Had some noise coming from the front of the car, had my mechanic look at it, he said we needed a control arm. When he took off the cover to replace the control arm, he found the sub frame had rotten and was cracking. As I looked online, I saw that KIA had a recall for this issue. When I contacted KIA, their response was "as my car is not under warranty, they are not required to repair the car" The car in question has 70, 558 miles on it. We are the 2nd owner.
The worst 2004 Kia Optima problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Locks81
- Electrical45
- Body42
- Airbags26
- Suspension19
- Engine14
- Fuel system10
- Transmission8
- Brakes7
- Steering7
- Seat belts6
- Acceleration5
- Lights5
- Wheels4
- Driver assistance3
- Tires2
- Seats1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Kia Optima
Door locks 83Airbag light 18Check engine light 8Grinding brakes 7Ball joint 6Fuel pump 6Headlights 6Stalling 6
Trouble codes owners of the 2004 Kia Optima mention
B1378 2
Recalls 1
Suspension: front
- What is wrong
- Kia motors corporation (kmc) is recalling 36,538 model year 2001-2004 optima vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Road salt applied in these states during the winter months may result in progressive, internal corrosion of the front subframe. Over time, such subframe corrosion near the connection to the lower control arm can lead to wheel misalignment and/or other noticeable stress in steering, or accelerated abnormal tire wear.
- Risk
- Corrosion of the front subframe could lead to separation, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Kmc will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on june 15, 2009. Owners may contact kia's consumer assistance center at 1‑800‑333‑4542.
Recall number 09V183000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Kia Optima 15
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Information for headlamp condensation and moisture
- Pitstop - engine component re-use guidelines
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- TSB - use of aftermarket USB charging cables in USB/12V ports
- Automatic transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin provides information relating to the...
- Kia: intermittent MIL on with no fault code stored; information about DTC P1330
- Kia: ECM upgrade with tp sensor replacement-mil on with DTC P2135/P0638. information related to ECM...
- Kia: during a service procedure that requires the subframe to be removed from a 2001-2005 optima (ms) (V-6...
- Kia: all models. article provides information relating to the improved durability of bulb life for rear...
2004 Kia Optima fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19-20 | 27 | 22-23 |
| 2.7L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 25-26 | 21 |
What 2004 Kia Optima owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Door lock/unlock mechanism has failed. Unable to unlock and open door from outside or inside. This defect causes the door to stay locked and unable to open. This can trap people inside of the car if they are unable to crawl out a window or exit from another door. There are many reports of this on Kia forums and general Google search. There was no warning that this part was wearing out until it became impossible to open the door.
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 04V180000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
I was repairing brakelines, while observing under carriage I noticed suspension rust, frame. Looked up recalls and this is one. I included screenshot of proog
While driving on a highway with cruise control active, I was unable to turn off the cruise control with the steering wheel control buttons. The cancel and set buttons had no effect when pressed. The car remained traveling at the set speed. Tapping on the brake pedal did cancel the cruise control.
While stationary - driver's side door will not open from inside or outside with key, manual lock or electronic lock controls (stuck closed). Unable to evacuate car from driver's side. Safety concern - lack of egress
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 kia optima. While driving 25 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle from the front. The passenger side air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained stomach and chest injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.
Unable to open passenger door due to door lock actuator stopped working. Unsafe to drive.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. When the vehicle was taken to bill doraty kia (2925 medina rd, medina, oh 44256, (330) 721-9500) for routine brake service, the technician found a crack in the front frame. The dealer stated that the vehicle was safe to drive at that time. The contact was informed that the frame would need to be replaced, but no repairs were made. Since winter was approaching, the contact was concerned that the frame would completely crack due to the weather and salted roadways in her state. The contact received a manufacturer recall and extended warranty notices in 2009. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no issues were found. The dealer sent pictures of the cracked frame to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified and issued case number: 2560103. The manufacturer stated that they would contact the local dealer. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer and dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Driver door does not open from inside nor from outside. When unlocking the doors, all doors will open except the driver's door. Center lock mechanism or manual use of keys does not help. This is without a doubt a safety problem where driver can be trapped in the car in case of emergency. This is very common in kia optima models.
Compare the 2004 Kia Optima
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2004 Kia Optima
Is the 2004 Kia Optima reliable?
Owners have filed 225 complaints about the 2004 Kia Optima, close to a typical Optima model year.
What is the 2004 Kia Optima year score?
The 2004 Kia Optima scores 73 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Kia Optima: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Kia Optima?
Doors, latches and locks, with 81 complaints, typically around 92,000 miles. Next is electrical (45).
How many recalls does the 2004 Kia Optima have?
1 recall, covering suspension.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Kia Optima get?
Official estimates for the 2004 Kia Optima range from 21 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 19-20 city and 27 highway.
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