2004 Honda Accord vs 2004 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Honda Accord | 2004 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,016 | 225 |
| Recall campaigns | 13 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 298 | 15 |
| Investigations | 4 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 89 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–26 | 21–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 92,000 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Accord | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 347 | 8 |
| Air Bags | 250 | 26 |
| Electrical System | 145 | 45 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 81 |
| Structure | 36 | 42 |
| Steering | 66 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 58 | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 62 | 17 |
| Stalling | 54 | 9 |
| Shifting problems | 28 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 27 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 21 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 16 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 6 |
| Brake problems | 10 | 0 |
2004 Honda Accord
2004 Kia Optima
Compare all Honda Accord vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.