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.
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2004 KIA OPTIMA- RICHMOND, VA
FIRST MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK (CANNOT GET THE DOOR OPEN AT ALL) - MY PASSENGERS HAVE TO CRAWL IN THROUGH THE WINDOW TO SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT AND MY 78 YEAR OLD GRANDMA CAN'T DO THAT SO SHE HAS TO SIT IN THE BACK. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER, MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY AND WHEN I GOT OFF THE EXIT LAST NIGHT DOING ABOUT 20 OR 25 MILES AN HOUR, MY ENTIRE CAR FAILED (LCHECK ENGINE, BRAKE, OIL, ETC. LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR DIED - TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE). TOWED THE CAR TO GET CHECKED - NOTHING WRONG WITH ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY PER MECHANIC. HE SAID KIA KNOWS THEY HAVE THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND FAULTY LOCKS BUT THE CHEAPSKATES WON'T CONDUCT A RECALL LIKE RESPONSIBLE AUTO COMPANIES DO, SO HE TELLS ALL HIS CLIENTS TO NEVER BUY A KIA. FOR ME, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I SAVED MY MONEY TO BUY MY FIRST CAR AND I HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE A POOR CHOICE. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FORCE KIA TO RECALL THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE? IF MY CAR GOES ON FIRE FROM THEIR FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HOW DO I GET OUT OF THE CAR TO SAVE MY LIFE? WHERE DO I TAKE MY CAR TO GET REPAIRED SINCE I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A MORE RELIABLE CAR? DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE? I CAN'T KEEP GOING BACK, SO I WANT IT FIXED ONCE AND FIXED RIGHT.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- OKHAM, MA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- NAPA, CA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY ABILITY FAILED TO WORK FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN UTILIZING A KEY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- PLEASANT HILL, IA
DRIVER DOOR FAILS TO OPEN. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THERE ARE COMPLAINTS EVERYWHERE ONLINE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE ON THIS EXACT MODEL AND OTHER YEARS TOO. I CAN'T GET IN OR OUT OF MY CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN!
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- STANARDSVILLE, VA
THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS WHICH I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR CONSIDERING THE AIR BAGS MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS RESET IT SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR WON'T PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHT ON. I AM A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE ON A FIXED INCOME. I NEED THE CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND AT THIS TIME DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET IT FIXED IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. I NEED THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO CONSIDER CALLING A RECALL ON THESE AIRBAGS DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE BAGS WOULDN'T DEPLOY. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS CAR INSPECTED WITH LITTLE COST TO ME.
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
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2004 KIA OPTIMA- BENTONVILLE, AR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ONCE OPENED WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- GLENROCK, NJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AND CLOSE. AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- CARSON, CA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE FOR THE REAR DOOR WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- PALM COAST, FL
POWER DOOR LOCK LOCKS WHEN UNLOCKING FROM OUTSIDE WITH KEY. REPLACED THE DOOR LATCH. BUT IT STILL DOES IT. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR. HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN OFF HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *TR
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2004 KIA OPTIMA- MATTYDALE, NY
ALL DOORS LOCK AND WON'T UNLOCK, HAVE TO CLIMB OUT WINDOW THEN PLAY WITH KEY IN LOCKS. CANNOT GET IN OR OUT OF CAR. NOT GOOD IN EMERGENCY ESPECIALLY SINCE MY THREE GRANDCHILDREN ARE WITH ME IN THE CAR 90% OF THE TIME, WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE. LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP AND SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON IT PLUS THE DEALER WON'T FIX FREE OF CHARGE AND THE PARTS ARE PLASTIC. I'M NOT A MECHANIC AND DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS SINCE MY WARRANTY IS UP. *TR
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE