Most common 2005 Kia Optima problems
Share of the 144 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Optima complaints by model year
Best Optima years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016, 2011. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2005 Kia Optima:
Loss 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.
Throttle 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.
What 2005 Kia Optima owners say
Locks & latches all 66 →
The contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. The contact was unable to use the key to manually unlock the door to the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle failed to open consistently from inside the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. While attempting to exit the vehicle, the door's failed to unlock. The contact had to exit through the sun roof. The contact also stated that he was able to unlock the front passenger side door from outside of the vehicle; however, the front driver's door was inoperable. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Electrical system all 29 →
Tl contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. While driving 35 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the dashboard while the air conditioner was running. The smoke was so thick that he could not see through the smoke. The dealer was notified and stated that the cigarette lighter could be the possible cause of the failure. They stated that nothing could be done because the vehicle was out of warranty. Upon further investigation, the contact noticed a black box on the driver's side underneath the dashboard covered in electrical tape. It was discovered that the previous owner installed after market floor board lights in the vehicle that required a massive amount of power. The tail lights on the vehicle were inoperable. No repairs were made. The failure and current mileages were less than 77,000.
Closed driver's door and door would not reopen. I took car to auto shop and mechanic finally got door to open after about an hour and a half. He thought he had repaired the door and closed it, but when he tried to open the door for final inspection, again it would not open normally and upon further inspection he found the door lock mechanisms were not functioning correctly from the way they had been manufactured. And there was a recall on the Kia door lock mechanisms including my car's year, make and model. I am concerned this is a serious hazard, especially since I transport small children, some in car seats. My car is an older car and I would like all four locks replaced with 'up to standard' locks.
Air bags all 22 →
Dt: 2005 Kia Optima. The consumer's vehicle was rear ended and was pushed into the vehicle in front of hers. The vehicle that hit her was totaled. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy. The front and back of the vehicle was smashed. The hood, trunk and three of the four doors will not shut. The consumer stated lower back was straight where it should be curved. She was not sure the extent of her injuries. She was unable to get into the doctor's office. Her seven year old step daughter was also in the vehicle and she had a bruise and was sore on her ribs.
The light for my air bag has been staying on and my horn quit working for over a year now. I finally took it to the shop for them to look at it, they told me it was a clock switch (I believe I said that right) which is something in the steering connected to the airbag and horn. I am concerned that the airbag might activate while I am driving which would not be good. Maybe even not work if I get in a wreck.
2005 Kia Optima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Kia Optima a good car?
Based on 144 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Optima rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Optima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Kia Optima?
The locks & latches — 66 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year, most often about doors › latch. Next are the electrical system (29) and air bags (22).
How many recalls does the 2005 Kia Optima have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Kia Optima. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Optima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016 and 2011. See the full Kia Optima years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Kia Optima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 77,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.