2006 Kia Optima recalls & problems

Recent owner complaints

• Aug 11, 2023Unknown or other
  The front subframe is dangerously rusted. The same way the other optima were recalled for.
• Oct 1, 2020 · 105,000 milesExterior lighting
  I HAVE A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA. I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH STICKING AS OTHER KIAS CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON. AM I OUT OF LUCK ON THIS ONE?
• Sep 23, 2019 · 130,000 milesLatches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
  HOOD RELEASED WHILE IN MOTION, FOLDED BACK OVER WINDSHIELD AND ROOF TOP TOTALLY BLINDING DRIVER WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, TRAVELING SOUTH ON NC HWY 16 AT A RATE OF 50 MPH, TWO LANE ROAD. HOOD RELEASED AND FLEW UP, NO KNOWN CAUSE OR EFFECT. HOOD RELEASE AND/OR SAFETY LATCH OBVIOUSLY RELEASED WITHOUT CAUSE OR WARNING.
• Aug 7, 2019 · 153,000 milesElectrical system
  CAR WILL NOT ALWAYS START. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT 24 HOURS AND PICK UP THE CAR WHEREVER I HAD TO LEAVE IT CAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. WHEN TRYING TO START THERE'S A CLICKING SOUND AND ALL PANEL LIGHT START TO FLASH. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, STILL NOT FIXED. SEEN A LOT OF REVIEWS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXACT SOME PROBLEM.
• Jul 25, 2019 · 171,000 milesPower train
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE SHIFTER WAS IN PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA OF LYNCHBURG (3400 OLD FOREST RD, LYNCHBURG, VA 24501, (434) 847-3292) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
• Jan 3, 2019 · 130,000 milesSuspension
  OH REAR LOWER SWING ARM SUPPORTING THE SPRING BROKE LETTING THE SPRING COME OUT OF POSITION AND LETTING THE WHEEL TILT AS IF FLAT. THE LOWER ARM HAD RUSTED IN TWO ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN.
• Oct 10, 2018 · 240,000 milesElectrical system
  I HAVE AN 06 OPTIMA (06.5/ MS) 2.4 ENGINE BUT THE PROBLEM IM HAVING JUGING FROM KIA INTERNET FORUMS IS SPREAD ACROS MENEY YEARS AND MODELS IT IS AN INTERMITANT ENGINE STALL IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME IVE HAD IT HAPPEN AT 65MPH ON INTERSTATE THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF START STALL THEN IT WILL RUN FINE FOR A WHILE IVE HAD A COMPLETE WIRE HARNESS CHECK REACED SEVERAL SENSORS AND OTHER PARTS NOTHING HAS CURED THE PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY KIA BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT NOT AFTER.THIS IS A TOTALLY RANDOM HAPPENING
• May 23, 2018 · 63,734 milesUnknown or other
  INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING NO SPEED NO TEMP NO RPM NO FUEL. CHECKED ALL FUSES.

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• DP22003 · opened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023Loss of Motive Power
  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003)…
• DP21003 · opened Nov 12, 2021 · closed Jun 20, 2023Throttle control system vulnerabilities
  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52…
• PE10046 · opened Nov 22, 2010 · closed Apr 5, 2011 · led to recall 11V153000Transmission Shift Cable Detachment
  During manufacture the automatic transmission shift cables in certain subject vehicles were installed incorrectly causing extra tension on the cable.This condition can cause the shift cable to detach from the gear shifter assembly's dowel pin preventing the transmission from being shifted.The shift lever can be moved into the Park (P) position while the vehicle transmission is still in the last used gear before detachment.If this were to occur, and if the driver leaves the vehicle without engaging the parking brake, the vehicle may inadvertently roll away thus creating the risk of a crash.Kia is conducting a safety recall (11V-153) to correct the subject problem in approximately 70,115 model year (MY) 2006 through 2008 Kia Optima vehicles produced from 9/29/2005 to 6/13/2007.Kia has stated that the early MY 2006 Optima vehicles built before 9/29/2005 had different automatic transmission…