Two problems related to ball joint have been reported for the 2004 Kia Motor Optima. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Kia Motor Optima based on all problems reported for the 2004 Optima.
The passenger wheel came off the car as my son was backing out of a parking space at a grocery store. I bought this car new. That part of the car had never been worked on. The car had to be towed to a garage for repair. Kia used glue on life a support nut on a ball joint, where they should have used a cotter pin. I have bought four (4) kias. These cars are still in the family. The kia I drive daily is identical (except being automatic) to the one that the wheel came off.
Rt ball joint/axle broke while driving on 10 oct 08. My vehicle is a 2004 kia Optima.