TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Kia Optima lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Kia Optima have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Optima | 26 |
| 2014 Optima | 14 |
| 2015 Optima | 14 |
| 2016 Optima | 38 |
| 2017 Optima (this page) | 11 |
| 2018 Optima | 9 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB - SERVICE ACTION: OUTSIDE REAR COMBINATION LAMP HARNESS REPLACEMENT (SA334) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the outside rear combination lamp harness on some 2016-2017MY Optima (JFa) vehicles, produced from September 25, 2016 through March 16, 2017, which may exhibit an intermittent inoperative brake light with the possibility of a ?Check brake light? warning on the instrument cluster display.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The core complaint is automatic headlights shutting off while driving at speeds up to 70 mph, leaving drivers in pitch darkness with no visibility. This happens sporadically—some owners report multiple incidents over consecutive days, others once or twice weekly over months or years. The lights sometimes restore after a few seconds; other times owners must cycle the switch or pulse the high beams to get them back. Interior lights extinguish along with the headlights, and some cars display a dashboard message saying lights are off—even though the driver didn't touch anything. Dashboard warnings for the High beam Assist System have also appeared.
Tail lights fail intermittently due to harness issues, triggering check-light warnings. One owner brought their car in for a tail light recall but the dealership only swapped the bulb and refused to replace the harness, demanding $210 for diagnosis despite acknowledging the defect.
Brake lights flicker on the instrument cluster and won't illuminate during braking. Tapping the light housing temporarily fixes it.
Dealers consistently say they cannot help without reproducing the failure on their lot. Two separate dealer visits yielded no resolution for one owner. The manufacturer opened a case for one complaint but provided no assistance.
Same Kia Optima lighting reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Automatic Headlights Shutting Off While Driving
Headlights cut out unexpectedly in auto mode or regular on mode while driving at various speeds (40–70 mph), leaving drivers unable to see the road. Interior lights may also extinguish. Lights may come back on automatically after seconds, or require manual intervention (switching to off then back to on, or pulsing the high beam). Episodes occur sporadically—sometimes multiple times over several days, other times once or twice per week.
When: Several months to over a year; incident reported at 39,715 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights extinguish in auto mode or on position; Interior lights go out simultaneously with headlights; Lights cut out while driving at highway speeds (55–70 mph); Dashboard warning message: 'lights were off' or 'Check High beam Assist System'; Lights may restore after seconds or require manual switch cycling; Episodes recurring over weeks or months
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable or unwilling to repair without failure occurring during inspection. Front view camera replacement attempted in one case but did not resolve headlight issue.
Tail Light Harness Failure and Malfunction
Tail lights fail intermittently or continuously due to harness shortage or failure, triggering check-light warnings on the dashboard. Vehicle owner received recall notice but dealership refused to replace the harness during recall service, citing unrelated diagnosis and demanding $210 for diagnosis. Owner received citations due to inoperative lights and the defect continues.
Symptoms owners cite: Tail lights fail to illuminate; Check light warning displayed on dashboard; Tail light failure occurs despite recall notice issued
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced bulb only during recall visit; refused harness replacement citing cost ($210 diagnostic fee demanded). Harness remains defective.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tail light recall issued but incomplete—harness not addressed by dealership despite being the root cause per recall description.
Brake Light Malfunction and Intermittent Illumination
Brake lights flash on and off on the instrument cluster display and fail to illuminate when brakes are applied. Dashboard warning message 'Check Brake Lights' appears randomly throughout the day. Physical tapping or striking the brake light housing temporarily restores illumination, but lights extinguish again when brakes are pressed.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights flash on and off on instrument cluster display; Brake lights do not illuminate when braking; Physical impact (smacking) to housing restores lights temporarily; Dashboard warning 'Check Brake Lights' appears randomly; Intermittent failure throughout the day
Repairs/costs cited: Reported as Takata recall issue but no repair outcome stated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall referenced; status of repair unclear.
High Beam Assist and Lane Departure System Warnings
Check High beam Assist System and Check Lane Departure System warning messages displayed on the instrument cluster while driving, alongside Forward Collision Avoidance warning light illumination. Failure recurred upon vehicle starts. Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance.
When: Failure mileage 39,715 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check High beam Assist System warning message displayed; Check Lane Departure System warning message displayed; Forward Collision Avoidance warning light illuminated; Unknown warning light illuminated; Failures recurring at vehicle startup
Repairs/costs cited: Front view camera replacement was diagnosed and recommended
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer case opened but no assistance provided.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I have my headlights on auto so they turn on but they turn on during the day and then off at night they turn on they have turn off when I'm diving at night on freeway and turn back on
Had lighting trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Kia Optima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 57,986 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2017/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.