Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 City / 27 HWY
Horsepower
170
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Kayla T
It's very sporty and great on gas. It is a perfect commuter car choice. Looks nice, but doesn't hurt the wallet.
Very comfortable! Great on Gas. I have a hybrid, which is a wonderful commuter car, since we live outside the city. It takes premium oil, but it's worth it. My 2nd Optima thus far!
accountCircle Dylan A
My 2004 KIA Optima is great!
I think it drives very well. Great mileage. A lot of trunk space. Air conditioning doesn't work. Good sound.
accountCircle Mona K
According to consumer reports this car 2004 optima was a winner. We got lucky
It is the best vehicle we have ever owned. It has 180,000 miles on it and we use it mostly to save on our new vehicle that we use to travel. We have always did the required maintenance on it. The battery got so old so we decided to replace it and found out we couldn't get the same one. Korea made a special solar battery that lasts a long time. I think the mechanic took the old one, he was quite expressed. Only problem was the sensor in the blower system. We just got this fixed. We love this car.
accountCircle Warren T
Good mileage runs great easy to drive handles very good
Never had a problem, runs great would buy another one. Easy to drive great mileage easy to take care of
accountCircle Teresa G
It is cheap on gas and runs good!
My Kia is cheap on gas. It rides very smoothly. It is easy to handle. The car seats are hard on my back. It is not as comfortable as I would like.
accountCircle Ward H
Dependable , great on gas, low operating costs, easy to maintain
Best car I've ever owned. Everything still works. Needed repairs are far and few in between
accountCircle Kim W
Very reliable and good looking 4 door car.
I have had my Kia optima for nearly 14 years and it has been the most dependable car I have ever owned. I bought it brand new with a 10 year 100, 000 mile warranty. The car is comfortable and still looks really nice after all this time. The interior and paint have held up very well. Aside from regular maintenance I have not had to do many repairs.
accountCircle Bobbie S
Low gas mileage and low maintenance very comfortable.
My car is great, it gets great gas mileage, very comfortable, child seat buckles in back window, seats 5 people very comfortably, plenty of legroom, and a big roomy trunk. You don't feel like you are in a small can when riding/driving. Very nice car for the money and low maintenance.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Michael C
It's green and it's really slow. It's ok on gas mileage
It's old and unreliable. I often stress whether I am going to make it to my destination. Sometimes it gets me there
accountCircle Laurie L
Piece of junk that still runs good.
Bad motor mounts, bad transmission mounts, wrecked right front fender, missing right headlight, cylinder misfiring, low gas mileage, paint peeling, oil leak, power steering fluid leak, am/FM/cd, 4 door, power locks, power windows, 4 cylinder engine, safety release in trunk.
accountCircle Kimberlee H
The reliable work car that gets us from a to b
It gets us where we need to go. Transmission seems to be going but that hasn't affected the engine. Simple inside nothing fancy but it seems to have a good engine under the hood
accountCircle Rich T
It's been very reliable, but it needs some minor maintenance,
It's never been in the shop. It's showing a lot of rust. Gas mileage could be better,
accountCircle Barbara D
Key fob doesn't work to open doors
Good on gas Good gas mileage Paid for Would like to have a new car
accountCircle Sisi S
It is dependable and I love it.
My Kia optima has been a great car over the years. Minimal repairs and reliable service. I wish I could have another just like it. I may pursue a Kia SUV in my next vehicle search. There are a few I have been looking at. Kia has served me well over the years and even though it has many miles, it is still taking me where I need to go. I recommend the Kia brand to everyone as it is very dependable.
accountCircle Laurie T
Was top of the line in the year made
Its old and has high mileage and makes a lot of noise. It is not very reliable and I am scared every time I drive it that I might break down. It is fairly comfortable and I am sure it was very fancy and luxurious at the time it was made. It has a lot of automated options like power windows and locks and a fancy a/c system.
accountCircle Jason W
General Kia optima review
It provides a comfortable interior as far as seating is concerned. Gas mileage is fairly good on this vehicle. There have been several issues associated with this car though. Door lock issues making it unable to lock the doors because they do not unlock without having to remove the interior door panels. And several engine sensor issues which caused the car not to start, and also causing a rough idle

Kia Optima Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
LX
170 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
170 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2004 Kia Optima Owner Reviews

3.85
55 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 27%
4 stars 36%
3 stars 33%
2 stars 2%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Sisi S on March 1, 2021
It is dependable and I love it.
My Kia optima has been a great car over the years. Minimal repairs and reliable service. I wish I could have another just like it. I may pursue a Kia SUV in my next vehicle search. There are a few I have been looking at. Kia has served me well over the years and even though it has many miles, it is still taking me where I need to go. I recommend the Kia brand to everyone as it is very dependable.
accountCircle Tamara C on February 14, 2021
It is fun to drive gets decent gas mileage.
There is too much road noise would like it to be quieter. I wish there was a sunroof in it. I love the option of automatic shift and the v6 it has in it.

Ranks #13 Midsize Cars by Owners

The 2004 Kia Optima has an average owner rating of 3.85 out of 5 which ranks it #13 of 16 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
4.49
2
car
4.47
13
car
3.85

Ranks #6 Midsize Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2004 Kia Optima has a combined MPG of 30 which ranks it #6 of 17 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
34 MPG
2
Tie
car
32 MPG
6
Tie
car
27 MPG

Is The 2004 Kia Optima A Good Car?

Yes it has lasted a long time and runs very well for how many miles have put on it and it's very good on gas
Lisa A.

How Reliable Is The 2004 Kia Optima?

It has been reliable and no it does not have any current problems it had some minor problems fixed recently
Donna H.

Related Articles for 2004 Kia Optima

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2017 Kia Optima Review: Reasonably Reliable Sedan With Low Maintenance Costs
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2008 Kia Optima Review: A Solid Budget Sedan, but Outclassed by the Cheaper Malibu

Frequently Asked Questions

My check engine light came on reading code P0320. I've been told its the ignition failure sensor but where do i find the part? Who can fix it properly?

Answer: P0320 is an OBD II fault code that indicates that there is an issue with the Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit. This code is also commonly referred to as a crankshaft or camshaft position sensor...

What's the 2004 Kia Optima v6 crankshaft position sensor location?

Answer: The VEHICLE crankshaft position sensor location is different on different makes and models, however, it will always be near the crankshaft itself. If You need to replace the sensor then it will cost You between...

What's the 2004 Kia Optima fuel pump location?

Answer: The 2004 Kia Optima fuel pump location is found by watching: https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=wVMeD4GlW_Q Vehicle parts will eventually become ineffective. The fuel filter needs to be replaced every 30,000 miles...

What's the 2004 Kia Optima 2.4 Ignition failure sensor location?

Answer: The 2004 Kia Optima 2.4 ignition failure sensor is located under the engine's plastic cover on the upper right side of the motor. If this sensor is not working then You will notice several very obvious...

2004 Kia Optima: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: The tire size of the 2004 Kia Optima depends on which engine the vehicle has. The ExAnd LX models with the 2.4 L 4Cylinder engine use a P205/60R15 tire that is mounted on a 15 diameter, 6 width wheel. The 2.7 L...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety