2006 Kia Optima electrical problems

Filed Sep 9, 2019 · Electrical · 153,000 miles · AR

Car will not always start. Sometimes I have to wait 24 hours and pick up the car wherever I had to leave it cause it wouldn't start. When trying to start there's a clicking sound and all panel light start to flash. Replaced alternator and battery, still not fixed. Seen a lot of reviews complaining about the exact some problem.

Filed Oct 11, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 240,000 miles · KY

I have an 06 optima (06.5/ ms) 2.4 engine but the problem im having juging from kia internet forums is spread acros meney years and models it is an intermitant engine stall it can happen at any time ive had it happen at 65mph on interstate this is followed by a series of start stall then it will run fine for a while ive had a complete wire harness check reaced several sensors and other parts nothing has cured the problem it should be recalled and repaired by kia before some one gets hurt not after.this is a totally random happening

Filed Nov 11, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 152,000 miles · SC

Airbag- we started the car up and the airbag light came on and has not went off (other than when the car is shut down). After research discovered that an airbag failure was part of a recall for this model, but only for optima's manufactured from sept 2005 forward. This one was manufactured a few weeks prior, yet has the same problem. After a google search, the issue can be found on optima's with a manufacture date as far back as april of 2005. The recall needs to be expanded to all 2006 models. Driver door locks- when the door is locked, it will not unlock without a lot of playing with the fob or using key and 'getting lucky' to grab the handle at the correct time while doing so, otherwise it locks back immediately upon pulling the handle. This is a safety issue on 2 levels. 1-if for whatever reason your travels take you through rough neighborhoods, the ability to lock the doors could save your life if you come across the wrong people. However, you can not lock them because if you have an accident and the car catches on fire or you need to escape the vehicle quickly, the door will not unlock so you can open it leaving you trapped in the vehicle. After performing a search on google, this issue seems to be with the lock actuator and is effecting optima's dating back to the 2002-2003 models. Both of these issues seriously need to be dealt with by kia. Either issue is setting up a scenario that will result in the death of the driver, if a severe accident occurs.

Filed May 15, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 500 miles · MO

We bought our kia with less then 10 miles on it, right off the show room floor, we have had to replace passenger side headlamps (total to date 5/15/2015) 15 times, both rear turn signals bulbs and rear brake lights. The air bag light would appear on the dashboard when ever the passenger seat would be moved and now the air bag light on the dashboard flickered driving home from work last night and remands on.

Filed Dec 16, 2013 · Airbags, Electrical · 80,000 miles · TX

Keyless entry on driverside only locked me in and out of the car. Lock will only open 1/2 of the way. Airbag light came on and will not go off. I can not get an inspection. They say the system is unstable. Transmission has slipped a couple of times.

Filed Sep 11, 2013 · Body, Electrical · 100,000 miles · UT

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.

Filed Apr 7, 2013 · Electrical, Locks · 118,000 miles · LA

Front drivers side door will not unlock from inside of vehicle. You must use key and toggle lock while holding door nob out in order to unlock door, it may take a while to unlock door while doing this. I have read many responses to others having the same problem with this vehicle. This may be a serious issue if an accident occurs and the door is locked, trapping the driver inside the vehicle.

Filed Apr 1, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 500 miles · WA

I brought two new 2006.5 kia optimas (a red one and a black one) from our local dealer. Since I have had the cars, both of the vehicles have had electrical problems which started within a few months of the purchase. The tail lamps only last about 2-3 months before I have to replace the bulbs. First one side or the other will blow out, and then within weeks, the other side will go too. This has been happening with both cars ever since we bought the cars. When I call the dealer and ask about the problem, they just tell me I've been buying cheap bulbs. I have had to replace the head lamps on both vehicles at the rate of about one every six-months on both vehicles. I have also had to replace what they called the electronic throttle control on both vehicles. Now there is a new problem with one of them. About 52,000 miles, I started having a problem with the parking lights. The parking lights would stay on when car was turned off and no matter what I do, the parking lights will not go off. The only way to keep the battery from going dead was to disconnect the negative battery terminal. About a month ago, we took the cars to our local kia dealer for an oil change. When we dropped them off for the service, I asked the representative ([xxx]), to also look into the parking light issue and explained the problem I had been having. To make a long story short, [xxx] said they forgot to look at the parking light issue, adding she would contact kia directly to investigate the problem and would call me when she has an answer, it has been a month . Today she told me it will cost $400 to fix the lights problem. I find it hard to believe it is not a manufacture defect. This is not fair to the consumers who invest money into purchasing a new car. Please look into this matter as a matter of consumer rights and protection against manufactures known defects. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 11, 2013 · Electrical, Locks · 100,000 miles · PA

The drivers side door lock will not unlock with the electrical button or manually. Manually opened, 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.

Filed Feb 9, 2013 · Body, Electrical · 61,300 miles · FL

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.