Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Kia Optima problems
Owners filed 144 complaints about the 2005 Kia Optima with NHTSA between Jul 2005 and Jun 2022. The most-cited component is latches/locks/linkages (66).
Complaints
144
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Latches/locks/linkages66
- Electrical system29
- Structure22
- Air bags22
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Exterior lighting4
- Seat belts3
- Power train3
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Steering2
- Seats1
- Equipment adaptive/mobility1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
4
1
11
16
21
27
9
17
11
11
4
4
2
0
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Latches/locks/linkages
66 reports
“The contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. The contact was unable to use the key to manually unlock the door to the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle failed to open consistently from inside the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.”
Electrical system
29 reports1 fire
“AFTER REPAIRING THE MASS AIR FLOW HOSE,PURGE VALVE,AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET. IT DIDN'T PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE LONGER TO PUT MILES ON THE CAR. SO I DID.. AFTER SEVEN WEEK GOING BACK TO HAVE IT CHECK IT WAS STILL SHOWING NOT READY. THE MERCHANIC THERE COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM AND THEIR SUBJESTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AFTER PUTTING 1175 MILES ON MY CAR”
Structure
22 reports
“driver side door lock does not open using the arm rest switch. wife was in the car could reach the switch but not the unlatch lever . Car was overheating with Ac on with keys in the ignition . Had to have her roll down the passenger door window to manually open the rear passenger side door . From the rear seat I could reach the lever and unlock the door. If I could not it would have been a fire hazard.”
Air bags
22 reports6 crashes
“THE LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG HAS BEEN STAYING ON AND MY HORN QUIT WORKING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A CLOCK SWITCH (I BELIEVE I SAID THAT RIGHT) WHICH IS SOMETHING IN THE STEERING CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG AND HORN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT ACTIVATE WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH WOULD NOT BE GOOD. MAYBE EVEN NOT WORK IF I GET IN A WRECK.”
Fuel system, gasoline
9 reports
“IN 2011 WE HAD A HOLE FORM IN THE GAS TANK OF OUR 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP IN WHICH THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK IN HAD CAUSED WEAR ONTO THE ACTUAL TANK. THEY REPLACED THE TANK WITH NEW GAS TANK (ORIGINAL FACTORY GAS TANK) ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK IN FOR SERVICING. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
6 reports
“THE CAR WILL RUN FINE, THEN ENGINE WILL START TO MISFIRE. THEN LOSE POWER (PUT THE GAS PETAL TO THE FLOOR AND CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT REV UP DUE TO THE INCREASED GAS FLOW.) THE ENGINE WILL SHUTTER AND TURN OFF. LE IT SIT FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WILL START. THE CAR WILL DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 5-10 MINUTES AND SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT RUN FOR START FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WILL NOT DRIVE BEYOND COUPLE HUNDRED FEET. WE HAVE REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, EGR VALVE, SPARK WIRES, SPARKS, COIL PACKS, WATER PUMP, ALL BELTS, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND SHORT BLOCK REBUILD (WARRANTY WORK). THE CODE WAS THE FIRST TIME WAS MISFIRE IN 1 AND 4 CYDERS, AFTER THE REBUILD THE CODE IS MISFIRE 2 AND 3 CYDERS. WE HAVE THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NO CLUE. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.