Common Problems, Issues, Recalls, and Reliability

  • Door Locks Malfunction Not Allowing Driver or Passanger to Open Their Doors

    A faulty door latch assembly may cause one or both front doors to be difficult to open. Replacing the worn latch will commonly correct this problem.

  • Faulty Throttle Position Switch

    Check Engine Light illumination—combined with a lack of power or a stumble on acceleration—may be caused by the throttle position switch (TPS). Kia released an improved part which should correct this concern.

  • Software Update Available to Correct Transmission Issues

    Reprogramming the transmission control module with the latest Kia transmission software may fix abnormalities in the automatic transmission and erroneous transmission-related Check Engine Light illumination. Software updates are commonly most effective on newer vehicles. Higher mileage vehicles may exhibit a similar symptom caused by a component failure. However, whenever major transmission repairs are performed the transmission software should be checked and updated as necessary.

  • Kia Issues New Alternator to Replace Weak One

    After the vehicle has been operated with electrical loads (lights, air conditioning), a weak alternator can cause starting difficulties. In some cases, the original alternator could not sufficiently charge the battery; Kia released a new alternator which can correct this concern.

  • Failure of AC Compressor Clutch

    A defective AC compressor clutch assembly can cause excessive noise or vibration when the air conditioning is on. Improved parts are available. Replacing the faulty clutch assembly does not necessitate replacement of the complete AC compressor or evacuation and recharging of the air conditioning system.

  • Crankshaft Position Sensor May be Damaged if Timing Belt Breaks

    Timing belts can break prematurely and cause serious engine damage. When replacing a broken timing belt, the crankshaft position sensor should also be replaced as it most likely has suffered damage as well.

  • Use Only Kia Approved Transmission Fluid

    Make sure the transmission is filled with Kia-approved transmission fluid and at the correct level. Our technicians tell using incorrect transmission fluid or operating the transmission when it is low on fluid can result in internal transmission damage.

2004 Questions and Answers

Related Questions

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 10, 400 MILES

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, AUTOMATIC, 124, 000 MILES

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 80, 000 MILES

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    I have the car listed above with over 138,000 miles. I have pushed the button to turn on the cruise control, it illuminates. I push the button on on the steering wheel and it does not illuminate w..

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA

    related to body, door, panel

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  • Kia Optima Possible Electrical Problem?

    2004 KIA OPTIMA

    related to safety, horn, stuck-on

    My horn started blaring on its own at random. I cant figure out how to turn it off. Please help @media(max-width: 960px) { .adt { display: none;padding:0; } } Tuesday, September 27th, ..

  • Kia Optima Rear Window Switches Cannot Control The Back Windows.

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 100, 000 MILES

    related to body, window, switch

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  • Kia Optima We Have Replaced The Fuel Pump. And The Car Is Still...

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    We have replaced the fuel pump. And the car is still cutting off and it wont start. It ran for about 2 days after we changed the fuel pump. What could be wrong? We put it on the machine to see what ..

  • Kia Optima Spark Plug Diagram

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC

    related to ignition, firing-order

    Spark plug wiring diagram for a 2.4 Kia optima, 2004. @media(max-width: 960px) { .adt { display: none;padding:0; } } Monday, February 28th, 2011 AT 12:43 AM ..

  • Kia Optima Were Is The Sparks Plugs At

    2004 KIA OPTIMA

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    Were is the sparks plugs at @media(max-width: 960px) { .adt { display: none;padding:0; } } Thursday, February 14th, 2013 AT 8:22 PM ..

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 6 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 105, 400 MILES

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    2004 Kia Optima V6 When making a right turn the steering wheel begin sticking and after making the turn it is hard to straighten the steering wheel and it make a loud pop sound. @media(max-wid..

  • Kia Optima How Do You Change The Back Up (reverse) Lights On This...

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 129, 000 MILES

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    The owners manual refers to using phillips head screw driver, but there are no screws in the light cover and there is no access door on the trunk to these lights. @media(max-width: 960px) { .ad..

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, FWD, MANUAL, 159, 000 MILES

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    Checked fuses and bulbs they are good, but will not turn on. If you try to use hazards they click like they want to work but do not. @media(max-width: 960px) { .adt { display: none;padding:0; }..

  • Kia Optima Airbag Light Came On

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 6 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 74, 380 MILES

    related to warning-lights, airbag-light

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  • Kia Optima Car Shakes When I Shift Gears To Drive

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 2.4L, 4 CYL, 4WD, AUTOMATIC, 75, 000 MILES

    related to general, shakes

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 2.7L, V6, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 168, 000 MILES

    related to trouble-codes, p-codes-powertrain, p0300-p0399, p0304

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  • Kia Optima Fuel Filter Location

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, AUTOMATIC, 150, 000 MILES

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 109, 000 MILES

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  • Kia Optima Fuel Filter Location

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 2.7L, 6 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 100, 000 MILES

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  • Kia Optima In Need Of Original Parts For My Car

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 2.0L, 4 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 198, 000 MILES

    related to fuel-system, fuel-pump, replace-remove

    I recently just acquired the car listed above and discovered that the parts are not as widely available in my country. (The original owner bought the car fairly used from the US and imported into ou..

  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima

    2004 KIA OPTIMA

    related to suspension

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  • Kia Optima Adjust Headlights

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, FWD, MANUAL, 122, 000 MILES

    related to exterior-light, headlight, adjust

    How do I correctly adjust the headlights? @media(max-width: 960px) { .adt { display: none;padding:0; } } Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 AT 5:47 PM ..

  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima Air Bag Light

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 63, 000 MILES

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 70, 000 MILES

    related to safety, airbag, reset

    My husband recently disconnected my airbag. He then reconnected it and since then the airbag light has been on. How does he reset it? He said that there is nothing wrong with it, just thinks it ..

  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima Belt Screech

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 56, 000 MILES

    related to general, noises, squeal

    I was hearing that belt screech sound from my car and had the belts replaced several months ago for my car to pass inspection; however, I still hear that screech sound. I took it back to the shop ..

  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima Brake Lights

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 6 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 40, 000 MILES

    related to exterior-light, brake-light, stay-on

    Noticed a clicking noise when hitting my brake pedal the other day. The Brakes have been working fine. I put my foot under pedal and pull toward me with little force and clicking noise stopped. Now,..

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 6 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 99, 000 MILES

    related to body, door, lock, switch

    My Kia does not have automatically locking door locks. I see lots of discussion about those failing and people crawling in from passenger side. This is NOT that problem. My car will unlock all of..

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 6 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 105, 000 MILES

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    Driverside door will not unlock you have to play with the lock by locking and unlocking the door from the outside til it opens and also when starting the car in the morning it rattles alittle than r..

  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima Door Locks

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 91, 000 MILES

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    Sometimes my door on the drivers side will not unlock from the inside. This morning I had to crawl out the passenger door in order to get out of my car. All of the doors were unlocked but the dri..

  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima Driver Side Door Jammed........

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 45, 000 MILES

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  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima P0303 Code

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 4 CYL, 2WD, MANUAL, 60, 000 MILES

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  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima Speedometer

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 6 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 65, 000 MILES

    related to interior, instrument-cluster, gauges, speedometer

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  • Kia Optima 2004 Kia Optima Temperature Gage

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 6 CYL, FWD, AUTOMATIC, 101, 000 MILES

    related to interior, instrument-cluster, gauges, engine-temperature

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    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 2.4L, 4 CYL, 2WD, AUTOMATIC, 177, 540 MILES

    related to interior, instrument-cluster, gauges, tachometer, not-working

    How would I go about fixing my tachometer? I know I need to replace the upstream on the catalytic converter and a speed sensor also. But, where do I the speed sensor on my car and wiring for the ta..

  • Kia Optima Tail Light Not Working

    2004 KIA OPTIMA, 130, 000 MILES

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    My left tail light is out how do I repair it? @media(max-width: 960px) { .adt { display: none;padding:0; } } Sunday, November 26th, 2017 AT 3:49 PM ..

2004 Maintenance and Repair