5.9% of complaints about the 2004 KIA Optima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is latches / locks (81 complaints), typically at 7.7 yr or about 92,000 miles.
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. OVER TIME, SUCH SUBFRAME CORROSION NEAR THE CONNECTION TO THE LOWER CONTROL AR
CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA PULLS TO THE LEFT. IT WILL PULL YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. YOUR WEB PAGE DOESNOT HAVE KIA LISTED AS A VEHICLE CHOICE. *AK
RT BALL JOINT/AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON 10 OCT 08. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT AND AXLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP TWELVE FEET FROM THE INCIDENT. HER INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER OF A GRINDING NOISE SHE HEARD. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO CHECK THE VEHICLE, BUT THREE HOURS LATER THE AXLE AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,954.
WHILE DRIVING, A FIRE STARTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.