Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

141 reports

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2004

Latches/locks/linkages

WHEN PULLING THE DOOR LOCK UP TO GET OUT OR PULL THE DOOR HANDLE, THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO DISENGAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A TOW COMPANY WAS CALLED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10074228

1,760 miles · Jan 15, 2004

Power Train

I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AUGUST 14. THAT NIGHT IT WOULD NOT START. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR OVER 4 HOURS AND PUT ABOUT 60 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10068967

20,030 miles · Dec 10, 2003

Power Train

WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE WAS HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT FAILURE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050360

11,000 miles · Oct 28, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC DETECTED BOTH FRONTAL UPPER BALL JOINTS CRACK…

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NHTSA ODI #10044891

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2003

Electrical System

CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, AND THEN LIGHTS/RADIO, AND AIR CONDITIONER WENT OFF. A BURNING SMELL CAME FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE FOUND WRONG WITH THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10040353

31 miles · Jun 27, 2003

Exterior Lighting

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THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC SWITCH TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON OR USE THE MANUAL SWITCH. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH WAS USED, THE HIGH BEAMS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. ALSO, THE POSITION OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SIZE/HEIGHT OF THE DRIVER SEAT LIMITED FRONT VIEW ON THE RIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PASSING VEHICLE AS HE WAS GOING INTO THE DEALERS LOT AND COULD NOT SEE IT UNTIL IT WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020418

31 miles · Jun 27, 2003

Visibility

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THE DESIGN OF THE LARGE OVER VIEW MIRROR, ONLY ALLOWED THE CONSUMER TO SEE HALF OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *JB THE FRONT WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY TO THE RIGHT WAS BLOCKED BY THE FRONT REARVIEW MIRROR DUE TO LARGE SIZE OF THE MIRROR AND INABILITY TO LOWER THE DRIVERS SEAT ENOUGH AND ALMOST HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BLOCKED THE VISIBILITY OF THE RIGHT HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND DID NOT SEE THE VEHICLE TRAVELING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT UNTIL IT WAS IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020412

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2003

Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE COMES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL OPERATED HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT ARE ENGAGED VEHICLE'S HIGH BEAMS ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10021935

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2003

Visibility

THE LOCATION OF THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR AND SUN VISOR IS OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SEAT CANNOT BE LOWERED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021932

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2003

Air BagsCrash

THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10007273

Official recalls

09V183000 · Suspension:front

May 27, 2009

KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. OVER TIME, SUCH SUBFRAME CORROSION NEAR THE CONNECTION TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN LEAD TO WHEEL MISALIGNMENT AND/OR OTHER NOTICEABLE STRESS IN STEERING, OR ACCELERATED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: KMC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

04V180000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Apr 12, 2004

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.