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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

Engine complaints

3 reports
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163,000 miles · Feb 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 DIAGNOSE…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10955343

89,400 miles · Feb 12, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY CAR COMPLETELY TURNS OFF WHILE IM DRIVING IT, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I USED IT THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY AND TRY TO USED IT AGAIN IT TURNS OF AND LOOSE POWER, I CAN'T TURN IT ON AGAIN IN THAT MOMENT I NEED TO WAIT AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN BUT IF HAPPENS REALLY FREQUENTLY AND ITS REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IM ON THE FREEWAY AND CA…

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MY CAR COMPLETELY TURNS OFF WHILE IM DRIVING IT, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I USED IT THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY AND TRY TO USED IT AGAIN IT TURNS OF AND LOOSE POWER, I CAN'T TURN IT ON AGAIN IN THAT MOMENT I NEED TO WAIT AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN BUT IF HAPPENS REALLY FREQUENTLY AND ITS REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IM ON THE FREEWAY AND CARS ARE BEHIND ME AND I CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING WORSE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD INSPECT MY CAR BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AT THAT MOMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683010

51,000 miles · Aug 10, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE CAR COASTED. AFTER SITTING FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 60,000 …

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THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE CAR COASTED. AFTER SITTING FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND CHARGE US $200 TO DO SO, AND THE ELECTRONIC PARTS WERE NOT COVERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470101

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.