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
144 reports, newest first.
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.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 28, 2008
MY CAR BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL. I SENT IT INTO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE TANK. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OR ANY DAMAGE. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND I REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. *TR
Air bags, Aug 27, 2008
CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON VEHICLE. REPORTED TO DEALER 9-25-06, 1-4-07, 8-7-07, 3-25-08. AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. *TR
Air bags, Aug 27, 2008, crash
PURCHASED 2005 KIA OPTIMA IN 7/06. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN SEPT 06. DEALER NOTIFIED AND FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN A SHORT TIME LATER AND SENT TO DEALER AGAIN, 1-4-07, FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SENT TO DEALER ON 8-7-07, FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SENT TO DEALER 3-25-08 AND FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IN 6/08 AND LIGHT REMAINS ON AT THIS TIME. AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING AT THIS TIME. WE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE ON 7/07. IT WAS A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 20, 2008
I AM ABOUT TO REPLACE MY GAS TANK FOR THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE COMPOSITE TANKS ARE PRONE TO PUNCTURE OR SPLITTING ON THE SEAMS. *TR
Air bags, Jul 1, 2008
EIGHT (8) TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON; EACH TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRED AS MY FAMILIES SAFETY IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A SEAT BACK PARTS THAT WORKED TEMPORARILY. THE OTHER OCCASIONS I WAS MOSTLY GIVEN A BUNCH OF NONSENSE ABOUT COMPUTER CODES AND THAT THEY CLEARED THE CODE (I ASSUME I HAVE AIR BAG PROTECTION). ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER IT'S 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I CALLED THE MANUFACTURE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE RECURRING PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD OCCURRED AGAIN AND THAT MY MILEAGE WAS 58,880 AND THAT I WAS BRINGING INTO DEALERSHIP ASAP. TODAY WHEN I WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A $155.00 TO HAVE THE "PIN TENSION RESET". I ARGUED WITH DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT COVERAGE UNDER WARRANTY AND REFUSED TO PAY THE $155.00 AND HAD TO AGREE TO PAY A $53.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, WHICH I DID. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY HAD "CLEARED THE AIR BAG LIGHT FOR NOW". SO, I ASKED IF THEY HAD INDEED DONE THIS SUGGESTED REPAIR OF HAVING THE PIN TENSION RESET AND THE HE REPLIED NO, BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CLEARED FOR NOW. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONFIDENCE THAT MY AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY AND 100% CERTAINTY THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN BACK ON. MY FAMILY IS IN GRAVE DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED FURTHER. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Apr 15, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON BOTH OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CONTACT PAID $600 FOR THE FUEL TANK. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS UNRELATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAILURES REGARDING THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,821 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Air bags, Apr 9, 2008, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 3/11/08. A WOMAN CAUSED ME TO REAR END HER GOING ABOUT 40-45MPH. MY CAR WAS BASICALLY TOTALED. I HAD MY 2 MONTH OLD TWINS IN THE CAR AND MY 3YR OLD SON. LUCKILY WE WERE ALL BUCKLED IN. I DIDN'T SUSTAIN ANY SERIOUS INJURIES. I HAVE FEW PAINS BUT DUE TO WORK I HAVE NOT SEEN A DOCTOR AS OF YET. MY CHILDREN ARE TO YOUNG TO COMMUNICATE IF AND WHEN THEY ARE HAVING PAIN RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT PHYSICALLY THEY LOOK FINE. THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I FEEL THAT IF WE WERE NOT BUCKLED IN AND WOULD HAVE RELIED SOLEY ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WE COULD HAVE INCURRED SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES. MY CONCERN IS THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *TR
Air bags, Mar 10, 2008
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
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 19, 2008
I JUST BOUGHT MY 05 OPTIMA. IT ALSO TURNS ITSELF OFF--WHEN IT WANTS TO. AT FIRST-IT JUST DID IT IN REVERSE. THEN IT STARTED DOING IT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER-WHO ALSO, COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. THIS IS SCARY DRIVING THIS CAR. YOU HAVE NO WARNING--IT JUST TURNS EVERYTHING OFF--LIKE YOU NEVER STARTED THE CAR AT ALL. *TR
Air bags, Dec 14, 2007, crash
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
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 10, 2006
FROM THE DAY I HAVE PULLED MY CAR OFF THE LOT ONE YEAR AGO I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WAS EVERYTIME I CRANK MY CAR MY BELTS LET OFF THIS SQUEALING NOISE. AT EVERY OIL CHANGE I HAVE ASKED THEM TO DOUBLE CHECK THE BELTS. UPON PICKING UP THE CAR THE DEALER ASSURED ME THEY HAVE TIGHTEN THE BELTS ONLY TO HAVE THEM CONTINUE SQUEALING. THE OTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS THE FUEL TANK. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT I DO NOT GET A COMPLETE FILL UP WHEN GOING TO THE GAS STATION. I PUT THE NOZZLE IN THE TANK AND CLICK THE AUTO HOLDER TO FILL UP MY TANK AT THE POINT IT IS READY TO SHUT OFF GAS COME SPEWING OUT BEFORE IT SHUTS OFF. THEN YOU CHECK THE GALLONS ENTERED AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOU COULD HAVE PUT AT LEAST ANOTHER GALLON IN THE TANK BUT IT WON'T LET YOU. THE LAST MAJOR THING THAT I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR WAS EVERY TIME I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL IT MADE A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE. TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY UPPER CONTROL MOUNT BOLT HAD COME LOOSE. IN ADDITION I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE ACCELERATION THAT THE 2005 KIA OPTIMA REALLY STINKS. IT HAS NO ACCELERATION, IT BOGS DOWN AND ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN MY AIR CONDITIONING OFF JUST TO MAKE IT OUT OF AN INTERSECTION. I AM SO UNHAPPY WITH MY CAR IT IS NOT FUNNY. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ONGOING, NO SPECIFIC DATES. *NM
Power train, Oct 2, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY LOST TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER, CAUSING A LAG IN THE PICKUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 18, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED EACH TIME AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 22, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT INCIDENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, THEN CHECKED FOR DIAGNOSTIC CODES. THERE WERE NO CODES FOUND AND THE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE LOT, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO EXPRESSED THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH AND THERE WERE STILL NO CODES. THE LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED A THIRD TIME; ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REFUELED.
Steering, Dec 20, 2005, crash
DT: STEERING MECHANISM PROBLEM CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A FENCE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - *NM
Air bags, Oct 6, 2005, crash
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, Sep 2, 2005, crash
ON 8/27/05, ABOUT 1:30 P.M. ROBERTA SEALS WAS INVOLVED IN A SEMI-HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN 85 CHEVY BLAZER TRAVELING APPROXIMATLEY 35-40MPH. ROBERTA WAS AT AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THE OTHER DRIVER HAS ADMITTED TO NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO HIS SPEED OR THE ROAD, HAVING REACHED DOWN FOR HIS CELL PHONE. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO THROW ROBERTA'S 2005 KIA OPTIMA APPROXIMATLEY 150 FT. INTO THE FRONT YARD, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET. THE IMPACT OCCURED ON THE RIGHT-SIDE FRONT BUMPER, RESULTING IN THE FRONT BEING SHOVED, ACCORDIAN STYLE, TOWARDS THE DRIVERS WINDOW. THIS IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO THROW ROBERTA INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A MINOR BUMP TO APPEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF HER HEAD, BECAUSE THE AIRBAG IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. ROBERTA WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE SUFFERS FROM CONTUSIONS AND SPRAINS ON BOTH OF HER KNEES, HER GLUTOS MAXIMUS AND RIGHT ARM. HER RIGHT ARM IS STILL SWOLLEN AND IN A SPLINT AND SLING AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS TIME TO THE VEHICLE. OUR MAIN ISSUE IS WITH THE AIRBAG NOT HAVING DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.
Exterior lighting, Jul 25, 2005
THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS THAT COME ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR AT NIGHT.THE PROBLEM I HAD WAS WE COULD NOT TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN USING THIS FEATURE.MY DEALER SHOWED ME THEY ALL DO THIS.I HAD TO SLOW WAY DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE FEATURE. WE HAVE HAD OTHER CAR WITH THIS SAME FEATURE AND WE COULD ALWAYS USE THE HIGH BEAMS.