2006 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
155 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
61,894 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 128 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 155 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.5% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 32 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 24 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Visibility | 9 |
Air Bags: 32; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 24; Electrical System: 20; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 10; Exterior Lighting: 10; Power Train: 10; Unknown Or Other: 9; Visibility: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (41). 27 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2006: 11; 2007: 18; 2008: 8; 2009: 6; 2010: 18; 2011: 19; 2012: 17; 2013: 14; 2014: 13; 2015: 9; 2016: 8; 2017: 1; 2018: 7; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10207631 · 2007-11-01 (November 1, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TPMS ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS LOW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SENSOR MALFUNCTION FOR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW TPMS INDICATOR, BUT THE FAILURE STILL CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 26,616 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218079 · 2008-02-14 (February 14, 2008)
CAR PURCHASED NEW 3/1/2006. AT MILEAGE 5,033 AND TO CURRENT 16,675 BELTS AND PULLEYS PROBLEM EXISTS.. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY A TECH EXPERT THAT THE MFR AND CUSTOMER AGREED TO ALLOW INSPECT THE CAR. A RECURRING DRIVE BELT TENSIONER AND DRIVE BELT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER SEVERAL BELTS AND TENSIONER HAVE BEEN REPLACED.....5 CONFIRMED REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED TO THE MANUFACTURER THAT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR. WE ARE AFRAID THE TENSIONER OR BELT MAY FAIL DURING OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,033 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224062 · 2008-04-10 (April 10, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYDAY, BUT WORSENS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVEN OR EIGHT TIMES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT FASHION AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,220.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347956 · 2010-08-07 (August 7, 2010)
THE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP. THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS VISION IMPAIRMENT. THE SWITCH FOR THE BOTH SEATS DOES NOT WORK. THE WHEEL BEARING IS BAD. THE TIRE PRESSURE WHEEL SENSOR AND THE TRANSMISSION SPEED ADJUSTMENT SENSOR ARE BAD ON THIS 2006 KIA OPTIMA , CONSTANTLY BULBS FOR TAILLIGHT BLOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 64,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170291 · 2006-10-09 (October 9, 2006)
AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 200 MILES I STOPPED FOR A MEAL. APPROX. 30 MINUTES LATER I STARTED MY KIA OPTIMA (2006). IT RAN VERY ROUGH THEN STALLED & DIED. I HAD PLANNED TO STOP AT WINERY APPROX. 3-4 MILES FROM CAFE I ATE AT. I STARTED CAR AGAIN. DROVE TO WINERY AND AS I PULLED INTO PARKING SLOT, CAR RAN ROUGH & DIED AGAIN. I WENT BACK TO SHELL STATION ACROSS FROM CAFE I ATE AT. CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASST. CAR WAS TAKEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN PEORIA,IL. SERVICE DEPT FOUND MISFIRE AND CHANGED CRANK SENSOR. ALSO PERFORMED OTHER TESTS WITH REGARDS TO FUEL …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,119 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171849 · 2006-10-25 (October 25, 2006)
I HAVE A 2006 KIA OPTIMA THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED 2 MONTHS AGO. IT HAS A PROBLEM STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO WORK AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP. ONE OF THE LAST TIMES THIS HAPPENED I ALMOST HIT A BUSINESS SIGN TURNING A CORNER. I BELIEVE THE DEALER AND KIA ARE NOT DOING ALL THEY SHOULD SINCE I WORK THERE. THEY ONLY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ONE TIME AND ONLY CHECKED A COUPLE OF THINGS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR BUSINESS ALMOST 20 YEARS AND I AM NOT SATISFIE…
Owner-reported narrative. 292 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219099 · 2008-02-25 (February 25, 2008)
I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 KIA OPTIMA EX IN APR 2006. SEPT 2006 THE KEY FOBS QUIT WORKING AND THE PASS SIDE BACK SEAT DOES NOT SECURE ITSELF IN PLACE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT AND STAY/TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND FIXED. JULY 2007, THE KEY FOB AGAIN QUIT WORKING/TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD A TSB WAS OUT ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE RECEIVER WHICH WAS DONE. NOV 2007 AFTER THE TSB SUPPOSEDLY WAS TAKEN CARE OF, AGAIN THE KEY FOB QUITS WORKING/DEALERSHIP HAS AGAIN REPROGRAMMED TO WORK AGAIN AND CURRENTLY THEY CONTINUE TO WORK. THIS C…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429996 · 2011-10-13 (October 13, 2011)
THE VEHICLE IS AN OPTIMA 2006.5 MODEL YEAR. WHEN SLOWING (BRAKING) AND THEN RESUMING (ACCELERATING) IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE CAR FREQUENTLY GOES INTO A 'NEUTRAL' STATE WHERE IT DOESN'T GO FORWARD ON ACCELERATION. WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED THE ENGINE REVS UP, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ENGAGE TO DRIVE FORWARD. ONCE THE CAR COASTS DOWN TO A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH OR LESS THEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL RE-ENGAGE - AT LEAST SO FAR THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE. AS THIS IS HAPPENING I HAVE TO KEEP DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO KNOW WHEN THE DRIVE GEAR E…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176057 · 2006-12-13 (December 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PUMPING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL BLEW BACK OUT OF THE GAS TANK, AFTER THE AUTO SHUT OFF VALVE ON THE PUMP HANDLE STOPPED. THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER SIX ATTEMPTS AND WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AN OFFER TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE WAS MADE.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,874 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176057 at NHTSA ↗