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2005 Kia OptimaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 144 owner complaints about the 2005 Kia Optima, most often about the latches/locks/linkages. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

2005 Kia Optima
60
CarFlaw IndexSolid year34% below the Optima median · #16 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints14413 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage74kLatches/locks/linkages, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 22, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Sfoskett~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2005 Kia Optima has problems

144 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Latches/locks/linkages661
Electrical system292
Structure221
Air bags226
Fuel system, gasoline90
Engine and engine cooling60
Exterior lighting41
Power train30
Seat belts30
8 other systems101

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2005 Kia Optima recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Mileage at failure

When do latches/locks/linkages problems start?

74kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 50 latches/locks/linkages complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles38under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2005 vs. every other Optima year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Optima median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2005 Kia Optima safety ratings

2005 Kia Optima 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2005 Kia Optima side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2005 Kia Optima, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesDP21003 · closed Jun 20, 2023
    No recall
  2. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
In owners' words

What Optima owners report

Recent latches/locks/linkages complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. The contact was unable to use the key to manually unlock the door to the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle failed to open consistently from inside the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The…
Complaint 11470536 · Jun 22, 2022 · 82,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR'S FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR WAS…
Complaint 11058053 · Jan 2, 2018 · 140,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR FAILED TO WORK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A…
Complaint 10733620 · Jul 13, 2015

Own a 2005 Optima?

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