The Lemon IndexAll cars · Kia Optima · 2005
2005 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 / 28 / 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 59,000 and 99,800 miles. Median 76,000, from 112 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doors, locks & latches | 74,000 | 65,000–98,500 | 50 |
| Electrical | 99,000 | 80,000–138,100 | 25 |
| Airbags | 55,000 | 28,400–94,100 | 14 |
| Body structure | 80,000 | 71,800–112,300 | 14 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 70,200 | 56,000–80,300 | 9 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Airbags | 40% |
| Engine | 20% |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 20% |
| Lights | 10% |
| Steering | 5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Loss of motive power | 2022 | 2023 |
| Closed | Throttle control system vulnerabilities | 2021 | 2023 |
Manufacturer communications 22
Kia filed 22 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
- Improved timing belts for the kia rio and optima
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
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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