2004 KIA OPTIMA Complaints

View complaints related to 2004 KIA OPTIMA. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 220 complaints submitted for the 2004 KIA OPTIMA. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - WAUKESHA, WI

    CANNOT ADD FUEL BECAUSE THE PUMP STOPS FROM FILLING UP THE TANK. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 7 TIMES TO GET IN $7 WORTH OF GAS. EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR ONLY HAS 25,830 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HARDLY BEEN USED. WE PUT GAS IN ABOUT EVERY 3 OR 4 WEEKS - NOT THAT OFTEN.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - BEDFORD, NH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000. ..UPDATED 05/05/17 *BF *CN

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, WA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SEVERAL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE HELP OF THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - PINELLAS PARK, FL

    THE AIR BAG WENT OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS REACHING FOR HER SEAT BELT AND SCRAPPED AND BURNED HER ARM. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN GOING OFF. I RUSHED HER HOME AND TOOK CARE OF HER WOUNDS

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - O' CONNEL, WI

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL LOUD SOUND FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - FREDONIA, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - PLACERVILLE, CA

    DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM WILL NOT UNLOCK, ALL OTHERS DO. THE DOOR LOCKS ITSELF IMMEDIATELY AS YOU TRY TO UNLOCK EITHER WITH THE KEY (OUTSIDE) OR PRESSING THE CENTRAL LOCK BUTTON (WHEN INSIDE). THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE WAS AN ISSUE. RIGHT NOW IT IS INCONVENIENT TO CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. I SEE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT ON THIS SUBJECT AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS ENDEMIC TO THIS CAR. THE PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY FROM SEPTEMBER 2016 AND NOW IS PERMANENT AS OF NOVEMBER 30.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - LOMBARD, IL

    PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK 85% OF THE TIME, PREVENTING NORMAL ENTRY TO / EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS USING THE KEY IN THE DOOR LATCH ARE REQUIRED TO GAIN ENTRY THE OTHER 15% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF CRASH, FIRE, OR CARJACKING. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AROUND 100K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL EVENT...

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - LOS FRESNOS, TX

    MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON THERE'S NO WIRES DISCONNECTED UNDER THE SEAT AND MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT WELL ALSO MY DOOR LOCKS ARE GETTING STUCK IN LOCK MODE AND MY ENGINE COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF.AFTER AWHILE.WHEN IN PARK

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2004 KIA OPTIMA
    - TIGARD, OR

    ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN MANUALLY UNLOCKING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY LOCK AGAIN AND WILL GO INTO A LOOP OF UNLOCK-RELOCK, WHETHER USING THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK OR THE POWER LOCK SWITCH (THE RELAY CLICKS BUT NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN USING THE SWITCH). THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE