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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

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

225 reports
500 miles · Oct 3, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FIXED AND ORDERED A PART. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *J…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FIXED AND ORDERED A PART. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER DID NOT APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO BRAKES VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10097086

114 miles · Jul 14, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH. NO IMPACT REPORTED. AS A RESULT, THE CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10081896

500 miles · Apr 12, 2004
Electrical System

HORN FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067025

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2004
Power Train

DEFECT: KIA OPTIMA 2004 MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, ENGINE OFTEN SURGES AFTER YOU REMOVE FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT WILL SURGE TWO TIMES OUT OF THREE. DEALER STATES THAT THE MFGR STATES THAT THE ENGINE SURGE IS COMPUTOR CONTROLED AND NOTHING CAN B…

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DEFECT: KIA OPTIMA 2004 MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, ENGINE OFTEN SURGES AFTER YOU REMOVE FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT WILL SURGE TWO TIMES OUT OF THREE. DEALER STATES THAT THE MFGR STATES THAT THE ENGINE SURGE IS COMPUTOR CONTROLED AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. I CANNOT EMPHASISE ENOUGH WHAT A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION/SITUATION THIS CREATES. THIS IS A CONDITION THAT WILL RESULT IN DEATH AND INJURY. KIA SELLS SO FEW MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPTIMA'S THAT I DON'T THINK THEY CARE AND KIA WILL TRY TO IGNORE THE DEFECT. THIS IS NOT A SINGLE INCIDENT/THIS IS CONTINUAL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10060184

30 miles · Dec 9, 2003
Suspension

MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA PULLS TO THE LEFT. IT WILL PULL YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. YOUR WEB PAGE DOESNOT HAVE KIA LISTED AS A VEHICLE CHOICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049492

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.