2006 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 155 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 3 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 2 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontalJan 17, 2012
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. IF THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DAMAGED, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.
IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 12V014000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftMar 9, 2011
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2007. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SHIFT CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING TENSION IN THE CABLE. IF PRESENT, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE CABLE TO DETACH FROM THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY'S DOWEL PIN PREVENTING THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING SHIFTED. THE SHIFT LEVER CAN THEN BE MOVED INTO THE PARK (P) POSITION WHILE THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN THE LAST USED GEAR BEFORE DETACHMENT.
IF THE DRIVER LEAVES THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE CAN ROLL INJURE A PERSON IN ITS PATH OR CAUSE A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SHIFT CABLE AND REINSTALL IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2011. OWNER MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Campaign 11V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
12 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Apr 30, 2018
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL MOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE CAUSING YOU TO BE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS.
Structure, Apr 16, 2018
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED BUT I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET THE DOOR OPEN BEFORE AND DISENGAGED THE ACTUATOR. AS LONG AS NO ONE LOCKED THE DOOR, IT WORKED FINE, HOWEVER; MOTHER RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE ON HER CAR AND WHEN THEY RETURNED IT, THEY LOCKED THE DOOR. I'VE SPENT NUMEROUS HOURS TRYING TO GET THE DOOR OPEN SO THAT I CAN REPLACE THE MECHANISM AND ACTUATOR BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, THIS SEEM TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH KIA, THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. NOT SURE HOW LITTLE ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO SAFELY GET OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. (THIS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY ON A FLAT, PAVED ROAD).
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 7, 2014
ONCE THE DOORS ARE LOCKED, THEY CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. THE KEY MUST BE INSERTED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCK CYLINDER (OUTSIDE) AND MANIPULATED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BACK AND FORTH WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PULLING ON THE HANDLE UNTIL THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF FORCE AND TIMING ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED. *TR
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 1, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Structure, May 19, 2014
I CAN NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR. *JS
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Feb 18, 2014
IT IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMA CARS THAT THE DOOR LATCH IS FAULTY, AND AFTER VARIOUS LENGTHS OF TIME, IT WILL STOP UNLOCKING. BY NO LONGER UNLOCKING, I MEAN UNDER ANY CONDITION. USING A REMOTE, USING THE KEY, EVEN SITTING IN THE VEHICLE PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR OR MANUALLY MOVING THE INDICATOR BY THE HANDLE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK OR OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ON MY KIA OPTIMA. NO MATTER WHAT YOU ATTEMPT, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WHEN YOU UNLOCK IT USING ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED METHODS, THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCK THE DOOR AS SOON AS YOU TOUCH THE HANDLE, EITHER INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR EATING AWAY AT THE COMPONENT, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO DEFAULT TO THE LOCK POSITION IN THE CASE OF SUCH WEAR AND TEAR. A SIMPLE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO HAVE THE LATCH DEFAULT TO THE OPEN POSITION, WHICH WILL ALLOW PERSONS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. IF THIS HAS NOT ALREADY COST INDIVIDUALS THEIR LIFE, I AM SURE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE IT COSTS ME MY FAMILY. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 11, 2013
THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE ELECTRICAL BUTTON OR MANUALLY. THE LOCK ONLY OPENS HALF WAY - PULL HANDLE TO OPEN - DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS. CAN'T OPEN DOOR WITH KEY FROM OUTSIDE. MUST ENTER IN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CLIMB OVER. BIG DANGER AS DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Feb 9, 2013
I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN BY ACTIVATING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE INSIDE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER OR THE REMOTE KEY FOB. WHEN I USED THE DOOR HANDLE NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN I PRESSED THE INSIDE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER I COULD HEAR THE POWER UNLOCK MECHANISM ACTIVATE BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. NOR WOULD THE DOOR OPEN WHEN THE REMOTE KEY FOB UNLOCK WAS PRESSED EVEN THOUGH I COULD HEAR THE UNLOCK MECHANISM ACTIVATE. THE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. I HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE FRONT CONSOLE TO EXIT THE CAR THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR. DUE TO THE SMALL SIZE OF THE CAR THIS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITH AN INJURY OR FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON. IN CASE OF A FIRE WHERE THE ONLY EXIT WAS THRU THE DRIVERS DOOR THIS WOULD BE A FATAL COMPONENT FAILURE. AFTER EXITING THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY BUT THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE DOOR. I TRIED PRESSING AND RELEASING THE REMOTE UNLOCK WITH AND WITHOUT THE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES USING MULTIPLE COMBINATIONS OF THE DOOR HANDLE, DOOR UNLOCK LEVER AND REMOTE KEY FOB, NOTHING WORKED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DOOR HANDLE AND DOOR KEY SHOULD ALWAYS FUNCTION TO ALLOW EXIT FROM THE CAR. *TR
Structure, Nov 18, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWENTY ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Visibility, Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, May 10, 2010
DOOR JAM ON RIGHT BACK DOOR AND SUN VISORS ON RIGHT PASSENGER OVER VIEW JUST DROPS DOWN IN THE PASSENGER OR CHILD VIEW THATS CAUSES ONE TO BECOME FEARFUL. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Fuel system, Gasoline, Structure, Tires, Seats, Equipment, Feb 25, 2008
I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 KIA OPTIMA EX IN APR 2006. SEPT 2006 THE KEY FOBS QUIT WORKING AND THE PASS SIDE BACK SEAT DOES NOT SECURE ITSELF IN PLACE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT AND STAY/TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND FIXED. JULY 2007, THE KEY FOB AGAIN QUIT WORKING/TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD A TSB WAS OUT ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE RECEIVER WHICH WAS DONE. NOV 2007 AFTER THE TSB SUPPOSEDLY WAS TAKEN CARE OF, AGAIN THE KEY FOB QUITS WORKING/DEALERSHIP HAS AGAIN REPROGRAMMED TO WORK AGAIN AND CURRENTLY THEY CONTINUE TO WORK. THIS CAR HANDLES EXTREMELY POORLY AND IN MY OPINION IS A SAFETY RISK. IT SEEMS TO HAVE A PRETTY LOOSE SUSPENSION AND A LOT OF SWAYING WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT CAUSING ONE TO HAVE TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT TO KEEP IT FROM TAKING NEARLY A 45 DEGREE LEFT TURN WHILE DRIVING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR PULLS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT/USUALLY LEFT. WHEN DRIVING OVER A SMOOTH DIP IN THE ROAD, IT FEELS THE FRONT TIRES ACTUALLY LEAVE THE GROUND SLIGHTLY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE RIGHT/LEFT QUICKLY. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HANDLES EXTREMELY POORLY ON ICY ROADS. THIS IS WITHOUT ANY QUESTION THE WORST HANDLING VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN...CONCERNS ME AS I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 35 MILES TO WORK ONE WAY DAILY, AND DRIVE IN WINDY AS WELL AS SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY. AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES, THE LATCH ON THE GAS DOOR DOESN'T WANT TO STAY CLOSED AFTER YOU FUEL UP AND THE ELECTRONICS THAT OPERATE THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT WORK. FEB 2008, MY CAR REACHED 30,000 MILES AND WHEN WASHING IT LAST WEEK, I NOTED AN AREA OF PAINT PEELING OFF ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TRIM (BLACK), AS WELL AS THE CHROME PAINT STARTING TO BUBBLE. I TOOK PICTURES OF BOTH OF THESE AREAS. SINCE DRIVING THIS CAR OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR, IT HAS BEEN GARAGED AT BOTH WORK AND HOME. LAST WEEK (FEB 2008), DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT QUIT RETRACTING. *TR
Visibility, Air bags, Structure, Jul 31, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE PASSENGER WEIGHED. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT IT CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,791 STARTING 60 MILES. THE DEALER STATED HEARS A RATTLE FROM THE SUNROOF AND GASKET ON TRUNK. UPDATED 08/29/07 *TR