2007 Kia Optima Lights Problems

Your headlights aren't working properly—the low beams appear to be off even when they're on, so you have to drive with high beams instead. This is causing you to fail vehicle inspection because it looks like only your parking lights are on. The issue affects all four headlights and makes it hard for other drivers to see you properly.

Your headlights are very dim, making it unsafe to drive at night—you can only see a few feet ahead. You've already replaced the bulbs, wiring harness, and alternator, but the problem persists. This may indicate an underlying electrical issue with the headlight circuit or power distribution that needs professional diagnosis.

Your low beam headlights aren't producing enough light to see the road clearly, even though you've already replaced the bulbs and your high beams work fine. You've found online that many 2007 Kia Optimas have this same issue, and while Kia recalled 2011 and newer models for it, your older model wasn't included. Additionally, your airbag warning light stays on continuously. The fix will likely require replacing the headlight assembly unit on one or both sides, or having the airbag system diagnosed and repaired.

Your headlights are extremely dim regardless of which bulb you install, making it unsafe to drive at night since you can only see about 3 feet ahead. Additionally, your visors keep falling down and blocking your view of the road. This needs attention soon as poor nighttime visibility is a serious safety concern.

Your headlights are dim and not providing adequate visibility at night. This makes it difficult to see the road and could be unsafe when driving in low-light conditions. The issue likely involves the headlight bulbs, wiring, or electrical connections that power them.

Your low beam headlights are dimmer than they should be. You've already tried replacing the bulbs and cleaning the outer lens, but the light output hasn't improved. When you removed the headlight assembly, you discovered rust inside the projector bowl on both sides, which reduces how well the light reflects and gets directed onto the road. The fix will likely involve replacing the entire headlight assembly with a new one.

Your brake lights stayed on even after you turned off the engine, and they wouldn't turn off normally. You had to remove the fuse to get them to stop. While there's a known recall for the brake switch on 2008 models, your 2007 wasn't included in that recall. This issue may involve replacing or adjusting the brake light switch that controls when the lights turn on and off.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME EXTREMELY DIM, FORCING THE CONTACT TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO SEE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO DIM

UNLESS THE BRIGHTS ARE ON I CAN HARDLY SEE AT NIGHT. I AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS.

OEM HEADLIGHTS GO BAD. LIGHTS GOT PROGRESSIVELY DIM WITH TIME. GOT TO THE POINT I COULD BARELY DRIVE AT NIGHT. DANGEROUS! STARTED LEAVING LIGHTS ON HIGH BEAMS - NOBODY WOULD FLASH ME BECAUSE THEY WERE BARELY ADEQUATE. CHECKED VOLTAGE/GROUND WAS OK. REPLACED FACTORY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WITH AFTERMARKET UNITS - FIXED THE PROBLEM. CAN NOW DRIVE AROUND SAFELY AT NIGHT. KIA SHOULD RECALL THE DEFECTIVE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES.

FREQUENT LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILURES OVER LAST 4 YEARS..LAST MONTH I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY..MY LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS CURRENTLY OUT ON THE LOW SETTINGS..

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS EXTREMELY DIM, PROBLEM REVIEWED BY DEALER. NO RESOLUTION. SEEMS A ELECTRICAL SITUATION. SAME PROBLEM NOTED BY MANY OTHER 07 OWNERS. PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. ONLY LOW BEAM AFFECTED. REVIEWED BY MANY DEALERS WITH NO SOLUTIONS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS VIRTUALLY NO LOW BEAM LIGHT EMITTED . BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. CIRCUITS CHECKED BY DEALER.... NO CHANGES IN PROBLEM. NEED A SOLUTION... NO LIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE LIGHTS HAD TO BE ON THE HIGH BEAM SETTING IN ORDER TO SEE ANYTHING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,805. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE LOW BEAMS ARE VERY DIM. THE FOG LIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD BETTER THAN THE LOW BEAMS. I REPLACED THE LOWBEAM BULBS WITH SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR ULTRA BULBS WHICH ARE VERY BRIGHT IN MY OTHER CAR, THEY STILL ARE VERY DIM.

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, KEEP REPLACING BULBS, EXACT BULBS REQUIRED BY KIA. ALTERNATING EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR THE PASSENGER. BESIDE THIS PROBLEM, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO LOW THAT AT NIGHT I HAVE BEEN RUNNING WITH HIGH BEAMS ON FOR OVER A YEAR NOW; ON-COMING CARS DON'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERED BY THE HIGH BEAMS. USUALLY HIGH BEAMS CAUSE ON COMING VEHICLES TO FLASH THEIR HIGH BEAMS, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH FIRESTONE, THEY TESTED THE BULBS AND BELIEVE IT IS ELECTRICAL. SINCE REVIEWING YOUR ON-LINE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, WE'D EXPECT A RECALL BY KIA! WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, AT NO COST, INSTEAD OF IT BEING OUR EXPENSE. I HAD SEVERAL CHEVY CAMARO FOR YEARS, NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ONLY RECALLING HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED ONE OR TWICE! *TR

I HAVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA AND IT HAS TERRIBLE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. PER FORUM DISCUSSIONS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *JS

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR FAILS TO STAY UPRIGHT LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO POOR THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD AT NIGHT. IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE ROAD LEADING OUT PROVIDES LITTLE TO NO LIGHT AND I WOULD CONSTANTLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE BRIGHT ON TO BE ABLE TO SEE INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS. BOTH ARE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY HURT. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT NO FURTHER ACTIONS HAVE BEEN INITIATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM,WAS REPORTED TO KIA AT THE TIME AND THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME, KIA WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THEY JUST TOLD ME TO PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I FEEL LIKE KIA SHOULD TO REPLACE THEM AT THERE COST NOT MINE, THE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS ARE $360.00 A PIECE. WE HAVE TRIED RESTORING THEM AND HAVING THEM ADJUSTED THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM { FEELING HOPELESS }. *TR

HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, THE LIGHTS ARE SO BAD AT NIGHT, THAT YOU CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE ON DARK ROADS AT ALL . NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET, ONLY DRIVE AT NIGHT AND VERY SCARED, CAREFULLY ONLY IF IT IS NECESSARY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN USED CONDITION, ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW, HAD THE LIGHTS REPLACED AND WORKED ON BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER FORTY YEARS WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES BUT THIS ONE IS THE ONLY ONE IN MY LIFETIME THAT HAS EVER HAD A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE OF, ITS DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE OUT WALKING AT NIGHT, ANIMALS, AND TO THE DRIVER W/PASSENGERS. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, BORROWED THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS CAR, SO DISAPPOINTED IN IT, DID NOT PERSONALLY EVEN OWN A CAR UNTIL NOW. MY DREAM WAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE VACATIONS AND LONG TRIPS IN MY LATER YEARS BUT THIS HAS PUT AN END TO THAT DREAM. I KNOW I WANT BE ABLE TO GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER, BUT WOULD LIKE TO LET OTHERS KNOW BEFORE THEY PURCHASE A 07 KIA OPTIMA, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, FOR ALL TO BE AWARE AND DO NOT BUY A CAR UNTIL YOU'VE DRIVEN IT AT NIGHT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2007 KIA OPTIMA LX LAST FRIDAY [8/5/11] AND WHEN I DROVE IT THAT NIGHT, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE A DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY A FATAL HAZARD, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU ABOUT THIS MATTER. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I SENT AN EMAIL TO KIA ON 8/5 ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A REPLY YET. PLEASE LET ME EXPLAIN. THE KIA MODEL I PURCHASED, HAS TWO HEADLIGHTS ON EACH SIDE. THERE IS A TOP LIGHT AND A BOTTOM LIGHT. THE TOP LIGHT IS THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON THE CAR AND THE BOTTOM LIGHT IS THE HIGH BEAM. THE BOTTOM LIGHT POINTS OUT IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION, AS WITH CARS THAT ONLY HAVE ONE HEADLIGHT ON EACH SIDE. THE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS LOCATED'UP AND TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR! IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE LIGHTS WORK CORRECTLY, WHEN THE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS LOCATED'UP AND TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR! THERE IS A 'BLACK SPOT' AREA'ON THE ROAD, ANYTHING IN FRONT OF THE CAR, TO CARS IN FRONT OF YOU, AND TO THE SIDES OF THE ROAD IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE 'BLACK SPOT' AREA MEANS JUST THAT'EVERYTHING IN THAT AREA IS BLACK. THE BLACK AREA IS IN ALL THE PLACES WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SEE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTS TO WORK CORRECTLY, HERE IS AN UNCOMPLICATED AND INEXPENSIVE WAY TO FIX THEM. HERE IS THE IDEA, FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK CORRECTLY: THE TOP LIGHT (LOW BEAM) STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THE BOTTOM LIGHT SWITCHES FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM! THE TOP LIGHT IS AIMED TOWARD THE BEAM IN THE BOTTOM LIGHT. THIS GIVES EXTRA LIGHT WHEN THE LOW BEAMS ARE ON. THE LOCATION OF THE BOTTOM LIGHT WILL PROVIDE THE CORRECT LIGHTING WHEN USING HEADLIGHTS. HAVING THE BOTTOM LIGHT SWITCH FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOW WERE THESE HEADLIGHTS EVER APPROVED? A RESPONSE AND REPLY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

WE HAVE A 2007 MODEL KIA OPTIMA AND HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TURN INDICATOR BULB ON THE TAIL LIGHT BLOWING. ALSO THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BURNING OUT. WE HAVE REPLACED THE REAR BULB THREE TIMES AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT TWICE ALREADY SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. I WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT OTHER KIA OWNERS WERE HAVING. THE TURN SIGNAL BULB WENT OUT IN JUNE OF 2009 AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER OF 2009. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS ON JANUARY 4TH IN 2010. *TR