Mid september, 2020, I began to notice that my headlights would turn off as I was driving. They would cut off for no more than 15 seconds and turn back on. I didn't think anything of it, until I started having issues with other components of my 2016 Kia optima. On 11/30/2020 I was driving at 30mph through a residential area. As I was approaching a stop sign, my engine light came on. When I tried…
2016 Kia Optima lighting problems
moderate 38 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
38
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
When does it fail?
Of the 38 lighting complaints filed for the 2016 Kia Optima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 38 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 12 model years of Kia Optima in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2016 Kia Optima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2016 Kia Optima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 38 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 35,000 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 55,300. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 62,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Kia/Optima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.