NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
141 reportsMileage unknown · Apr 12, 2005
Seat Belts
THE STANDARD SAFETY STRAP IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT WILL NOT SECURELY FASTEN THE CHILD SEAT. AFTER A PERIOD OF DAYS THE STRAPS WILL LOOSEN. *AK THE CAR SEAT DID NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE REAR SEAT EVEN WHEN PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS TRIED MULTIPLE CHILD SEAT BRANDS AND TYPES ALL WITH THE SAME RESULT. ON THREE OCC…
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THE STANDARD SAFETY STRAP IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT WILL NOT SECURELY FASTEN THE CHILD SEAT. AFTER A PERIOD OF DAYS THE STRAPS WILL LOOSEN. *AK THE CAR SEAT DID NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE REAR SEAT EVEN WHEN PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS TRIED MULTIPLE CHILD SEAT BRANDS AND TYPES ALL WITH THE SAME RESULT. ON THREE OCCASION THE SEAT HAS TIPPED OVER WHILE THE CHILD WAS SECURED IN IT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10115422
33,000 miles · Jan 24, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 KIA OPTIMA ON I85 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED QUICKLY TO LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPUTTER AND BACKFIRE UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES BEFORE PROCEEDING NORMALLY. MY WIFE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND IS AFRAID O…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 KIA OPTIMA ON I85 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED QUICKLY TO LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPUTTER AND BACKFIRE UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES BEFORE PROCEEDING NORMALLY. MY WIFE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND IS AFRAID OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES. THE LAST REPAIR INVOLVED PARAMOUNT KIA IN HICKORY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED MANY OF THE ASSUMED PROBLEM PARTS SUCH AS FAULTY WIRING HARNESS, ECM, MAF SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP WITHOUT RESOLVE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10107846
9,000 miles · Jan 6, 2005
Visibility
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DEFROSTER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE ELEMENTS THE WINDOWS ON THE LEFT SIDE FOG UP BADLY, CONSUMER MUST ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN TO SEE WHAT IS ON LEFT SIDE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING FINE. *AK...*AK
NHTSA ODI #10106925
Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2004
Unknown Or Other
THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIME IT TOOK TO GET THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS. *BF *SC
NHTSA ODI #10109386
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2004
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE FAILURE, FRONT ROTORS GROOVED, PADS HEAT GLAZED, REAR ROTORS ALSO. PLUS REAR CALIPERS WERE BOUNDED UP. *BF THE DOORS LOCKED BY THEMSELVES, AND THERE WAS SQUEALING WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DOORS HARNESS CONNECTION WAS POOR AND SHORTED OUT. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10105586
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE GAS CAP WAS THE PROBLEM. REFERENCE TO RECALL#04V180000. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE CONTINUED TO LOCK WITHOUT P…
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THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE GAS CAP WAS THE PROBLEM. REFERENCE TO RECALL#04V180000. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE CONTINUED TO LOCK WITHOUT PRESSING. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10103232
6,000 miles · Oct 4, 2004
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. DEALER ORDERED THE PART. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE PART, THIS MAKES DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INOPERABLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094984
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2004
Electrical System
THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING, THAT THE DOORS LOCKS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED WITHOUT PRESSING THE LOCK BUTTON WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS FLASHING. PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10083319
5,500 miles · Jul 15, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE COLLISION WAS UNDER THE TRUCK'S BUMPER. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURIES IN THE COLLISION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10082037
33,335 miles · Jun 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
IT WAS RAINING HARD IN OUR AREA( 1 INCHES IN 1 OUR). I LIVE 3 MILES IN ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD AND IT WAS MUDDY WITH STANDING WATER. WHEN ALL THE WATER AND MUD WAS SPLASTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE WAS IDLEING ROUGH. THIS IS THE (2) SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IN APRIL WHEN WE HAD SAME TYP…
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IT WAS RAINING HARD IN OUR AREA( 1 INCHES IN 1 OUR). I LIVE 3 MILES IN ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD AND IT WAS MUDDY WITH STANDING WATER. WHEN ALL THE WATER AND MUD WAS SPLASTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE WAS IDLEING ROUGH. THIS IS THE (2) SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IN APRIL WHEN WE HAD SAME TYPE OF WEATHER. TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER SERVICE DEPT AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT I HAD WATER IN MY GAS. I PUT ATLEAST TWO BOTTLES OF DRY GAS IN TANK. CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE EVEING OF 6/14/03 WHEN AGAIN WE HAD ALOT OF RAIN AND THE SAME 3 MILE WET, MUDDY, STANDING WATER DIRT ROAD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075412
Official recalls
2May 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.
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 ↗
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