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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.

About this comparison →
225Owner complaints

Model-year median: 186.5

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
143
2001107
2002141
2003225
2004144
2005155
2006167
2007
Compare all Optima years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Latches/locks/linkages
81Electrical System
45Structure
42Air Bags
26Suspension
19
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
12Engine And Engine Cooling
11Fuel System, Gasoline
9Power Train
8Steering
7Seat Belts
6Exterior Lighting
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Wheels
4Engine
3Equipment
3Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Equipment Adaptive/mobility
2Service Brakes
2Tires
2Fuel/propulsion System
1Lane Departure
1Seats
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Seats complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · Feb 25, 2015
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEAD RESTS WERE DESIGNED WITH AN INTERIOR BAR COVERED BY FABRIC. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE METAL PROTRUDED AND CAUSED DISCOMFORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEAD RESTS WERE DESIGNED WITH AN INTERIOR BAR COVERED BY FABRIC. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE METAL PROTRUDED AND CAUSED DISCOMFORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10690556

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.