2005 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Latches/locks/linkages is the leading concern among 144 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 7 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
29 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 28, 2010
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
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 24, 2009
BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HIGH BEAMS (SEPARATE BULBS AND SWITCH) WOULD ONLY WORK SPORADICALLY (SWITCHED 'ON', NOTHING. SWITCHED AGAIN, MAY COME 'ON', TURNED 'OFF' THEN 'ON' MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON). DEALER STATES 'IT HAPPENS, THEY BURN OUT', YET SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.(?) NON WARRANTY, SO YOU PAY. ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THE SAME CAR YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SAME ISSUE, HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED WITH YOU. IN ADDITION, 'GOOGLE' SEARCH SHOWS MANY ENTRIES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES (SAME MANUFACTURER) OVER MANY MODELS/YEARS. SIGNS POINT TO POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CHARGING OF BATTERY BY VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (MAYBE WHY THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AT THE SAME TIME). BATTERY WAS PREVIOUSLY FINE. I'VE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, THINGS STOP WORKING, THEN WORK ON THEIR OWN (POWER WINDOW WON'T WORK, STICKS PART OPEN. SWITCH DOES NOTHING. THEN SUDDENLY LATER WINDOW LOWERS/RAISES WITHOUT SWITCH BEING TOUCHED. TRUNK SUDDENLY POPS OPEN). DEFINITE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON THESE MAKE OF VEHICLES OVER MANY YEARS WHICH NEITHER MANUFACTURER IS GOING TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES. UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING, MANY WILL BE PAYING FOR SERVICE CAUSED BY THEIR NEGLIGENCE. . ALSO, SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ALL THE TIME. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Mar 25, 2009
I HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. I HAVE A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "ANYTIME ANYONE WITH ANY WEIGHT SITS DOWN ON THE SEAT IT WILL COME DISCONNECTED". I HAD IT FIXED ONCE AND NOW IT IS ON AGAIN. EVER SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE ONLY DEALERSHIP I CAN GO TO IS 2 HOURS AWAY BY FREEWAY. I AM AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY TO BE IN THIS CAR BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF WE WILL BE PROTECTED AS WE SHOULD BE. THE FIRST TIME THAT IT BROKE DOWN WAS A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT IT AND THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, AND WHEN I HAD THE THROTTLE REPLACED THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVEN DO THE REPAIR CORRECTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO REV UP WHEN STOPPED. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THE ISSUES I HAVE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 11, 2008, fire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING. THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER COULD BE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLACK BOX ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD COVERED IN ELECTRICAL TAPE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER INSTALLED AFTER MARKET FLOOR BOARD LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF POWER. THE TAIL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE INOPERABLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 77,000.