2006 Kia Optima Exterior Lighting
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I HAVE A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA. I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH STICKING AS OTHER KIAS CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON. AM I OUT OF LUCK ON THIS ONE?
LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 KIA OPTIMA WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 61,960 MILES ON IT. FOR THE PASS 12 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACE A FRONT HEADLIGHT A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. MY MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE BULBS FOR ME TWICE SO FAR FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO INFORM THEM OF THE ISSUE TO SEE IF MAYBE ITS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE CAR OR MAYBE A RECALL THAT I MAY HAVE MISSED. THEY WERE NOT AS HELPFUL OR NICE AS THEY WERE WHEN I SIGNED MY NAME ON HE DOTED LINE. THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME I NEEDED TO PAY THEM 59.99 BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR !! THE NERVE !! WITH ME HAVING 5 MORE PAYMENTS TO GO, I FEEL I AM GOING TO SEE BE INVESTING IN THIS CAR LONGER THEN NECESSARY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND EVALUATED AS A COURTESY CHECK UP FOR US KIA OPTIMA OWNERS. AGAIN I HAVE REPLACED 5 HEADLIGHT BULBS IN 12 MONTHS !! THIS IS NOT NORMAL, NOR SHOULD ANYONE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ON A CONSISTANT BASES. PLEASE HELP !! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WOULD CONSTANTLY BLOW OUT. HE HAS REPEATEDLY CHANGED THE BULBS, BUT APPROXIMATELY 4-5 DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. THE CONTACT CONSULTED THE DEALER, BUT HE COULD NOT RECALL WHAT THEY STATED. THE KIA MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AT 25 - 35MPH, HE EXPERIENCES AN ILLUMINATION PROBLEM WITH HIS LEFT HEADLIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT OPERATING CORRECTLY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT CASTS A DARK SHADOW, WHICH HAMPERS HIS ABILITY TO SEE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR, BUT WITH ALL OF THE KIA MODEL CARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA CORPORATION ON 01/11/2007 AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER FOR HIS COMPLAINT (K1266127). KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA HAS ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL OF THE MODELS AND IS UNCORRECTABLE, AND THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS FEDERAL STANDARDS, AND THEREFORE A RECALL IS NOT IN ORDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE TAKEN OUT ON A DARK ROAD AND A LEFT TURN MADE TO SEE THE SHADOW FROM THE HEADLIGHTS.
HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT. DEALER TELLS ME THAT AFTER MARKET BULBS WILL NOT WORK AND ORIGINAL BULBS ONLY LAST 1 YEAR. WINDSHIELD MOLDING CAME OUT WHILE RIDING DOWN INTERSTATE AND AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. *TR
I HAVE A KIA OPTIMA AND I CALLED ABOUT A PROBLEM. IT WAS THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN AUTO ON A DARKNIGHT ON LOW BEAM. AND SOMETHING WAS TO WALK OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YOU HIT THE HIGHBEAM SWITCH. AND BANG YOU CRASH BECAUSE ALL YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND LEAVE YOU IN THE DARK IT COULD HAPPEN AND THEY DO GO OUT. MY CAR IS 2006 OPTIMA. I HAVE TRIED THIS ON TWO HYUNDAI'S ONE YEAR OLDER AND THE SAME YEAR AS MY KIA BOTH OF THEM THE HEADLIGHTS WORK FINE CAN YOU MAKE MINE WORK LIKE THAT? PLEASE GEORGE HURD, THANKYOU *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. SHE STATED THAT THE SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE MORE THAN TWO FEET IN FRONT OF HER WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ENGAGED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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Quick Summary
The 2006 Kia Optima has 8 Exterior Lighting complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.