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2004 Kia Optima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Kia Optima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

187 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 42 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 reports3 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

26 reports
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41,000 miles · Sep 11, 2013
Air BagsLatches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK FAILED TO UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ALSO REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK ALSO FAILED AT 41,000 MILES; HOWEVER, THE ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE PASSENGER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK FAILED TO UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ALSO REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK ALSO FAILED AT 41,000 MILES; HOWEVER, THE ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE PASSENGER DOOR OR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIED. THE TECHICIAN ADVISED THERE WAS A NICKEL IN THE DOOR PANEL AND THAT THE WAS REPAIRED. THERE DOOR WAS NOT ACTUALLY REPAIRED. UPDATED 1/16/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10543057

78,000 miles · Jul 26, 2013
Air Bags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON SOLID. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE PUT THE COMPUTER ON IT. HE SAID IT READ THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AS IT GOES OUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, EVERY FEW DAYS. I DO NOT HAVE THE $1000 PLUS TO REPAIR IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531990

107,000 miles · Jul 11, 2013
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524473

12,000 miles · May 3, 2012
Air BagsSeat Belts

WE HAVE HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS ALWAYS JUST BEFORE THE STATE INSPECTION IS DUE EVERY TIME WE GET IT FIXED THEY SAID ITS A SWITCH OR A CONNECTOR. BUT THIS YEAR WAS THE WORST ,LIGHT CAME ON IN APRIL, THIS TIME THEY SAID IT'S THE AIRBAG WIRE HARNESS AND WOULD COST OVER 1500.00 . WE GOT KIA TO PAY FOR THE…

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WE HAVE HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS ALWAYS JUST BEFORE THE STATE INSPECTION IS DUE EVERY TIME WE GET IT FIXED THEY SAID ITS A SWITCH OR A CONNECTOR. BUT THIS YEAR WAS THE WORST ,LIGHT CAME ON IN APRIL, THIS TIME THEY SAID IT'S THE AIRBAG WIRE HARNESS AND WOULD COST OVER 1500.00 . WE GOT KIA TO PAY FOR THE PART,AND WE WOULD COVER THE LABOR. I'M JUST WORRIED WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457234

100,000 miles · Feb 18, 2012
Air Bags

I PURCHASED MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA WITH 100K MILES ON IT AND AFTER ABOUT 30 DAYS THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY MOVING INCIDENT AND REMAINED ON. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER (ROSEN, MILWAUKEE, WI) AND THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE CONTACTS BECAUSE I GOT CODE B1378, AIRBAG RESISTANCE TO HIGH. THEY SPRAYED SOMETHING …

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I PURCHASED MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA WITH 100K MILES ON IT AND AFTER ABOUT 30 DAYS THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY MOVING INCIDENT AND REMAINED ON. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER (ROSEN, MILWAUKEE, WI) AND THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE CONTACTS BECAUSE I GOT CODE B1378, AIRBAG RESISTANCE TO HIGH. THEY SPRAYED SOMETHING ON THE CONTACTS BECAUSE THE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THEY RESET THE AIRBAG LIGHT FREE OF CHARGE, BUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT ONE WEEK THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT KIA NEEDS TO RESOLVE BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE CAR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448430

80 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I WAS COMMUTING. I GAVE MY CAR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS. THEN THE ENGINE COILS WENT OUT. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER FORTY. REPLACED THAT. HEARD FUNNY NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS AT 70K AT THIS POINT. THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY SAID TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AT 110K. SO I DECIDED TO HOLD OFF AS THAT PROBAB…

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I WAS COMMUTING. I GAVE MY CAR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS. THEN THE ENGINE COILS WENT OUT. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER FORTY. REPLACED THAT. HEARD FUNNY NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS AT 70K AT THIS POINT. THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY SAID TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AT 110K. SO I DECIDED TO HOLD OFF AS THAT PROBABLY WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND A MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T LIE TO ME AS THEY ARE REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THEN I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. I GET THE CAR TOWED. THE TIMING BELT IS CHANGED AND THERE ARE HALF THE TEETH LEFT ON THE TIMING BELT. HOW IS THE CAR STILL RUNNING YOU MAY ASK? IT IS A MAGICAL CAR AND IS LIKE THE LITTLE TRAIN THAT COULD. THEN I AM DRIVING ON A BUSY SCARY MOUNTAINOUS HIGHWAY AND THE CAR DIES AGAIN AT A BLIND CORNER. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF CARS THAT WANT TO HIT ME. THE CAR TURNS BACK ON. THE FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND THOSE AROUND ME HAS SUBSIDED FOR A MOMENT. THE CAR IS ABLE TO TURN BACK ON... SOMEHOW. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE CRANK SENSOR IS THE PROBLEM. THE CRANK SENSOR WAS THEN FIXED. THIS CAR IS A HAZARD TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ALSO BEEN ON FOR A YEAR AND WON'T GO OFF. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE COILS, DOOR LOCKS, TRUNK ALIGNMENTS AND PROBABLY SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MADE ME FEAR FOR MY LIFE. THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO BROKE AND SAID I WAS GOING 0 MPH WHEN IT WAS REALLY 80 MPH. AS OF RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS RUNNING OKAY. I EXPECT BY NEXT OCTOBER THAT SOMETHING WILL GO WRONG AS THAT IS THE MONTH THAT EVERYTHING DOES WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370509

82,500 miles · Mar 24, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FIL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,500.

NHTSA ODI #10321771

95,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Air Bags

I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311912

100,169 miles · Dec 4, 2009
Air Bags

ME 2004 KIA HAVE THE AIR BAGS LIGHT ON AND I HAVE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD NOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I CALL THE KIA DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I AM AFRAID THE AIR BAGS WILL POP WHILE I AM DRIVING. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE AIR BAGS LIGHT STA…

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ME 2004 KIA HAVE THE AIR BAGS LIGHT ON AND I HAVE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD NOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I CALL THE KIA DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I AM AFRAID THE AIR BAGS WILL POP WHILE I AM DRIVING. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE AIR BAGS LIGHT STAY ON AT ALL TIME. *TR THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #10294558

26,400 miles · Nov 8, 2008
Air Bags

DASHBOARD AIRBAG INDICATOR LIT. CODE B1378 PULLED BY THE DEALERSHIP - DRIVERSIDE SIDE AIRBAG RESISTANCE HIGH. $1,020 TO FIX (REPLACE SEATBACK) . THIS CAR HAS 26,400 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS WILL WORK BECAUSE THIS ONE BAG HAS FAILED. I UNDERSTAND DEVICES FAIL BUT TO DESIGN AN ENTIRE SAFETY SYSTEM TO DEACTIVATE …

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DASHBOARD AIRBAG INDICATOR LIT. CODE B1378 PULLED BY THE DEALERSHIP - DRIVERSIDE SIDE AIRBAG RESISTANCE HIGH. $1,020 TO FIX (REPLACE SEATBACK) . THIS CAR HAS 26,400 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS WILL WORK BECAUSE THIS ONE BAG HAS FAILED. I UNDERSTAND DEVICES FAIL BUT TO DESIGN AN ENTIRE SAFETY SYSTEM TO DEACTIVATE BECAUSE ONE PART OF IT GOES BAD IS NEGLIGENT ENGINEERING. ALSO, FACTORY WARRANTIES COVERING EMISSION SYSTEMS LONGER THAN SYSTEMS RESPONSIBLE FOR BODILY SAFETY IS BAD POLICY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248016

Official recalls

1

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.