Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2004 vs 2005 KIA OPTIMA

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 263 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 35.4% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2004 share 2005 share Share change
SUSPENSION 6.3% not reported ▼ 6.3 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 2.2% 6.9% ▲ 4.7 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 8.5% 13.2% ▲ 4.7 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13.0% 9.7% ▼ 3.3 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 13.0% 11.1% ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.8% not reported ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 2.7% 1.4% ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 3.1% 2.1% ▼ 1.1 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.9% not reported ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
STEERING 0.9% 1.4% ▲ 0.5 pts larger share
WHEELS 0.5% not reported ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
LANE DEPARTURE 0.5% not reported ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
ENGINE 4.5% 4.2% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.8% 2.1% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 0.5% 0.7% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 2.2% 2.1% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 65.9% 70.1% ▲ 4.2 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2004 1

Campaign components: SUSPENSION

2005 0

Campaign components: not reported

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
3 → 1
◆ Injuries
8 → 6