- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2007 Kia Optima Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 167 complaints about the 2007 Kia Optima with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (65) and the visibility & wipers (33). Those complaints describe 11 crashes, 5 fires and 6 injuries. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in January 2012 for the frontal. For comparison, the 2006 has 155 and the 2008 has 144.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical Optima year, for its age
#88 most complained-about 2007 vehicle
- Complaints
- 167
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 11
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 6
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2007 Kia Optima problems
Share of all 167 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2007 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
- 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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167 complaints about the 2007 Kia Optima
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 7.
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving, the airbag warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V014000 (Air Bags); however, the contact stated that the vehicle experienced failure described in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 82,000.
After adding oil..Car stopped while driving...Smoke and Fire occurred.. Now engine will not start.. 2 Mechanics Stated "Engine needs to Be Replaced"... A/C Front Blower Doesn't Work Console Has a Short and Doesn't Work
My headlights are preventing me from passing motor vehicle inspection low beam are on doesn't look like their on so I have to drive with high beams and with that no one flashes me. Because all four are on but u can't tell if the low ones on it looks like I just have my parking lights on.
My vehicle speed up and slow down all that itself. It will not maintain speed even with my foot steady on the gas. It will not accelerate, but the major problem is my seatbelt gets stuck all the time I'm afraid to get buckled. I am unable to remove my seatbelt multiple times so now I have buckled my seatbelt behind me so I can start getting tickets. I've gotten like four tickets because I'm scared to be buckled that it's not gonna come on down when I need it to be I've got 40 bought tickets. I was going about 20 mph when I went to the brakes for my vehicle accelerated by itself crashing into a pillar at the mall. I did call the police.
headlights very dim . replaced bulbs . replaced wiring harness. replaced alternater . still dim . cannot see more than a few feet at night. have heard this is a common problem . would like any info to correct problem .no longer safe to drive vehicle at night. please reply asap.
2007 Kia optima. Consumer stated that the airbag did not deploy during collision. The consumer stated the vehicle was totaled and taken to the junkyard due to the programming defect.
The contact owned a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 5-10 MPH, the vehicle before her vehicle slowed down suddenly. The contact slammed the brakes and the air bags deployed and deflated. However, the brake pedal hesitated to respond and became soft, causing the contact to crash into the vehicle in front of her. The contact was unsure whether there were warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that it appeared that the air bag deployment overrode the brake system and caused the stopping...
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distance delay. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact stated that what appeared to be a deflated airbag blocked her view of the road in the same moment that she slammed on the brakes. There was a delay in the brakes actually stopping the vehicle so as a result, her vehicle hit the vehicle in front of it. The vehicle is now a total loss. The contact was not aware that the dealer and manufacturer were supposed to be notified of this incident.
I've seen in other forums about engine recalls. I was never notified and the engine in my car disintegrated. It was replaced with an engine from a wrecking yard. This should be covered by manufacturer. I had issues with the brake lines rusting out. This should not have happened either. Not being able to service the transmission and arguing with the dealership about this should be replaced by manufacturer!
My low beam lights have no visibility and I have been researching online used headlight assembly because it costs $400 for both sides that I dont have I replaced my low and high beam bulbs the high beams work just fine but as I was doing research a high percentage of this make and model have the same reoccurring problem I seen where they have recalled 2011 and up for this problem but I guess decided to not worry about the older models I can understand that but that is my only means of transportation for work and my daughters now it is getting darker earlier and I can't afford to drive around with my bright lights on and the air bag light will not go off
After fueling vehicle will not run. Keeps dying for up to two days. Drives for a few second then dies while driving
Vehicle burns out blinker bulbs and headlights at an extremely accelerated rate: one a month. Additionally, the wiring harness is heated to the point of being melted. This is a fire hazard. I believe this may be a voltage regulation or ground issue.
The air bag just came on a couple days ago . It hasn't been in an accident or anything. The suspension is rough when driving over the smallest thing in the road. Sometimes it just makes a little jump when it tasked gas.
Headlights very dim no matter what bulb you put it. Cannot see more than 3ft in front of you when driving at night. Visited do not stay up fall down blocking view
On saturday 9/14/19 my daughter was driving on the highway when she heard a noise and the check engine/oil light came on and then a driver pulled up next to her and told her that the car was on fire. The engine ended up in full flames.
HEAD LIGHT ARE DIM AND HAVE NO VISABILTY
The air bag light stays on all the time 1 the passenger airbag light will say on with an adult sitting in the seat!!1 Visors do not stay up! Headlights are very dim . I've changed them out to a few different types still dim cannot see at night
My check engine light keeps coming on. At first it would go off and on with no code. Now it stays on with the code p0420 for the catalytic converter. Also I heard about an air bag recall
The cadillac converter is gathering soot build up according to the garage. Needs to be replaced. Is causing the engine light to stay on.
My kia optima began consuming large amounts of oil but it wasn't leaking out or burning off anywhere. I began to watch the oil levels closely and was down 2 qts every week. At some point the oil pressure got too low and we think sucked air into the engine. The check engine light came on and then off again as it has been for the ppast yr but for an evap problem - a very small leak kept getting detected. I spent $1800 at firestone the previous ur the colder kept coming back on and off. But this didn't explain the...
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sidden massive oil consumption. Suddenly on oct. 21 My car suddenly idled very high without moving and the the check light came on again and stayed on. The engine began to knock loudly especially when accellerating or climbing hills. My mechanic friend told me one of the engine rods was damaged and the computer code check verified that the crankshaft timing oil control valve was not working properly. This would explain the low oil pressure and damage to the engine. I was able to find the problem on kia's website with many complaints regarding the same issue. Kia had a recall regarding this problem for many of their cars but of course not mine. I was very upset over it. I had gotten the car only 3 years prior and it only had 150k miles on it. I took really good care of it. Kia said they could do nothing. My only option was to junk the car and have to buy a new when I wasn't in a position to do so. Kia has disappointed me greatly. Because of this problem I may never but another kia. I was so excited about getting my kia as it had all the features I wanted in a car and at a very good price but it iis only good if it runs. This problem should have been included in thw recall for my car as it is a huge problem as I read complaint after complaint online from other kia optima owners. The engine computer code that came up was po600011
Low beam headlights are too dim. Tried replacing the bulbs, but no change. Cleaned the outer lens to improve clarity and get rid of yellowing. But did not help. The outer lens looks just fine. When I removed the assembly to check if there's anything wrong inside, I was shocked. The projector bowl had caught rust on both sides, thus causing poor reflectivity and low light on the road. Turns out every 2006/2007 optima owner has had the same issue. I found this out when I looked online to purchase a new assembly.
I was at the gas station and my son noticed that my brake lights were still on, the car was completely cut off. They would not go off. I had to take out the fuse to cut them off when I got home later that night. I noticed there was a recall for the brake switch, but, the recall started for 08. I have an 07. Why wasn't the 07 included in the recall?
Air bag light comes on and won't turn off ... Other problem is both visors won't spring up flopped down ... The internet is buzzing about kia's lack of concern!!
Engine taps even after an oil change. Had a mechanic look at it said it was my engine the back end. Said that their was a recall on my engine because he has had to replace several of them already. Looked it up and there is no recall. This happens while vehicle is in motion, stationary.
Takata recall. My air bag light came on in the summer of 2017 and hasn't gone out since. I have never hit anything to make the air bag light come on. I have had several places hook my car to their testing machines and nothing comes up on their machine.
Ever since we got this car it has been in 2 accidents due to the rain, when I started to look into what was causing this problem I noticed there is a hole in the plastic right below the oil filter. This allows water to get on the engine causing it to short power for the car. This in return causes the power steering to cease up making it nearly impossible to control the car, hence why it has been in two accidents; one that put my mother in the hospital a few years back. The last time this happened was yesterday but enough is enough, this flaw is a deadly problem.
Kia Optima: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 594 | 5 | F |
| 2010 | 75 | 1 | A |
| 2009 | 116 | 1 | B |
| 2008 | 144 | 3 | C |
| 2007 | 167 | 2 | B |
| 2006 | 155 | 2 | B |
| 2005 | 144 | 0 | B |
| 2004 | 225 | 1 | C |
| 2003 | 144 | 2 | B |
2007 Kia Optima vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Kia Optima | 167 | 2 | B | |
| 2007 Toyota Camry | 3,617 | 10 | F | Compare |
| 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid | 3,491 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2007 Hyundai Sonata | 696 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid | 525 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2007 Honda Accord | 524 | 10 | D | Compare |
| 2007 Nissan Altima | 498 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2007 Volkswagen Passat | 273 | 7 | D | Compare |
| 2007 Mazda MAZDA6 | 165 | 6 | D | Compare |
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.
Questions about the 2007 Kia Optima
Does the 2007 Kia Optima have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2007 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 2007 Kia Optima?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (65), visibility & wipers (33), lights (27).
How many complaints has the 2007 Kia Optima had?
167 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 13, 2007 and the latest on August 27, 2026. Of these, 11 describe a crash and 5 a fire, and together they report 6 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2007 Kia Optima a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 60 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 2007 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