2004 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
225 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
82,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 187 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Latches/Locks/Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 73 of 225 complaints (32.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 4.4% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 73 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Structure:Body | 28 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 8 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages: 73; Electrical System: 41; Structure:Body: 28; Air Bags: 21; Unknown Or Other: 12; Suspension: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 56 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 56; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 30 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 29 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 6; 2005: 9; 2006: 5; 2007: 8; 2008: 15; 2009: 9; 2010: 30; 2011: 28; 2012: 20; 2013: 18; 2014: 20; 2015: 29; 2016: 12; 2017: 8; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Latches/Locks/Linkages leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10097086 · 2004-10-03 (October 3, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102349 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
BOUGHT KIA OPTIMA ON JUNE 22, 2004 VIN# [XXX] AND HAVE SINCE HAD SEVEN SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, REPLACED TWO SETS OF DRIVE BELTS, REPLACED A LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK, REPLACED A LEAKING FUEL REGULATOR, MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS, LOST TIME FROM WORK, LOST PRODUCTIVITY FROM WORK AS WELL AS JEOPARDIZED MY WIFE'S WORK FROM CAR POOLING FOR FIVE MONTHS, COMPLETED SCHEDULED ARBITRATION WITH THE BBB WITHOUT SUCCESS FOR FOUR PROBLEMS: ACCELERATION DELAY, LOW GRINDING BRAKE NOISE, LOW VIBRATION STEERING NOISE, AND LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE DRIVE BELT…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130335 · 2005-07-27 (July 27, 2005)
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. ALSO, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE CURVE. THEN OWNER CALLED DEALERSHIP WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO PICK UP VEHICLE UP BUT DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR ABOUT 4.5 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND WAS LEFT AT THE SHOP. THE NEXT DAY OWNER CALLED TO CHECK ON THE VEHICLE, NOTHING WAS DONE . THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. CURRENTLY, THE OWNER WAS WAITING FOR THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER'S FAMILY SUFFERED HEAT EXHAUSTION BY WAITING OUTS…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161074 · 2006-06-29 (June 29, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE GAS CAP WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED TO REMOVE PRESSURE IN THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WAS SLUGGISH, AND HAD VERY LITTLE POWER, AND A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD. SO, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERS MECHANIC RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH REVEALED SEVERAL MISFIRE CODES. UPON REMOVING THE FUEL PUMP, MELTED WIRING WAS DISCOVERED RUNNING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE GAS TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,361 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096741 · 2004-10-05 (October 5, 2004)
IRREGULAR OCCURRENCES OF STEERING PROBLEM, LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK. *BF SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR OF THE POWER STEERING RACK, THE CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMERS CONCERN. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNINGS, THERE WAS A SECOND DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204625 · 2007-10-01 (October 1, 2007)
PURCHASED 2004 KIA OPTIMA EX NEW. HAVE HAD FUSE BLOCK REPLACED W/IN 15000 MILES. NOW, THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED. THE CAR RAN FINE AND WAS PARKED. NEXT DAY CAR WOULD NOT START. NO FUSES BLOWN. THE TERMINAL CONNECTOR FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE GAS TANK PENETRATION HAS BURNED OUT CAUSING AN INTERMITTENT OPEN IN CIRCUIT. FUEL PUMP BURNED UP IN TANK. WIRES AND CONNECTORS VISIBLY CHARRED. CONNECTION THAT FAILED IS INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK. VERY SIMILAR TO NTSB CASE #10161074. HAVE 120,000 MILES ON THE CAR. OTHERS WITH LESS MILEAGE ARE IN FOR TROUBLE DUE …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,030 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060184 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)
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'…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060184 at NHTSA ↗