2004 Kia Optima recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2004 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 1
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 225
Latest campaign: May 27, 2009

Recall summary by component1

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Suspension	1	May 27, 2009	09V183000

Safety recalls1

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

May 27, 2009Latest campaign


May 27, 200909V183000	Suspension: front CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 09V183000 What's wrong 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 ARM CAN LEAD TO WHEEL MISALIGNMENT AND/OR OTHER NOTICEABLE STRESS IN STEERING, OR ACCELERATED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. 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. Campaign NHTSA 09V183000 · May 27, 2009

May 27, 200909V183000

Suspension: front

CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DetailsHide details for campaign 09V183000

What's wrong: 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 ARM CAN LEAD TO WHEEL MISALIGNMENT AND/OR OTHER NOTICEABLE STRESS IN STEERING, OR ACCELERATED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR.
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.
Campaign: NHTSA 09V183000 · May 27, 2009

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2004 Kia Optima? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component225

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

225Complaints filed

8Involving a crash

3Involving a fire

8Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Latches/locks/linkages	81	36	0	0	1
Electrical system	45	20	2	3	0
Structure	42	19	1	0	0
Air bags	26	12	3	0	5
Suspension	19	8	1	0	2
Unknown or other	12	5	0	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	11	5	0	0	0
Fuel system	9	4	0	0	0
Gasoline	9	4	0	0	0
Power train	8	4	1	0	0
Steering	7	3	1	0	1
Service brakes	7	3	1	0	1
Seat belts	6	3	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	5	2	1	0	0
Exterior lighting	5	2	0	0	0

11 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Suspension
“Had some noise coming from the front of the car, had my mechanic look at it, he said we needed a control arm. When he took off the cover to replace the control arm, he found the sub frame had rotten and was cracking.”
Filed 02/11/2025 · ODI 11642022
Structure
“Door lock/unlock mechanism has failed. Unable to unlock and open door from outside or inside. This defect causes the door to stay locked and unable to open.”
Filed 08/23/2022 · ODI 11480899
Fuel system
“The contact owns a 2004 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer.”
Filed 02/16/2022 · ODI 11452262

Other Kia Optima model years

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2004 Kia Optima recall questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Kia Optima have?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaign for the 2004 Kia Optima. The most recent, 09V183000 (reported May 27, 2009), concerns suspension. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Kia Optima?

Latches/locks/linkages is the most-reported component, named in 81 complaints out of 225 filed with NHTSA (36%). Across all complaints, owners reported 8 crashs and 3 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2004 Kia Optima?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Kia dealer.

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