2007 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
167 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
75,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 130 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 49 of 167 complaints (29.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
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 | 49 |
| Exterior Lighting | 25 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 20 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Visibility | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 10 |
Air Bags: 49; Exterior Lighting: 25; Visibility/Wiper: 20; Engine: 16; Visibility: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 9
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2007: 5; 2008: 6; 2009: 11; 2010: 21; 2011: 11; 2012: 13; 2013: 18; 2014: 19; 2015: 14; 2016: 19; 2017: 6; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10212517 · 2007-12-21 (December 21, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD, DROVE INTO THE EMBANKMENT, AND STRUCK A TREE. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND A TREE CRASHED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED UPRIGHT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PRESUMED TO BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. KIA STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND OUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS AND ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED. THE WIFE SUSTAINED BRU…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276786 · 2009-07-14 (July 14, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO ANY GEAR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE NEEDED TO BE RE-ATTACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,591.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,591 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233969 · 2008-07-11 (July 11, 2008)
2007 KIA OPTIMA WITH SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2008, 5 WEEKS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. IN APRIL MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE #1 ENGINE BRACKET BOLT WAS MISSING. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TPMS LIGHT ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10233969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10416299 · 2011-07-29 (July 29, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A FAULTY AIR BAG MODULE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR BAG MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FAULTY AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515939 · 2013-06-10 (June 10, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 KIA OPTIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I CAME TO A STOP. ONCE MY OPTIMA CAME TO A STOP, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY WIFE AND I GOT OUT. ONCE WE DID, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH SENT BURNING SHRAPNEL OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR ERUPTED IN FLAMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10349674 · 2010-08-16 (August 16, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE KEY TO REMAIN LODGED IN THE IGNITION OR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN PLACE AS WELL. THE CONTACT CONTINUOUSLY TURNED AND PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS HER BODY IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE KEY AND ADVISED THAT WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE STRAIGHT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10354626 · 2010-09-09 (September 9, 2010)
MY 2007 KIA OPTIMA SEEMS TO BE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND RANDOMLY WITH THE RADIO/CRUISE CONTROL SETTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY PROBLEMS DID NOT APPEAR TO START UNTIL AFTER THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2009 DUE TO THE NOISES THAT WAS COMING FROM IT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS RECENTLY COME ON AND STAYS ON. ONE DEALER SAID THAT THE CODE THAT THEY WERE GETTING IS THAT CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. ANOTHER DEALER STATES THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10354626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393818 · 2011-03-31 (March 31, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE NOR COULD THEY DUPLICATE IT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO HER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,093 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393818 at NHTSA ↗