2004 Kia Optima Electrical System Problems
NHTSA component category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How electrical system ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 225 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 Kia Optima overview page.
What owners report
“THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO CRAWL IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN WHEN I…”NHTSA complaint 10436692 — filed 11/21/2011
“MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA EX WILL NOT START IF IT SITS FOR A DAY OR SO SOMETHING IS KILLING OR DRAINING MY BATTERY I'VE REPLACED…”NHTSA complaint 10410127 — filed 06/30/2011
“I WAS COMMUTING. I GAVE MY CAR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS. THEN THE ENGINE COILS WENT OUT. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER…”NHTSA complaint 10370509 — filed 12/13/2010
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Electrical System complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2004 Kia Optima have electrical system problems?
Electrical System is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2004 Kia Optima: 41 of 225 complaints on file (18.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2004 Kia Optima have in total?
225 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 8 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 8 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's electrical system category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
