There are 2 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2004 Kia Optimain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I BOUGHT A 2004 KIA OPTIMIA IN MARCH 5005 AND ALREADY THE HEADLIGHT GLOBE WAS STARTING TO FADE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THE CAR HAS 26800 MILES ON IT. AND WAS KEPT IN A GARAGE . THE SERVICEMAN SAID IT CAME FROM SUN RAYS. THE ONLY TIME THE CAR WAS IN THE SUN WAS WHEN I WAS AT WORK. THE CAR WASIN GOOD CONDITION. THINK THIS WAS AN INJUSTICE, I DIDN'T CAUSE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM FROM NEARLY DAY ONE. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO CORRECTION FOR THE PROBLEM AS THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR IS MADE, AND THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, OTHER THAN TO SELL ME OTHER BULBS AT A HIGH PRICE. THE PROBLEM BEING THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE ABOUT 6" (YUP, INCHES) IN FRONT OF THE CAR ON THE DIM SETTING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME AT NIGHT UNLESS THERE IS ADDITIONAL ILLUMINATION, IN THE FORM OF OTHER VEHICLES OR STREET LIGHTS, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE. I CANNOT DRIVE WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON BECAUSE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD THE BULBS CHANGED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BY OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026