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Vehicle safety record

2006 Kia Optima Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 155 complaints about the 2006 Kia Optima with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (46) and the body, doors & structure (34). Those complaints describe 3 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in January 2012 for the frontal. For comparison, the 2005 has 144 and the 2007 has 167.

NHTSA data checked

BFewer problems than a typical Optima year, for its age

#87 most complained-about 2006 vehicle

Complaints
155
Recalls
2
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths
0

Most common 2006 Kia Optima problems

Share of all 155 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2006 Kia Optima recalls 2

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags: frontal

12V014000145,755 vehicles affected

The problem
Kia motors america, inc. (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 kia optima vehicles manufactured from september 29, 2005, through january 29, 2008, and model year 2007 and 2008 kia rondo vehicles manufactured from september 13, 2006, through march 21, 2008. The clock spring contact assembly for the driver's side air bag supplemental restraint system (srs) may become damaged through usage over time. If the clock spring contact assembly becomes damaged, the driver's air bag electrical circuit will experience a high resistance condition potentially causing the driver's air bag to not deploy.
The risk
If the clock spring develops high resistance, in the event of a crash, the drivers air bag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
The fix
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vehicle's air bag clock spring contact assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on july 11, 2012. Owners may contact kia customer assistance center at 1-800-333-4542.

Power train: column shift

11V15300070,115 vehicles affected

The problem
Kia is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 optima vehicles manufactured from september 29, 2005, through june 13, 2007. There is a possibility that the shift cable may have been installed incorrectly, causing tension in the cable. If present, this condition could cause the cable to detach from the shifter assembly's dowel pin preventing the transmission from being shifted. The shift lever can then be moved into the park (p) position while the vehicle's transmission is still in the last used gear before detachment.
The risk
If the driver leaves the vehicle without engaging the parking brake, there is a possibility that the vehicle can roll injure a person in its path or cause a crash.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the shift cable and reinstall if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on march 23, 2011. Owner may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.

What owners say

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155 complaints about the 2006 Kia Optima

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 7.

Other & unknown

The front subframe is dangerously rusted. The same way the other optima were recalled for.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11538403
Lights

I have a 2006.5 Kia optima. I am experiencing the same problem with the brake light switch sticking as other kias currently under recall. My brake lights are always on. Am I out of luck on this one?

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11374127
Body, doors & structure

Hood released while in motion, folded back over windshield and roof top totally blinding driver while in motion. Vehicle was in motion, traveling south on nc hwy 16 at a rate of 50 mph, two lane road. Hood released and flew up, no known cause or effect. Hood release and/or safety latch obviously released without cause or warning.

Filed Incident Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 11257837
Electrical system

Car will not always start. Sometimes I have to wait 24 hours and pick up the car wherever I had to leave it cause it wouldn't start. When trying to start there's a clicking sound and all panel light start to flash. Replaced alternator and battery, still not fixed. Seen a lot of reviews complaining about the exact some problem.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11254209
Transmission & drivetrain

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 kia optima. While reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle failed to reverse and the instrument panel indicated that the shifter was in park. The contact stated that the gear shifter would shift out of park into reverse. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called kia of lynchburg (3400 old forest rd, lynchburg, va 24501, (434) 847-3292) and was informed that the transmission could be the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 171,000.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11235041
SuspensionWheels & tires

Oh rear lower swing arm supporting the spring broke letting the spring come out of position and letting the wheel tilt as if flat. The lower arm had rusted in two allowing this to happen.

Filed Incident Suspension · WheelsNHTSA 11206558
Electrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

I have an 06 optima (06.5/ Ms) 2.4 Engine but the problem im having juging from kia internet forums is spread acros meney years and models it is an intermitant engine stall it can happen at any time ive had it happen at 65mph on interstate this is followed by a series of start stall then it will run fine for a while ive had a complete wire harness check reaced several sensors and other parts nothing has cured the problem it should be recalled and repaired by kia before some one gets hurt not after.This is a totally random happening

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11139710
Other & unknown

Instrument panel is not working no speed no temp no rpm no fuel. Checked all fuses.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11097561
Body, doors & structure

Front passenger side door will mot open from the inside or outside causing you to be locked in the vehicle. Also when you try to open the door from inside the vehicle automatically locks the car. This is a safety hazard that needs to be address.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11091106
Body, doors & structure

Driver's side door will not open from either the inside or the outside. This is the second time that this has occurred but I was able to finally get the door open before and disengaged the actuator. As long as no one locked the door, it worked fine, however; mother recently had work done on her car and when they returned it, they locked the door. I've spent numerous hours trying to get the door open so that I can replace the mechanism and actuator but have been unsuccessful. After looking online, this seem to be an...

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ongoing issue with kia, this is a dangerous condition and needs to be looked into. Not sure how little elderly people are expected to safely get out of their vehicles in case of an emergency. (This happened while stationary on a flat, paved road).

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 11088437
AirbagsSeats & seat belts

Air bag lights won't turn off constantly on all the time

Filed Incident Air bags · Seat beltsNHTSA 11076797
Other & unknownCrash

I purchased my car brand new from the kia dealership and it has need the same repair on the same part 3 times (the clutch). The transmission in the 2006 kia optima is a vehicle defect.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11073629
Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

2006 Kia optima. Consumer writes in regards to clutch and engine light turn on and off. *Ld *js

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11056508
Other & unknown

Auto lock issue. At 118,000 miles my auto locks started to automatically lock when I tried to unlocked them, essentially trapping me in the vehicle. As soon as I click unlock they immediately relook. If this isn't a safety issue in need of a recall I don't know what is. I've looked into the problem on other forums and it seems quite common. Yikes! Please get this recall done!

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11054469
Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

"First" time problem happened was july 3, 2016 with my 2006 kia optima. I was sb on hwy i25 in cs, co. Speedometer read 25mph as I was coming off the on-ramp. I accelerated to 40mph into flow of traffic. I felt a lurch & the vehicle automatically accelerated. Speed went from 40mph to about 60 mph without depressing accelerator. Breaking did not slow it down. I felt car was going out of control. My passenger reached over & turned ignition switch off & on quickly, to decelerate & accelerate. This helped car slow...

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down when key was turned off to the first click & helped maintain an adjusted speed as traffic was in-front & in-back. We kept doing this until car slowed down enough to pull over to right shoulder. Key was completely turned off & car was at a complete stop. Car was towed to mechanics. Diagnostic was performed using engine analyzer. It was road tested multiple times & didn't it duplicate my experience. This happened again sept.10, 2016 As i, again, entered hwy i25 so.I was driving alone. My speedometer was 40 mph, in heavy hwy traffic. I once again "felt" lurch of car. This time it "stuck" at 40 mph. It didn't slow down when I braked, it continued at 40 mph. I continued to brake & speed did slow a bit. My foot was totally down on break when it was still auto accelerating at the hwy exit ramp; now slowed to 26 mph as I continued holding brake down. Finally speed was down to 23mph as I drove into a parking lot (no cars were moving in & out at the time). I turned the key off completely; my foot was still on the brake & the car came to a lurching haul at that time in the middle of the parking lot. I waited about a minute & then started the engine again with my foot on the brake. I was able to pull into a parking slot. I started it & very slowly drove home, but not on the hwy. I maintained speed of 25-30mph. It was only about 1k between the 2 incidents.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 10905623
Airbags

I also have the driver's side airbag warning light came on and stays on. I checked and found out there is a recall for driver side airbag on 2006 kia optima, but the dealership said my car is not covered under this recall. This recall need to cover all 2006 kia optimas since so many have the same problem.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10885436
Airbags

The driver's side airbag warning light came on and stays on. I checked and found out there is a recall for driver side airbag on 2006 kia optima, but the dealership said my car is not covered under this recall. This recall need to cover all 2006 kia optimas since so many have the same problem.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10876967
Acceleration & cruise controlCrash

Pulling out of my garage my car accelerated out of control at high speed backwards across the street into the side of my neighbor's house taking her electrical box, sprinkler motor and a/c unit down. The wire's were hot and I was advised to stay in the car until the firefighters arrived and the power shut down by the power company - scared to death of a fire or electrocution.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10875403
Airbags

My airbag light came on a few months ago when I was driving to work the light came on and have not gone off yet. I took it to get a diagnose and was told it was a sensor in the seat and I should have it replaced. Well I had someone put in a different seat and the airbag light did not go off. Now it's time for my inspections and I can't even get it done because the airbag light is still on.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10871474
Transmission & drivetrain

Sc088:11v-153,i can't put my car in part nor can I go in reverse. My key is stuck in the ignition. I see it was a recall on this matter for the kia optima. Took my car to the kia dealership,the told me my vin# wasn't on the list. It's a 2006 kia optima. Am trying to get this realize.Are there certain vin#under the recall for this if not where I need to take my car to have it fix. I was stationary when the problem occurred I couldn't back up nor put it in part again it want allow me too do so.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10846045
AirbagsFuel system

I had a recall on airbags took it twice to dealer and the light is still on will not go off. Also when I stop and get gas and after I finish pump on the inside it smell so loud just like I waste it on me I have took it to let them check it out cannot find out where it come from

Filed Incident Air bags · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10820578
Airbags

On 1/11/16, I took my optima to the kia dealership (lokey in clearwater florida) because the air bag light suddenly came on and I wanted an update on all applicable optima models and years. I paid $135.29 For them to just look at the problem. They informed me that my optima has no recalls and that my driver`s side seat back needed to be replaced in order to repair the airbag problem. Parts for this alone were quoted to me to be over $1248.71 Their repair order (#26083616/1) noted that the airbag problem was "a loose connection."

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10819931
Other & unknown

"Takata recall" on or about october 16, 2015 I could not get out of my drivers side door...I was locked in. I am unable to unlock the door from the inside, or from the outside with my key. The door will not open and I have to climb across to the passenger side to get in and out. I don't know if it happened while I was driving down the road, or when I stopped.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 10816767
Electrical systemAirbags

Airbag- we started the car up and the airbag light came on and has not went off (other than when the car is shut down). After research discovered that an airbag failure was part of a recall for this model, but only for optima's manufactured from sept 2005 forward. This one was manufactured a few weeks prior, yet has the same problem. After a google search, the issue can be found on optima's with a manufacture date as far back as april of 2005. The recall needs to be expanded to all 2006 models. Driver door...

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locks- when the door is locked, it will not unlock without a lot of playing with the fob or using key and 'getting lucky' to grab the handle at the correct time while doing so, otherwise it locks back immediately upon pulling the handle. This is a safety issue on 2 levels. 1-If for whatever reason your travels take you through rough neighborhoods, the ability to lock the doors could save your life if you come across the wrong people. However, you can not lock them because if you have an accident and the car catches on fire or you need to escape the vehicle quickly, the door will not unlock so you can open it leaving you trapped in the vehicle. After performing a search on google, this issue seems to be with the lock actuator and is effecting optima's dating back to the 2002-2003 models. Both of these issues seriously need to be dealt with by kia. Either issue is setting up a scenario that will result in the death of the driver, if a severe accident occurs. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10789786
Suspension

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and discovered that the rear passenger side of the vehicle was dragging on the ground. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger side control arm had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,000.

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 10758898

Kia Optima: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
201075172Transmission & drivetrainA
2009116154Transmission & drivetrainB
20081443204AirbagsC
20071672115AirbagsB
2006155231AirbagsB
2005144071Body, doors & structureB
2004225183Body, doors & structureC
2003144282Body, doors & structureB
20021103165Body, doors & structureB
All Optima years

2006 Kia Optima vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2006 Kia Optima

Does the 2006 Kia Optima have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2006 Kia Optima: frontal (January 2012); column shift (March 2011). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Kia Optima?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (46), body, doors & structure (34), electrical system (23).

How many complaints has the 2006 Kia Optima had?

155 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 6, 2006 and the latest on August 14, 2023. Of these, 3 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2006 Kia Optima a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 68 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Kia Optima year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Kia Optima years have the most complaints?

2013 (1,388), 2015 (1,011), 2012 (923). See every Kia Optima year compared.

What should I do if my 2006 Kia Optima has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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