What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 KIA Optima

Typical pattern

2.2% of complaints about the 2005 KIA Optima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is latches / locks (66 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 75,000 miles.

Complaints
180
Median age at failure
6.8 yr
Median mileage
80,000 n=141
Crash / fire / tow
6.7% of reports
Safety recalls
0

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Latches / locks
66 reports · 75,000 mi
6.8 yr
1.5%
Electrical system
29 reports · 99,000 mi
8.9 yr
6.9%
Air bags
22 reports · 60,000 mi
3.8 yr
27.3%
Structure
22 reports · 80,000 mi
9.3 yr
4.5%

In owners’ own words

Air bags 200 mi 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
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 WAS SORE ON HER RIBS. *AK *JB
Air bags mileage not reported 3.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
MY FIANCE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 MPH AND HE WAS BLINDED BY BRIGHT LIGHTS, HE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR WHICH CAUSED HIM TO STRIKE A TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE HIT THE TREE AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND WAS SPUN AROUND AND NOSE DIVED DOWN A HILL. NOW HE INITIALLY HIT THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WHICH MEANS IT WAS A SIDE IMPACT CRASH AND HIS SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.....WAS THIS A DEFAULT????? *TR
Air bags mileage not reported 3.5 yr in service
SIX TIMES SINCE JANUARY 07 I'VE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX A AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUE. THEY SAY THAT ARE DOING WHAT THE COMPUTER TELLS THEM TO DO AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING. I BELIEVE KIA IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THE AIR AND DOES NOT KNOW IF IT IS FIXED OR NOT. SINCE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAN NOT BE PREDICTABLE THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Electrical system 90,800 mi 6.0 yr in service
WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IT JUST KEPT RELOCKING, THE LOCK DOESN'T OPEN ALL THE WAY IT MAKES A NOISE AND LOCKS AGAIN. I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WENT AROUND TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TO SEE IF I COULD OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE KEY DOESN'T TURN ALL THE WAY, IF THE OTHER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND YOU TRY TO OPEN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE IT JUST CLICKS INTO THE LOCKED POSITION. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY AND CAN'T. *TR

Other Optima model years

20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001

How to read this