Kia Optima Complaints (2004)

225 consumer complaints on file.

#11642022February 11, 2025
SUSPENSION
Had some noise coming from the front of the car, had my mechanic look at it, he said we needed a control arm. When he took off the cover to replace the control arm, he found the sub frame had rotten and was cracking. As I looked online, I saw that KIA had a recall for this issue. When I contacted KIA, their response was "as my car is not under warranty, they are not required to repair the car" The car in question has 70, 558 miles on it. We are the 2nd owner.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11480899August 23, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
Door lock/unlock mechanism has failed. Unable to unlock and open door from outside or inside. This defect causes the door to stay locked and unable to open. This can trap people inside of the car if they are unable to crawl out a window or exit from another door. There are many reports of this on Kia forums and general Google search. There was no warning that this part was wearing out until it became impossible to open the door.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452262February 16, 2022
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V180000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405889March 31, 2021
AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
I WAS REPAIRING BRAKELINES, WHILE OBSERVING UNDER CARRIAGE I NOTICED SUSPENSION RUST, FRAME. LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THIS IS ONE. I INCLUDED SCREENSHOT OF PROOG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172999January 30, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVE, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTONS. THE CANCEL AND SET BUTTONS HAD NO EFFECT WHEN PRESSED. THE CAR REMAINED TRAVELING AT THE SET SPEED. TAPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DID CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11081243March 26, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE STATIONARY - DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WITH KEY, MANUAL LOCK OR ELECTRONIC LOCK CONTROLS (STUCK CLOSED). UNABLE TO EVACUATE CAR FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. SAFETY CONCERN - LACK OF EGRESS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11062981January 16, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED STOMACH AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11056254December 23, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UNABLE TO OPEN PASSENGER DOOR DUE TO DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051307November 29, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL DORATY KIA (2925 MEDINA RD, MEDINA, OH 44256, (330) 721-9500) FOR ROUTINE BRAKE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A CRACK IN THE FRONT FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. SINCE WINTER WAS APPROACHING, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME WOULD COMPLETELY CRACK DUE TO THE WEATHER AND SALTED ROADWAYS IN HER STATE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICES IN 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. THE DEALER SENT PICTURES OF THE CRACKED FRAME TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ISSUED CASE NUMBER: 2560103. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10981452April 29, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE NOR FROM OUTSIDE. WHEN UNLOCKING THE DOORS, ALL DOORS WILL OPEN EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. CENTER LOCK MECHANISM OR MANUAL USE OF KEYS DOES NOT HELP. THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY PROBLEM WHERE DRIVER CAN BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. THIS IS VERY COMMON IN KIA OPTIMA MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10968309March 24, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CANNOT ADD FUEL BECAUSE THE PUMP STOPS FROM FILLING UP THE TANK. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 7 TIMES TO GET IN $7 WORTH OF GAS. EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR ONLY HAS 25,830 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HARDLY BEEN USED. WE PUT GAS IN ABOUT EVERY 3 OR 4 WEEKS - NOT THAT OFTEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10956326February 22, 2017
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000. ..UPDATED 05/05/17 *BF *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10955343February 17, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SEVERAL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE HELP OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10945179January 13, 2017
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG WENT OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS REACHING FOR HER SEAT BELT AND SCRAPPED AND BURNED HER ARM. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF. I RUSHED HER HOME AND TOOK CARE OF HER WOUNDS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10943813January 9, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL LOUD SOUND FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934627December 12, 2016
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10930021December 5, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM WILL NOT UNLOCK, ALL OTHERS DO. THE DOOR LOCKS ITSELF IMMEDIATELY AS YOU TRY TO UNLOCK EITHER WITH THE KEY (OUTSIDE) OR PRESSING THE CENTRAL LOCK BUTTON (WHEN INSIDE). THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE WAS AN ISSUE. RIGHT NOW IT IS INCONVENIENT TO CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. I SEE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT ON THIS SUBJECT AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS ENDEMIC TO THIS CAR. THE PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY FROM SEPTEMBER 2016 AND NOW IS PERMANENT AS OF NOVEMBER 30.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10920049October 30, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD STAYS ON, STARTED TWO DAYS A GO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913613October 4, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK 85% OF THE TIME, PREVENTING NORMAL ENTRY TO / EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS USING THE KEY IN THE DOOR LATCH ARE REQUIRED TO GAIN ENTRY THE OTHER 15% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF CRASH, FIRE, OR CARJACKING. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AROUND 100K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL EVENT...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10903189September 1, 2016
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SEAT BELTS
MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON THERE'S NO WIRES DISCONNECTED UNDER THE SEAT AND MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT WELL ALSO MY DOOR LOCKS ARE GETTING STUCK IN LOCK MODE AND MY ENGINE COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF.AFTER AWHILE.WHEN IN PARK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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