2004 KIA Optima Latches/locks/linkages Problems
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2004 KIA Optima, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 92,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “side door” (56% of reports).
- 81latches/locks/linkages complaints
- 92,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $460typical repair cost reported by owners
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Side door: mentioned in 45 of 81 complaints (56%)
- Inside outside: mentioned in 16 of 81 complaints (20%)
- Failed unlock: mentioned in 9 of 81 complaints (11%)
- Through passenger: mentioned in 8 of 81 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical latches/locks/linkages repair on the 2004 KIA Optima at $460, and half of them between $310 and $470.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems happen?
Based on 75 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 81 complaints, 1 an injury.
KIA Optima latches/locks/linkages complaints by model year
| Model year | Latches/locks/linkages complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Optima | 2 | 1% | 70,000 |
| 2018 Optima | 1 | 0% | 121,000 |
| 2017 Optima | 1 | 0% | 126,000 |
| 2016 Optima | 3 | 0% | 72,500 |
| 2013 Optima | 2 | 0% | 88,282 |
| 2012 Optima | 2 | 0% | 56,144 |
| 2010 Optima | 3 | 4% | 65,000 |
| 2008 Optima | 1 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2007 Optima | 2 | 1% | 57,000 |
| 2006 Optima | 27 | 17% | 74,000 |
| 2005 Optima | 66 | 46% | 74,000 |
| 2004 Optima | 81 | 36% | 92,000 |
| 2003 Optima | 53 | 38% | 90,000 |
| 2002 Optima | 12 | 11% | 80,048 |
| 2001 Optima | 15 | 10% | 18,481 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists latches/locks/linkages for the 2004 KIA Optima. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to unlock. The contact was able to gain access after several attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the door lock failed. In addition, the doors would automatically lock once opened with the key fob. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver side door failed to open and close. As the failure progressed, the contact was unable to enter and exit the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 KIA Optimas have latches/locks/linkages problems?
No. NHTSA has 81 owner complaints about latches/locks/linkages for the 2004 KIA Optima (36% of the 225 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 KIA Optima latches/locks/linkages?
No recall currently lists latches/locks/linkages for this vehicle.
At what mileage do latches/locks/linkages problems start?
The median reported mileage is 92,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2004 KIA Optima?
Owners report a typical cost of $460 (half paid between $310 and $470), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about latches/locks/linkages problems on the 2004 KIA Optima?
The most frequent phrase is “side door”, in 45 of 81 complaints, followed by “inside outside” (16).
See all 2004 KIA Optima problems or latches/locks/linkages problems across all Optima years.