2005 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 112 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Latches/Locks/Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 144 complaints (43.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 1.4% |
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 | 62 |
| Electrical System | 29 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Structure:Body | 12 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages: 62; Electrical System: 29; Air Bags: 19; Structure:Body: 12; Structure:Body:Door: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 34 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 34; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 8
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 27 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 11; 2009: 16; 2010: 21; 2011: 27; 2012: 9; 2013: 17; 2014: 11; 2015: 11; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Latches/Locks/Linkages leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10170330 · 2006-10-10 (October 10, 2006)
FROM THE DAY I HAVE PULLED MY CAR OFF THE LOT ONE YEAR AGO I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WAS EVERYTIME I CRANK MY CAR MY BELTS LET OFF THIS SQUEALING NOISE. AT EVERY OIL CHANGE I HAVE ASKED THEM TO DOUBLE CHECK THE BELTS. UPON PICKING UP THE CAR THE DEALER ASSURED ME THEY HAVE TIGHTEN THE BELTS ONLY TO HAVE THEM CONTINUE SQUEALING. THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THE FUEL TANK. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT I DO NOT GET A COMPLETE FILL UP WHEN GOING TO THE GAS STATION. I PUT THE NOZZLE IN THE TANK AND CLICK THE AUTO HOLDER TO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225108 · 2008-04-15 (April 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON BOTH OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CONTACT PAID $600 FOR THE FUEL TANK. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS UNRELATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAILURES REGARDING THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,821 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,821 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241829 · 2008-09-11 (September 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING. THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER COULD BE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLACK BOX ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD COVERED IN ELECTRICAL TAPE. IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274203 · 2009-06-18 (June 18, 2009)
II HAVE A 2005 KIA OPTIMA FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW, FIRST PROBLEM WAS WITH THE AIR BAGS . I HAD THE LIGHT TO COME ON WILL THE CAR WAS BEING INSPECTED LAST YEAR FOR THEM TO TELL ME IT WAS THE SENSORS. I MADE A APPOINTMENT TO GET IT FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT THERE THE LIGHT WENT OFF THEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD A WEEK LATER AND THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN AND THE SAME THINGS HAPPENS WILL THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. 2ND PROBLEM HAD THE TIMING BELT TO GO OUT SO I PURCHASED A USED MOTOR TO HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. FIRST THE THROTTLE SENSO…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168515 · 2006-09-18 (September 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED EACH TIME AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264212 · 2009-04-06 (April 6, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. RECENTLY, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A …
Owner-reported narrative. 24,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145702 · 2005-12-20 (December 20, 2005)
DT: STEERING MECHANISM PROBLEM CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A FENCE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169716 · 2006-10-02 (October 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY LOST TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER, CAUSING A LAG IN THE PICKUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10302341 · 2010-01-26 (January 26, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COME OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD GRADUALLY CORRECT ITSELF; ALTHOUGH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE HER…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293368 · 2009-11-24 (November 24, 2009)
I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME STOP. I HIT THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF THIS PERSONS CAR. IT SMASHED IN MY FRONT BUMPER, FENDER, BENT THE HOOD ABOUT TWO FEET IN THE AIR, AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I DRIVE A KIA OPTIMA 2005. I THINK THIS CRASH DEFINITELY WARRANTED A AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372244 · 2010-12-23 (December 23, 2010)
BRAKES TURNED TO SPONGE ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN FALL 2009, AGAIN IN FEB 2010,SUMMER 2010 AND AGAIN 12/ 22/ 2010. AT FIRST OCCURRENCE WINTER OF 2009 I ASSUMED I HAD HIT ICE AND WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE FOR THAT REASON. HOWEVER, EVERY INCIDENT AFTER THAT CONFIRMED THAT ROAD CONDITION WAS NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. DURING FIRST EVENT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING,CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. BRAKE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AT 4 WAY STOP AND AGAIN ON RESIDENTIAL STREET AS I AM PREPARING TO PARK. NOTE THAT THESE INCI…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372244 at NHTSA ↗