in 2019, they said I have 30 days to bring in my car so they can replace what needs fixing, well I hit day 32 and I’ve had to replace my tires, brakes, headlights and tail lights because they all went out on my own dime, now my brakes are making me nervous because sometimes it feels like my car isn’t slowing down to a stop and I have to slam them to stop sometimes.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that both front headlight bulbs, as well as the rear taillight bulbs, had repeatedly stopped working while driving, without warning lights being illuminated. The contact stated that she had to replace the bulbs several times during the year. The contact had taken the vehicle to several dealers who were unable to determine the cause for the failures. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
EVERY TIME I TURN MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY BREAK LIGHTS STAY ON AND THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON. PEOPLE THINK I AM RIDING MY BRAKES.
ENGINE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND OFF. BUT DOESN'T GIVE A CODE WHEN I TAKE IT TO GET SERVICED. TOOK IT UP TO KIA TO TELL THEM THAT ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THAT MY WALL CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE TRUNK FROM THE SOCKET THAT HOLDS THE BULBS.BACK LIGHTS GO OUT CONSTANTLY AFTER THE BULBS ARE CHANGED OR THE SOCKET HAS BEEN CHANGED.
HEAD LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP SHORTING OUT MAKING IT HARD FOR YOU TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR EVEN DURING THE DAY. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE JAMS AND WILL CAUSE YOU TO SLIDE IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFULLY IN THE RAIN AND SNOW
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR A SMOOTH WAY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY SCARY. ANTENNA COVER ON TOP OF CAR FLEW OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. READ THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHER 2015 OPTIMA MODELS. BACK UP CAMERA IS FOGGY AND I CAN NO LONGER USE IT WHEN REVERSING. BACK TAILLIGHTS HAVE CONDENSATION IN THEM. I HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE OF THEM REPLACED EARLY ON.
THE MIRROR INSIDE THE LOW BEAMS IS NOT WORKING. IT DOES NOT ALLOW MY HEADLIGHTS TO PROJECT OUT. I BARELY SEE AT NIGHT. ONLY LIGHTS I HAVE ARE MY FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS
MY LIGHTS BULB KEEP BLOWING, I HAVE REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHTS,REAR LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS AT LEAST THREE TIMES THIS YEAR, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHINGS GOING ON TO CAUSE THIS TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO RICART KIA (4255 S HAMILTON RD #210, GROVEPORT, OH 43125, 614-836-6503), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WATER HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT, WHICH LED TO THE TAIL LIGHT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR AND RECOMMENDED THAT HE FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA TO HAVE THE DEFECT PLACED UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THEY DON'T WORK IN MOTION OR SITTING STILL. IHAVE TO KEEP HIGH BEAMS ON AT NIGHT. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL KIA VEHICLES, YET THE PROBLEM ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED.
IT SEEMS THAT MY LIGHTS ALWAYS GO OUT! I'VE REPLACED THE FRONT LIGHT 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. AND THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS AS WELL. I AM ALWAYS GETTING PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF MY LIGHT GOING OUT! THE TRIM SEEMS TO FALL OFF AS WELL ON BACK DOORS ABOVE WINDOW.
MY HEADLIGHT KEEP GOING OUT AND I HAVE KEEP REPLACING BULBS. I BE DRIVING AND LIGHTS WILL BLINK THEN JUST GO OUT , I KEEP HAVE BUY LIGHT BULB EVERY TIME.
I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON A 4 LANE ROAD AT 45 MPH. AS I WAS PASSING THRU A GREEN LIGHT, A WESTBOUND VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING ME TO "T-BONE" HIS VEHICLE. ALL OF HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.....NONE OF MINE DID. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, SURPRISINGLY; YET I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. I SUSTAINED CERVICAL AND LUMBAR SPINE INJURIES, AS WELL AS A SEVERE WHIPLASH AND CONCUSSION. I AM UNABLE TO WORK, DUE TO SURGERY THAT WAS NECESSARY. I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS SAFE?? I WAS ALSO IN A SIDE COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT; TWO YEARS AGO,WHERE SOMEONE HIT ME, AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AT THAT PARTICULAR ACCIDENT,I WAS STATIONARY; AT A STOP LIGHT.
WHEN I'M OUT DRIVING I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL KIA OPTIMAS HAVE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. THE BACK LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. HALF OF THE BACK LIGHTS WENT OFF.
FRONT HEAD LAMPS KEEPS GOING OUT, PER AUTO SHOP SHORTAGE IN WIRING FOR RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT HEAD LAMPS(LIGHTS) HAS TO REPLACE EVRY THREE WEEKS
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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