2005 KIA Optima problems
Owners have filed 180 complaints about the 2005 KIA Optima with NHTSA. Latches/locks/linkages account for 36.7% of them — the clear leader, ahead of electrical system at 16.1%.
Complaints180
Crashes7
Fires2
Injuries7
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Latches/locks/linkages 36.7% · 66
Electrical system 16.1% · 29
Structure 12.2% · 22
Air bags 12.2% · 22
Fuel system, gasoline 5.0% · 9
Engine and engine cooling 3.3% · 6
Unknown or other 3.3% · 6
Exterior lighting 2.2% · 4
Severity
Of those complaints, 7 describe a crash, 2 describe a fire and 7 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the KIA Optima in this data, 2005 draws comparatively few complaints; 2013 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 10 in the last three years against 34 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 80,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The driver side door will not unlock from the inside or outside. I can hear the assembly trying to work, the key will unlock the other doors. This is a huge safety issue in an emergency. I called the KIA dealership in newport richey fl and they told me this a common problem with this vehicle. How many people are going to possibly lose their life in an accident,because of this defect before there is a recall. Latches/locks/linkages · reported at 111,944 miles
Drivers side door would not open from inside or outside. Failed door latch/lock assembly. First happened in july 2007. Happening again in january 2014 on same car. Definite safety issue--only way out is crawling to passenger side door or back doors, or by crawling out of driver side door window. Has never happened on any other vehicles we have owned, including older cars. Lock should not fail that often. Latches/locks/linkages · reported at 60,000 miles
The contact owns 2005 KIA Optima. The contact stated that the front drivers side door would not unlock from the interior or exterior, with or without the key. The contact stated that the only way to enter the drivers seat was to enter the vehicle from the front passenger side. The vehicle was not yet taken to have the failure diagnosed. The failure and current mileages were 27,000. Updated 09/01/2011 Latches/locks/linkages · reported at 27,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…