2016 Kia Optima Exterior Lighting

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.

The headlights failed and yes it can be inspected . The headlights while my 16 year old daughter was driving at night. She could not see the road there were no streetlights. She had to hit her brakes turn the car off and restart and the lights came back on . This put her life in danger I cannot believe there are no recalls . We have called numerous mechanics to fix and they have not heard of the problem. I do not trust Kia to fix this . She could have died . Before this happened the dash showed the lights changing themselves from auto to on to off . This also happened to me while driving at night . We now do not drive this car at night out of fear .

driving in the dark, my auto headlight selector only works when it wants to. like it’ll just just my headlights off at random no matter how dark it is

Kia Optima Hybrids from 2014-2016 and most likely the two previous model years all have defective taillights. I know this because I've had two Optimas and I've had to replace 9 taillights in 4 years. The Kia dealer service department told me that that was quite typical of these cars. The light assemblies are not water tight and they fill with moisture on rainy days. This eventually causes the LED ribbons to fail and then the light has to be replaced. Kia will replace them under warranty for the first 60,000 miles but after that the car owner is on the hook for a part that costs approximately $500. A taillight that will not light up is obviously a safety problem. Kia should be forced to replace these pieces for free for as long as these cars exist. I tried to attach two photos but the system wouldn't allow me to continue until I removed them.

Headlights will randomly turn off when set on automatic lights. Turn signal might be part of the issue. Headlights will turn off when driving on winding road or randomly when you turn on the turning signal. I was driving rounding on the hillside when my headlights randomly turned off. So scary because I could have driven off the cliff. No specific dates because it happens consistently. I will enter the most recent but it goes back about 2years. I should add for safety sake, that it also happened when I was driving on a relatively straight-smooth road

There have been 2 occasions while driving at night with the headlights on auto that the lights have gone off for no apparent reason. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I was driving on a major highway and was not able to get to the side of the road. The entire dash went out. This was very dangerous as I could not see anything in front of me. After jiggling the turn signal switch the lights did come back on. I have taken the car into a dealership and also into an independent service center to have the problem addressed. Neither location was able to reproduce the incident. The best guess from the dealer was a headlight switch and from the independent service center their guess was possible an ignition switch. Both of the estimates were unable to confirm that replacing the switch would correct the problem. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure.

Headlights, set in AUTO, randomly will briefly go dark at night while the vehicle is in motion, putting driver at risk of night-time crash. Headlights can be re-illuminated by turning the lights off and back on. This issue has not been by dealer, service tech, or any other party. The issue occurred twice 9/15/2021, and once previously on an unknown date. There were no warning signs, dashboard lights, or any other indication of malfunction.

When I was driving at 4:45am it was total darkness still out my exterior headlights shut off and I could not see. It is always set on auto. It just happened out of no where and I could not see. I could have had an accident. Now i have read that a few people have had this same problem. About a month ago they kind of went off then on again bit i thought maybe they were switching to daytime lights. Now today they just shut off in total darkness. This needs to be looked into! Especially if many people report same problem. Now i did pull over where I could then switched the lights to just the on mode and they worked fine tell I got home but I don't know what's happening. Does this mean they will work on the on mode or lights eventually wont work at all?? Is it a fuse or relay? Idk please check onto this.

When I turn on my blinkers my headlights sometimes flash off (without turning them off). Then come back on when I turn off the blinker. My trunk has also lost power and will no longer unlock.

Headlights turn off and on randomly when headlight switch is in auto mode. Dangerous in the dark when suddenly the light disappears.

My dash told me I have a headlight out. The headlight seems to come on and off from time to time. Now it says both are out. Every now and again they both come back on. It seems as though I have an electrical issue going on all of a sudden. But could be due to the engine running poorly causing disconnections In the wiring harness. The engine is shaking pretty bad and awaiting my scheduled appointment.

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.

HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHEN SET TO "AUTO" POSITION WHEN SIGNALING. DOES NOT HAPPEN FREQUENTLY BUT ANY TIME IT HAPPENS IS TOO MANY TIMES FOR YOUR HEADLIGHTS TO RANDOMLY TURN OFF. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND HAPPENS WHEN SIGNALING TO CHANGE LANES. - HEADLIGHTS SET TO "AUTO" - DRIVING AT NIGHT - SIGNALING TO CHANGE LANES - ISSUE OCCURS THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND THE INTERIOR INDICATOR GOES DARK FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN COMES BACK ON AND IS STILL INDICATES "AUTO" AS THE SETTING. DOES NOT OCCUR FREQUENTLY ENOUGH FOR DEALER/MECHANICS TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE.

MY HEAD LIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF AND ON BY THEMSELVES THREE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED HAS BEEN IN DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE CITY I LIVE IN. I ALWAYS KEEP MY CAR'S HEADLIGHTS ON AUTO. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT NIGHT WHEN THEY RANDOMLY TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND THE SCREEN FOR THE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WAS SWITCHING FROM AUTO TO OFF BY ITSELF, SO I JIGGLED THE TRIGGER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY CAME BACK ON. SAME THING THE LAST TWO TIMES. SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE MY ROUTE HOME FROM WORK IS PRETTY SCARCE WITH STREET LIGHTS.

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

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. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MANUALLY SHIFTED TO THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KINGS KIA (9600 KINGS AUTO MALL ROAD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 677-6700) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BUT FOUND NO ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO NOTIFY THE DEALER WHENEVER THE FAILURE RECURS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

WHILST THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON ANY ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT THEMSELVES OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TURN BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE SWITCH SETTING IS SET TO AUTO OR IS IN THE ON POSITION. WHEN I GOOGLE SEARCH THE ISSUE I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. THE DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH DISPLAYS THE LIGHT SWITCH SETTINGS POPS UP AND HIGHLIGHTS THE "AUTO" POSITION AND THEN DISAPPEARS. I AM NOT SURE IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN THE SWITCH IS IN THE "ON" POSITION. WHEN IT HAPPENS I WILL SOMETIMES MOVE THE SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN, AND SOMETIMES THIS DOES NOT HELP AND I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AND IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY ON VERY DARK ROADS. WHEN DRIVING IN THE DAYLIGHT I WILL SEE THE DISPLAY FOR THE LIGHT SWITCH POSITION APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT THIS CONDITION IS HAPPENING DURING THE DAY AS WELL. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE, IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR.

THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF AT NIGHT WHEN I'M DRIVING WITH THE AUTO HEADLIGHT FEATURE ON. TURNING THE SWITCH TO ON MANUALLY AND BACK TO AUTO TURNS THEM BACK ON.

WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHTS IN AUTO MODE THEY WILL RANDOMLY COME ON IN DAYLIGHT AND GO OFF IN DARKNESS. IF YOU SWITCH TO MANUAL IT WORKS PROPERLY, BUT IN AUTO IT'S TOTALLY RANDOM AND HAPPENS WITH NO CHANGE IN OUTSIDE LIGHTING CONDITIONS.

WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHTS IN AUTO MODE THEY WILL RANDOMLY COME ON IN DAYLIGHT AND GO OFF IN DARKNESS. IF YOU SWITCH TO MANUAL IT WORKS PROPERLY, BUT IN AUTO IT'S TOTALLY RANDOM AND HAPPENS WITH NO CHANGE IN OUTSIDE LIGHTING CONDITIONS.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE I HAVE THE SWITCH IN THE AUTO MODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH HIGHWAY AND BACK ROADS. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BUT THEY FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT VISIT BUT HAS SINCE STARTED UP AGAIN. I ALSO RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING A NEW PROBLEM WHERE THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL GO ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE OFF OVERNIGHT. THE LIGHTS THEN GO OFF BY THEMSELVES SEVERAL HOURS LATER.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PARKWAY FAMILY KIA (22555 US-59, KIRKWOOD, TX 77339, (281) 312-6200) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE BULBS BURNED OUT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,278.