3.9

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,754 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Kia Optima:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Nov 032011

Optima 6-cyl

  • miles
I own a 2006 Kia Optima. When I use the remote key fob to unlock the doors they unlock. Then when I pull on the handle the driver side, it automatically locks. If I am inside the car and hit the unlock button it unlocks but when I pull the handle it locks again. I can get out the passenger side. My car was bought new in 2006 so it is out of warranty. The failure and current mileage is 4400.

- Candler, NC, USA

problem #2

Nov 252009

Optima

  • 77,000 miles
The driver side door will not open either by key or by the remote control. This began randomly a few weeks ago, and would open if we jiggled the key a certain way. We could not lock the car since we didn't know if we could get it open again. We both work full time and are an hour away from a Kia dealer. On thanksgiving day, it was accidentally locked and we haven't been able to get it open since. As a result, my husband, age 63 and I, age 62 have to crawl in through the passenger door, over the center console. The Kia dealer contacted will not replace this at no charge, it will cost $200 just to be able to get into our car! it is past the bumper to bumper warranty and the customer service 800 number said it would be up to the district manager to fix it at no cost. The service dept. Tells me that there have been other complaints and knows which part to order without even seeing the car. Will it take an accident and not being able to get out of this car before something is done like the manufacturer taking the responsibility of fixing this defective door part? this is not only an inconvenience but a major safety issue since we have no way out should the passenger side be rammed and we can't afford to just quit driving this car that's not paid for! this is not an accessory, it's a basic car part!

- Fort Scott, KS, USA

problem #1

Nov 052007

Optima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,263 miles
Beginning 9/9/2006 our 2006 Kia Optima LX has been in the dealership 5 times now for the same problem.....excessive noise at start up..9/9/06,2/22/07,3/8/07,4/10/07,11/5/07. 3 drive belts and 2 drive belt tensioners have been replaced. I was informed by the dealership that Kia was contacted and "should "be issuing a tsb. I was told by the dealership that Kia is aware of a problem. I was told to let the dealership know if the car began to make excessive noise at start up and to give it 3-4 months for a tsb to get issued, then bring the car in again. I can only assume what would happen if the drive belt or tensioner fail during operation of the car. The dealership has been very helpful in this matter. This is the second ODI complaint filed on this car. Please ref # 10170291 for the details of the first complaint.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA