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Latches, locks and linkagesPart report

2004 Kia Optima Latches, locks and linkages Problems

Complaints
81about this part
Share
36%of 225 total for the year
Median mileage
92,000miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 81 complaints about the latches, locks and linkages of the 2004 Kia Optima, 36% of the 225 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I went to unlock my 2004 Kia Optima and the drivers door would not unlock. Repeated attempts failed. I have read numerous forums and this is a recurring problem with this car! This is a safety issue and the car is only 10 years old! If an accident occurs, I would not be able to be rescued. Kia needs to address this problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10629344, filed 2014-08, 111,715 miles

“The driver's side door of my 2004 Kia Optima locks back everytime I unlock it and try to get out . This is an issue for me and a safety defect and I am afraid of not being able to get out of my car. All of a sudden one day I stopped at the service station to get gas and tried to open the door as fast as it unlock it would lock back trapping me inside the vehicle I had to beg someone to help me out on the passenger side. …”

NHTSA complaint #10345200, filed 2010-07, 98,000 miles

“The driver's side will lock you in the vehicle and won't let you out. You can be driving with the doors unlocked and it will lock itself while in motion or you maybe ready to leave a location and can't get back in the car. I have had several problems within the last week of being trapped in my car and sometimes I can't get the locks to let me out on the passenger side either. This has been a scary situation and I hope it doesn't cause someone to be hurt or killed.”

NHTSA complaint #10458917, filed 2012-05, 120,000 miles

“The driver's door will not unlock or open from the inside or outside. I have tried using the key, the electric locks from the inside and also manually. After researching this defect on the internet, it seems this happens a lot to Kia's around this year of car. This is a safety hazard as the driver is not able to get out of or into the car if there is an emergency. A door lock of this year of car should not fail this often or at all. I have much older vehicles that have never had a problem with not being able to get out of a vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10583724, filed 2014-04, 148,000 miles

“The driver side door on my 2004 Kia Optima will not unlock from the inside or from the outside. The power lock system re-locks the door when I attempt to unlock the door. To enter or exit the vehicle, I must climb over the console to the passenger side and use that door. The problem began about 80,000 miles on the car. So far there has been no crisis, but in the event of a fire or submersion in water, it could lead to more harm since exit through the driver side door isn't possible.”

NHTSA complaint #10351998, filed 2010-08, 80,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Latches, locks and linkages: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201921%
201810%
201710%
201630%
201320%
201220%
201034%
200811%
200721%
20062717%
20056646%
20048136%
20035338%
20021211%
20011510%

Other parts of the 2004 Kia Optima

Electrical system
45 complaintsBody and structure
42 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsSuspension
19 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2004 Kia Optima

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology