2005 Kia OPTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10130003 · 2005-07-25 (July 25, 2005)
THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS THAT COME ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR AT NIGHT.THE PROBLEM I HAD WAS WE COULD NOT TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN USING THIS FEATURE.MY DEALER SHOWED ME THEY ALL DO THIS.I HAD TO SLOW WAY DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE FEATURE. WE HAVE HAD OTHER CAR WITH THIS SAME FEATURE AND WE COULD ALWAYS USE THE HIGH BEAMS.
Owner-reported narrative. 43 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135179 · 2005-09-02 (September 2, 2005)
ON 8/27/05, ABOUT 1:30 P.M. ROBERTA SEALS WAS INVOLVED IN A SEMI-HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN 85 CHEVY BLAZER TRAVELING APPROXIMATLEY 35-40MPH. ROBERTA WAS AT AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THE OTHER DRIVER HAS ADMITTED TO NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO HIS SPEED OR THE ROAD, HAVING REACHED DOWN FOR HIS CELL PHONE. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO THROW ROBERTA'S 2005 KIA OPTIMA APPROXIMATLEY 150 FT. INTO THE FRONT YARD, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET. THE IMPACT OCCURED ON THE RIGHT-SIDE FRONT BUMPER, RESULTING IN THE FRON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136032 · 2005-10-06 (October 6, 2005)
DT: 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WAS PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HERS. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT HER WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED. THE HOOD, TRUNK AND THREE OF THE FOUR DOORS WILL NOT SHUT. THE CONSUMER STATED LOWER BACK WAS STRAIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE CURVED. SHE WAS NOT SURE THE EXTENT OF HER INJURIES. SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE. HER SEVEN YEAR OLD STEP DAUGHTER WAS ALSO IN THE VEHICLE AND SHE HAD A BRUISE AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136032 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 10166218 · 2006-08-22 (August 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT INCIDENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, THEN CHECKED FOR DIAGNOSTIC CODES. THERE WERE NO CODES FOUND AND THE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE LOT, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO EXPRESSED THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH AND THERE WERE STILL NO CODES. THE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED A THIRD TIME; ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REFUEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,839 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166218 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 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 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.