The Lemon Index2004 Kia Optima.
The 2004 Kia Optima is better than average by owner complaints: 29 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 64, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 1 recall, and it gets 21 to 23 mpg combined. The best Kia Optima year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 225 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Kia Optima year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 57K to 105K miles on the car (187 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- doors, locks & latches complaints mostly came at 70K–120K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 50K–120K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 63K–121K miles
Recalls 1
- suspension 2009
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, MASSACHUS…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 15 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- This bulletin provides information relating to an engine hesitation or the illumination of the…
- Intermittent mil on with no fault code stored; information about dtc p1330
- TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★★
Fuel cost and engines
About $2800–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
While driving 35 mph vehicle suddenly decelerated and would not go over 20 mph. No impact reported. As a result, the check engine signal light stayed on.
2004 Kia Optima owner · NHTSA complaint 10081896
More owner reports
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and the dealership was not contacted. Updated 08/29/06.
NHTSA complaint 10165162
While driving, a fire started from the dashboard. The cause of fire was undetermined.
NHTSA complaint 10109795
Quick answers
Is the 2004 Kia Optima reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 64; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Optima year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2004 Kia Optima problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (24%), engine (21%) and transmission & drivetrain (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 Kia Optima have?
1 safety recall (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Kia Optima get?
21 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2004 Kia Optima problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 57,000 and 105,000 miles. The middle report was at 82,500 miles, from 187 complaints.
Does the 2004 Kia Optima have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 17% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2004 Kia Optima cost in fuel a year?
About $2800 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2004 Kia Optima have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
What Kia Optima year is better than the 2004?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works