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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

Tires complaints

2 reports
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30,000 miles · Feb 17, 2010
StructureSuspensionTires

I HAVE BEEN REFUSED THE REPAIR ON MY 2004 KIA BY NO LESS THAN 3 DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE RUSTING FRONT END BECAUSE OF LACK OF RUST PROOFING. IT MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE 4 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE HAD NO SATISFACTION. YOU ARE GOING AFTER TOYOTA WITH BOTH BARRELS YET YOU ARE LEAVING KIA ALONE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT SERIOUS EXPENSES A…

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I HAVE BEEN REFUSED THE REPAIR ON MY 2004 KIA BY NO LESS THAN 3 DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE RUSTING FRONT END BECAUSE OF LACK OF RUST PROOFING. IT MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE 4 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE HAD NO SATISFACTION. YOU ARE GOING AFTER TOYOTA WITH BOTH BARRELS YET YOU ARE LEAVING KIA ALONE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT SERIOUS EXPENSES AND PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2004. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE WITH NEGATIVE REPLIES. IF I DO NOT HERE FROM THIS AGENCY IN THE NEAR FUTURE CONCERNING MY ISSUES I WILL CONTACT THE MEDIA AND SEEK MY RESTITUTION THROUGH THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETTING THE GREASE METHOD AND MY ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT ASSIST WILL BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. PLEASE PUT HEAT ON KIA TO GET AGGRESSIVE WITH THE RECALL REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311430

112,358 miles · May 16, 2007
Tires

PUNCTURED TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE DAMAGED TIRE HAD EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR IN RELATION TO THE MILES DRIVEN ON CAR. THE FIGURES SHOWED THE TIRE WAS WEARING 3-1 EXP: UNIROYAL TOURING TRACK, P205/60R15-90H WITH 60,000 MILE TREAD WEAR. 10/32ND TREAD DEPTH NEW. I BOUGHT THIS TIRE ON 03/07/07, AND WAS DAMA…

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PUNCTURED TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE DAMAGED TIRE HAD EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR IN RELATION TO THE MILES DRIVEN ON CAR. THE FIGURES SHOWED THE TIRE WAS WEARING 3-1 EXP: UNIROYAL TOURING TRACK, P205/60R15-90H WITH 60,000 MILE TREAD WEAR. 10/32ND TREAD DEPTH NEW. I BOUGHT THIS TIRE ON 03/07/07, AND WAS DAMAGED ON 05/14/07= 70 DAYS OLD. BOUGHT TIRE FROM WAL-MART, BRUNSWICK, GA 31520. TOOK TIRE TO SAME ON 05/14/07. TIRE SHOWED 4/32NDS WORE OFF OF TREAD. THIS = 24,000 MILES OF WEAR AT 6,000 MILE PER 1/32ND OF TREAD. TRAVEL NO MORE THEN 100 MILES PER DAY AT 68 DAYS AND 1 ROUND TRIP OF 1,500 MILES = TOTAL OF8,300 MILES OF TRAVEL ON CAR. AS I SAID 3-1 WEAR OF TREAD.MFG WILL NOT AJUST PRORATED COST OF NEW TIRE NOR WILL WAL-MART. NEW TIRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED FREE BUT COAT ME PRORATE OF $49.00. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190897

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.