| Issue ID | 1475502 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 11102712 |
| Manufacurer | Kia Motors America |
| Brand | KIA |
| Model | OPTIMA |
| Model Year | 2011 |
| File date | 01/03/17 |
| Component | EXTERIOR LIGHTING |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | The vehicle headlights are too dim to see at night. Online reports mention the chrome reflector inside the headlights fails prematurely. This has occurred with the headlights, but not the high beams. You can see the reflectors are white plastic with no more chrome coating. We rarely used the high beams since we live and work in the city, and the high beam reflectors still have a chrome reflective coating. The light bulbs are very hot and most likely burned off the chrome reflective coating. We have to drive with the high beam lights to see at night, and we are in the process of replacing the entire headlight assemblies so the low beam headlights can be used to drive safely again. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 40000 |
| Number of Occurences | |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | SAN DIEGO, CA |
| VIN pattern | KNAGN4A79B5XXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | N |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | |
| No. of fatalities | |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |