Worst 2006 Kia Optima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
AIR BAGS
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Kia Optima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 32 | 1 | — | 76,542 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 24 | — | — | 88,890 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 20 | — | 1 | 79,618 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 10 | — | — | 1,602 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 10 | — | — | 29,681 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 10 | — | — | 77,900 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 | 1 | — | 103,145 mi | |
| VISIBILITY | 9 | — | — | 49,624 mi | |
| ENGINE | 7 | — | — | 116,078 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 | 1 | — | 78,535 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 6 | — | — | 1,933 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 6 | — | — | 93,500 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 5 | — | — | 115,240 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 | — | — | 61,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 | — | — | 29,017 mi | |
| SUSPENSION | 4 | — | — | 90,250 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 3 | — | — | 8,671 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT | 3 | — | — | 46,132 mi | |
| SEATS | 3 | — | — | 54,400 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 | — | — | 57,650 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 | — | — | 6,529 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 | — | — | 4,060 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 | — | — | 22,646 mi | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 2 | — | — | 59,000 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 | — | — | 45,610 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 2 | — | — | 2,000 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 | — | — | 24 mi | |
| TIRES | 2 | — | — | 4,000 mi | |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 | — | — | 13,380 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 | — | — | — |
Recalls for 2006 Kia Optima
2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~215,870 vehicles.
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.
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.
Other Kia Optima Years
Wider context: See the full Kia Optima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2006 Kia Optima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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