NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Kia Optima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED DURING THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT OF MY KIA OPTIMA 2006 HAS STUCK IN A VERY AWKWARD POSITION AND I HAVE BEEN USING A COUPLE OF PILLOWS TO ADJUST MY DRIVING POSITION. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS IN MY LOCALITY BUT THE PARTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE... GOOGLE, EBAY, PARTSPLUS... THERE WAS NO DEFINITIVE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE POWER SWITCH OF THE SEAT STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO KIA USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2006 KIA OPTIMA IS NOW IN THE KIA DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE CLUTCH, BALL BEARING, SOME TYPE OF PLATE, AND THE FLY WHEEL. THE CAR IS JUST OVER 13 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 19,000 PLUS MILES. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS OVER $1,700.00 WHILE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER FULL FACTORY WARRANTY. I HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THIS TO MANY MECHANICS (BOTH CERITFIED AN NON CERTIFIED) AND NO ONE EVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON A CLUTCH FOR A NEW CAR AT 20,000 MILES. IS THIS A CONTINOUS PROBLEM - I AM A LOST AT WHAT TO DO. I HAVE CALLED A SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRING THE CAR AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE IS NODEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE CAR. IT WAS FIRST BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR ON FRIDAY MARCH 9, ON MARCH 12 I WAS TOLD FROM THAT THE CLUTCH IS TO BE REPLCED FOR 1000.00 AND WILL TAKE FEW DAYS. WHEN I CALLED AT 3:40PM OON THURSDAY MARCH 15 AND WAITED ON HOLD FOR OVER FIVE MINUTES AND HAD TO CALL BACK I WAS THEN TOLD THE FLY WHEEL FOR AN ADDITIONAL 700.00 NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I AM STUCK WITH NO 1 YEAR OLD CAR THAT TH 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY (AND A PURCHSED EXTENDED WARRANTY) DOES NOT COVER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS REMOTE WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE LATCH ON THE VEHICLE FAILED NOT THE KEYLESS REMOTE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS GIVEN HIM A NEW KEYLESS REMOTE THAT BEGAN WORKING NORMALLY AND THEN IT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE LATCH ON THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,537. UPDATED 3/10/10 *CN UPDATED 08/18/10
I HAVE A 2006 KIA OPTIMA WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 61,960 MILES ON IT. FOR THE PASS 12 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACE A FRONT HEADLIGHT A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. MY MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE BULBS FOR ME TWICE SO FAR FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO INFORM THEM OF THE ISSUE TO SEE IF MAYBE ITS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE CAR OR MAYBE A RECALL THAT I MAY HAVE MISSED. THEY WERE NOT AS HELPFUL OR NICE AS THEY WERE WHEN I SIGNED MY NAME ON HE DOTED LINE. THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME I NEEDED TO PAY THEM 59.99 BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR !! THE NERVE !! WITH ME HAVING 5 MORE PAYMENTS TO GO, I FEEL I AM GOING TO SEE BE INVESTING IN THIS CAR LONGER THEN NECESSARY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND EVALUATED AS A COURTESY CHECK UP FOR US KIA OPTIMA OWNERS. AGAIN I HAVE REPLACED 5 HEADLIGHT BULBS IN 12 MONTHS !! THIS IS NOT NORMAL, NOR SHOULD ANYONE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ON A CONSISTANT BASES. PLEASE HELP !! *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026