2007 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 167 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 6 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: air bags
65 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Aug 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving, the airbag warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V014000 (Air Bags); however, the contact stated that the vehicle experienced failure described in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 82,000.
Air bags, Jan 31, 2023, crash
2007 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING COLLISION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TAKEN TO THE JUNKYARD DUE TO THE PROGRAMMING DEFECT.
Air bags, Service brakes, Sep 26, 2022, crash
The contact owned a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 5-10 MPH, the vehicle before her vehicle slowed down suddenly. The contact slammed the brakes and the air bags deployed and deflated. However, the brake pedal hesitated to respond and became soft, causing the contact to crash into the vehicle in front of her. The contact was unsure whether there were warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that it appeared that the air bag deployment overrode the brake system and caused the stopping distance delay. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact stated that what appeared to be a deflated airbag blocked her view of the road in the same moment that she slammed on the brakes. There was a delay in the brakes actually stopping the vehicle so as a result, her vehicle hit the vehicle in front of it. The vehicle is now a total loss. The contact was not aware that the dealer and manufacturer were supposed to be notified of this incident.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Visibility/wiper, Nov 3, 2020
MY LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE NO VISIBILITY AND I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE USED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT COSTS $400 FOR BOTH SIDES THAT I DONT HAVE I REPLACED MY LOW AND HIGH BEAM BULBS THE HIGH BEAMS WORK JUST FINE BUT AS I WAS DOING RESEARCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE THE SAME REOCCURRING PROBLEM I SEEN WHERE THEY HAVE RECALLED 2011 AND UP FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I GUESS DECIDED TO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE OLDER MODELS I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BUT THAT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK AND MY DAUGHTERS NOW IT IS GETTING DARKER EARLIER AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF
Suspension, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2020
THE AIR BAG JUST CAME ON A COUPLE DAYS AGO . IT HASN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. THE SUSPENSION IS ROUGH WHEN DRIVING OVER THE SMALLEST THING IN THE ROAD. SOMETIMES IT JUST MAKES A LITTLE JUMP WHEN IT TASKED GAS.
Air bags, Seat belts, Visibility/wiper, Apr 28, 2019
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME 1 THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL SAY ON WITH AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT!!1 VISORS DO NOT STAY UP! HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM . I'VE CHANGED THEM OUT TO A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES STILL DIM CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT
Air bags, Engine, Mar 12, 2019
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. AT FIRST IT WOULD GO OFF AND ON WITH NO CODE. NOW IT STAYS ON WITH THE CODE P0420 FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALSO I HEARD ABOUT AN AIR BAG RECALL
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2018
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T TURN OFF ... OTHER PROBLEM IS BOTH VISORS WON'T SPRING UP FLOPPED DOWN ... THE INTERNET IS BUZZING ABOUT KIA'S LACK OF CONCERN!!
Air bags, Apr 17, 2018
TAKATA RECALL. MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE SUMMER OF 2017 AND HASN'T GONE OUT SINCE. I HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING TO MAKE THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PLACES HOOK MY CAR TO THEIR TESTING MACHINES AND NOTHING COMES UP ON THEIR MACHINE.
Air bags, May 10, 2017
DESPITE THERE BEING A VOLUNTARY WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE PART OF KIA FOR THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE MINE BECAUSE THE CODE IT IS DISPLAYING IS NOT THE SAME AS THE CODE SPECIFIED IN THEIR VOLUNTARY EXTENSION. THE OCS MAT IN MY CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND WHEN ADULTS ARE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM REMAINS OFF.
Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Dec 16, 2016
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CAME ON. A FEW MONTHS PRIOR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. NOW ON THE SECOND DAY WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON! IS IT BAD WIRING, WILL MY AIRBAG NOT WORK? *TR
Air bags, Nov 30, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOOSE PIN FITTING AIR BAG CONNECTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Air bags, Nov 30, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON. *TR
Air bags, Nov 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER RESET THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INDICATOR ON APPROXIMATELY THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR LESS THAN THIRTY MILES LATER. AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE, A DIFFERENT AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/05/17*LJ
Air bags, Aug 5, 2016
I HAD A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG APPX 5 YRS AGO (COULD BE LESS). I TOOK CSR IN AND MONTHS LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND HASN'T WENT OFF. I'VE CHECKED IN RECALLS AND NOTHING INDICATED. SHOULD I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST TO REPAIR, BEING I TOOK IT IN ONCE ON A RECALL AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN.. I PUT IN DATE BELOW BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENED..
Air bags, Jul 1, 2016
I BOUGHT THIS KIA OPTIMA NEW. THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD FREQUENTLY ILLUMINATE, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I ASKED SEVERAL KIA DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES, NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. NOW, AT ABOUT 73,000 MILES- THE RED "AIR BAG" LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON, AND STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. I TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY CHARGED ME OVER $100 TO DIAGNOSE, AND IF I HAD THE REPAIR DONE, THE DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE WAIVED. THEY CALLED ME A FEW HOURS LATER AND INFORMED ME THAT THE OCS COMPUTER (NOT JUST THE OCS MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THE ENTIRE COMPUTER) WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THIS WOULD COST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2200. I DIDN'T HAVE THE DEALERSHIP DO THIS REPAIR FOR 2 REASONS... 1) BECAUSE THE CAR IS WORTH ONLY $2-3,000 IN THE FIRST PLACE. 2) BECAUSE EVEN IF I DID PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT, WHO'S TO SAY THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE FIXED? AFTER ALL, THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF AIR BAG LIGHTS IN KIA OPTIMAS, AND EVEN OF CRASHES WHERE THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I'D EITHER LIKE THE AIRBAGS TO BE REPAIRED, OR GET RID OF THE CAR, BUT IT ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT, WHICH IS A SHAME. I CAN'T SELL IT TO ANYONE- WHO WANTS TO BUY A CAR WITHOUT AIRBAGS? OH, NOW THE TPMS SENSOR IS ON AS WELL. I DID TRY REPLACING THE FUSES TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THE TPMS SYSTEM, NEW FUSES DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. IT IS STILL UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, BUT NOT THE BUMPER TO BUMPER, WHICH WAS 5 YEARS AND 60,000 MILES. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD BE COVERED.
Air bags, Jun 27, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,419.
Air bags, Feb 26, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSNGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Air bags, Feb 18, 2016
I HAVE A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA EX THAT HAD A SIX YEAR, SIXTY THOUSAND MILE FULL WARRANTY AND A TEN YEAR, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. AT SOME POINT AFTER THE SIX YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT PRIOR TO THE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILE WARRANTY EXPIRATION, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO " DETERMINED INTERNAL FAILURE TO PASSENGER SEAT MAT $1875 TO REPAIR..." I DECLINED THE REPAIR DUE TO THE COST AND VALUE OF THE CAR AT THAT TIME. I AND SUGGESTED THAT THE COST OF REPAIR SHOULD BE ABSORBED BY KIA. I CALLED THE KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLAINT WOULD BE REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT AND THEY WOULD CONTACT ME REGARDING THEIR DECISION. I SUBSEQUENTLY HEARD BACK FROM KIA THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE SOME SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. THIS WAS NOT A FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE AT THE TIME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS A MAJOR SAFETY MALFUNCTION, AS INDICATED BY A BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. THIS NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER BUT DEPRECIATES THE VALUE OF THE CAR BY 50%. I REALIZE THAT MANY SYSTEMS ON AN AUTOMOBILE OVER THE YEARS, HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR MALFUNCTION IS UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK THE RECENT RECALL OF MILLIONS OF AUTOMOBILES FOR AIRBAG FAILURE, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR MILEAGE, DEMONSTRATES KIA'S CULPABILITY IN THIS CASE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE.
Air bags, Jan 20, 2016
I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON AIRBAG ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS TIMES GOES ON DEAF EARS. I WILL BE SPEAKING TO SEN BILL NELSON ON HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUES ESPECIALLY ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUES PILING UP.
Air bags, Jan 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Air bags, Sep 7, 2015
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT REMAINS LIT WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FROM THE TIME WE PURCHASED THE CAR TO THE PRESENT. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT, SO THERE IS NO TRUST THAT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS PROTECTED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON, WHICH WE DID. DEALER QUESTIONED THE WEIGHT OF PASSENGER (NOT THE ISSUE), THEN REPLACED THE BLADDER IN THE SEAT AND SUGGESTED TO FRONT SEAT PASSENGER TO "SIT SQUARELY & PROPERLY" IN THE SEAT. THEN TOLD US WHEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, TO EXECUTE THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE: STOP & TURN OFF CAR, UNDO SEAT BELT, GET OUT, GET BACK IN, CLOSE DOOR, BUCKLE UP AND RESTART CAR, "AND SEE IF THE LIGHT STAYS OFF". TOTALLY UNREALISTIC ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES WE HAVE DONE THE RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE 4-5 TIMES BEFORE THE LIGHT STAYS OFF. INDICATOR MAY START OFF DARK AND THEN LIGHT UP AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, A HALF HOUR OR SEVERAL HOURS OF CONTINUOUS DRIVING. WE HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG BUT NOTHING FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE INTERNET HAS PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. KIA TURNS A DEAF EAR OR THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS. 8 YEARS OF THE SAME PROBLEM IS TOO LONG AND THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD A NEW CAR. SOMEBODY PLEASE PUSH THEM TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND FIND A SOLUTION BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.
Air bags, Jun 20, 2015
I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO NOTIFIED NHTSA A WHILE BACK AND NO FOLLOW UP NOR ANY RECALLS. AFFECTED AREA IS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WHICH AFFECTED AND SHOWS AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN SOME IS SITTING ON THE SEAT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL.
Air bags, May 19, 2015, crash
WHILE DRIVING ON HYWY 80 WEST, HIT BLACK ICE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SPUN AND THEN FLIPPED END OVER END CAUSING EXTENSIVE IMPACT TO FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 6 AIR BAGS. NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED!!!! BY THE GRACE OF GOD NO ONE WAS KILLED. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND HAD TO HAVE MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Air bags, Apr 9, 2015
I JUST HAD THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL FIXED, AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE OCS SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WILL COST ME $1600. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN THE SAME YEAR RANGES ON THE RIO. I WOULD BET THEY USED THE SAME BRAND AND SENSOR IN PROBABLY ALL THE CARS IN THESE YEARS, SO WHY ONLY RECALL ONE MODEL ? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS DUE TO THEM HAVING ONE RECALL OUT ALREADY. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED WHEN RIO OWNERS DON'T FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THIS SENSOR TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE WHILE DRIVING. THEY DESIGNED THIS FAULTY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND DON'T HAVE AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO FIX IT. OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE MY CAR IN GREAT SHAPE. HOPING YOU WILL ADVOCATE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU *TR