The Lemon IndexAll cars · Kia Optima · 2004
2004 Kia Optima. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 | Regular | $2,700 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Auto 4-spd | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 | Regular | $2,850 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | Auto 4-spd | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 | Regular | $2,950 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 | Regular | $2,950 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 57,000 and 105,000 miles. Median 82,500, from 187 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doors, locks & latches | 92,000 | 70,000–120,000 | 75 |
| Electrical | 85,000 | 50,000–120,000 | 35 |
| Body structure | 103,900 | 63,600–121,800 | 34 |
| Airbags | 57,500 | 26,000–96,200 | 22 |
| Suspension | 69,000 | 57,000–86,500 | 15 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical | 24% |
| Engine | 21% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 17% |
| Brakes | 10% |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 10% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 1
09V183000 May 2009 Suspension / Front
Defect. 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 AR
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.
Manufacturer communications 15
Kia filed 15 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- 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…
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| No | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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