2006 Kia Optima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 214 complaints
214
Total Complaints
64,200mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
3
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

12,627 25th Percentile
64,200 Median Mileage
99,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
32
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
20
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
10
POWER TRAIN
10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
10
VISIBILITY
9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
ENGINE
7

Severity Assessment

3
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON PAVED ROADS, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD A SEVERE VIBRATION AND MADE A ROARING NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN AND THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRES W..."
"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED TOO LOW TO SEE BEYOND 30 FEET AHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY. UPDATED 11/14/2006 - THERE IS A DARK CURTAIN THAT BLOCKS HAL..."
"DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED TOO LOW TO SEE BEYOND 30 FEET AHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY. UPDATED 11/14/2006 - THERE IS A DARK CURTAIN THAT BLOCKS HAL..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28