We found the following complaints for KIA OPTIMA (2003)
Read complaints for KIA OPTIMA (2003)
The engine light came on.the doors would lock without any prompts.the horn would honk while parked in the garage.the car was checked out on the computer and the driver's air bag needs replaced and there is an electrical problem.
After 60,000 miles, while driving or with the engine running, the engine light came on and stayed on.this has been repaired three times by replacing a main fuse. Each time it has been repaired, the problem has reoccurred.in connection with this problem, the door will lock after the driver exits the car.sometimes, the keys have been locked in the car.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that the air bag indicators remained illuminated in her vehicle.the dealer performed a diagnostic, but no codes appeared.the dealer reset the computer and the indicators remained dim for a few days; however, they would eventually illuminate again.the cause of the failure could not be determined.the failure mileage was 70,000.
Drivers side door lock locks unattended, traps driver inside car. Can not open with key or switch. Safety issue. Also; air bag sensor light activated for the second time, has to be a defect.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.while driving approximately 30 mph the vehicle was struck from the driver's side.the vehicle crashed into a wooden fence and rolled over three times.the driver was injured because the air bag failed to deploy.the fire and police departments arrived at the scene and filed a full report.the crash occurred in dry conditions.the contact called the manufacturer about the air bag failure, and was told that the side impact was not strong enough to deploy the air bags.the current and failure mileages were 84,000.the consumer has provided multiple pictures of the accident. Update 05/10/07
The contact owns a 2004 kia optima.the contact stated that the front driver side door failed to unlock.the contact stated that in order to get inside the vehicle, hehad to climb over to the driver side. The contact also stated that the "air bag" warning light was illuminated continuously.the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic and the mechanic was unable to locate a solution to the problem.the vehicle was not repaired.the manufacturer was notified of the failure and the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
Air bag light on dashboard is lite, for no reason! the car has less than 48k miles , never been in an accident nor hit anything . I am afraid to drive the vehicle nor have anyone in the car with me because , it's without an airbag there is no protection
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp flashed and remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 11/04/15*lj updated 2/1/2016updated 04/05/16.
2003 kia optima has a problem with the air bag indicator light staying on. Consumer states that the vehicle has been service for this issue but it keeps recurring. *nj
Dt*: the contact stated, while traveling through an intersection at 25 mph., the vehicle was struck on the driver's front door by a police vehicle running a red light, without the emergency lights on. Both frontal and side airbags failed to deploy. Injuries were incurred in the collision. A police report was filed and pictures were taken at the scene. The airbag sensor light was replaced by a service dealer, approximately one-year prior to the accident.
Air bag light is on.dealer ordered the part. However, they have been unable to obtain the part, this makesdriver's side air bag inoperable.
I was involved in an accident where the front and side airbags failed to deploy.my car was a 2003 kia optima.the site of impact was on the left front end but substained major damage to the entire front of the vehicle.i have several photo's of the car, which wastotaled by my insurance adjuster.my concern is if there is a defect with this car regarding the airbags.a close male friend, who was a mechanicalengineer for chysler, could not explain/understand why the airbags failed.please help me get to the bottom is this matter.
The consumer rear ended another vehicle.the consumer was wearing his seat belt, however the air bags did not deploy.the dealer claimed that the collision was under the truck's bumper.the consumer's vehicle was totaled.the consumer suffered shoulder and head injuries in the collision.
Dt*: the contact stated, while traveling through an intersection at 25 mph., the vehicle was struck on the driver's front door by a police vehicle running a red light, without the emergency lights on. Both frontal and side airbags failed to deploy. Injuries were incurred in the collision. A police report was filed and pictures were taken at the scene. The airbag sensor light was replaced by a service dealer, approximately one-year prior to the accident.
2003 optima air bag deployed when swerving to avoid a manhole.when the vehicle was placed on a diagnostic machine it registered that there had been a collision.the manufacturer sent a district parts and service manager to inspect the vehicle.the manager concluded that the driver's side impact air bag properly deployed in the incident experienced by the consumer.
The air bag sensor was defective.
Dt:the caller stated that air bag light was on all the time. Dealer claimedthat the driver's side airbag was defective, and didnot have the part to fix it. Manufacturer said did not have the part anywhere.
Dt*: the contact stated, while traveling through an intersection at 25 mph., the vehicle was struck on the driver's front door by a police vehicle running a red light, without the emergency lights on. Both frontal and side airbags failed to deploy. Injuries were incurred in the collision. A police report was filed and pictures were taken at the scene. The airbag sensor light was replaced by a service dealer, approximately one-year prior to the accident.
Power locks instantly lock after unlocking,(over and over) prohibiting me and my passengers to enter or exit the vehicle. It sometimes takes 5-10 minutes of trying to unlock that they will finally stay unlocked allowing access. I have a toddler and a baby on the way. If there were to be an accident or a fire, i could only imagine being trapped inside.
First:in the affect parts section of this complaint there is no where to mark defective locks.i have 2003 kia optima se four-door.it will continuously lock and unlock automatically.will only stop clicking on and off when engine is turned off.this poses a safety issue by beinglocked in an auto with electronic locks that cannot be unlocked either manually or with the key fob.when will there be a recall, either involuntarily or voluntarily.i bought this auto new and still have it.
***safety issue***1)under normal operating conditions without abuse or consumer modification.2) door locks frequently fail to unlock or will automatically re-lock when attempting to unlock either manually or electronically.this could cause an inability to escape the vehicle in a reasonable amount of time or may result in being unable to access children trapped inside.thus, leading to heat stroke, death, or other physical harm.3)had to pay to replace door latch assembly, but still intermittently fails to unlock as of the date of this report.there is no manual override to unlock the doors with this mechanical/electrical failure.
Doors (all) will lock after unlocking when you're trying to get in. I unlock the door, either manually or with the key fob, when you pull the handle to open the door the doors lock. You can play with it and finally get in but i've heard alot of problems with the same thing on the same model.
Door lock for the drivers side does not work and also does not unlock.this presents a huge safety concern, driver cannot exit the drivers' door!we have been able to unlock the drivers' door but it will not open!i reviewed the issue online and found hundreds of the same complaint.kia needs to address the drivers door issue asap as it is a huge liability since it is an extremely common problem.
- the contact stated that the 2003 kia optima's with 50000 failure mileage lights, locks, radio did not work.the vehicle would not start.the vehicle was towed to the dealer multiple times.the dealer installed a new engine.the vehicle did not work properly.the current mileage was 56,000.
The engine light came on.the doors would lock without any prompts.the horn would honk while parked in the garage.the car was checked out on the computer and the driver's air bag needs replaced and there is an electrical problem.
Brake failure, front rotors grooved, pads heat glazed, rear rotors also.plus rear calipers were bounded up.the doors locked by themselves, and there was squealing when the consumer placed the vehicle in reverse.it was found that the doors harness connection was poor and shorted out. *sc
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that while parked, the door lock failed. The contact attempted to use the fobik and could lock the doors, but they failed to unlock. The contact had to unlock and lock the doors manually. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 98,000. Updated 02/12/16*lj updated 4/23/18
After 60,000 miles, while driving or with the engine running, the engine light came on and stayed on.this has been repaired three times by replacing a main fuse. Each time it has been repaired, the problem has reoccurred.in connection with this problem, the door will lock after the driver exits the car.sometimes, the keys have been locked in the car.
The engine and air bag light would come on and off.the engine oxygen sensors were replaced.the air bag assembly needed to be replaced.there were several other problems.the consumer was informed that he gas cap was the problem.reference to recall#04v180000.the door on the driver side continued to lock without pressing. *sc
Power door locks re-lock after you unlock them and pull on the door handle to open the door. This can either trap you in your car, or trap you out. You have to go around to the other side, but crawling over the center console to the driver's side is almost impossible. Had the switch and actuator replaced on the driver's side. About a year later, the same thing happened with the passenger side door. Kia doesn't seem to care since it gets them over $300 worth of business each time.
Locking system failure causing all doors to lock on the vehicle with no means to get out of the vehicle. Can not get out by the windows and the motor will not shut down for quit some time. We believe it also triggered or malfunctioned the anti-theft causing it to ingage which would prevent you exiting the vehicle as well.
Drivers door is jammed locked.the remote works the locks move with remote and key.the door does not open.multiple complaints on kia forum regarding door locks.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the drivers side door locked and she was unable to unlock it manually or by using the key fob. She was forced to climb into the back seat in order to exit the vehicle. When the failure recently recurred all of the doors failed to unlock. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the technician replaced the locks; however, the vehicle was not repaired.the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 90,000. Updated 2/11/14the consumer stated the trunk and ignition would not unlock. The ignition and trunk lock was replaced. Also, the alternator, fuel tank sensor and timing belt were replaced. The high beam lights would come on, when she made turns.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to unlock and could not be unlocked from the outside or inside of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that she had to enter the vehicle through the passenger's side door. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic stated that the latch was not working properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 85,000. The current mileage was 86,500.updated 12/20/13the dealer stated the lock problem was electrical. Updated 12/26/13
The door will not unlock with a key fob, key or manually.you are literally locked in the car and cannot open the door to get out.this is horribly dangerous and if you were in an accident you could not get out of the car.please help get a recall on this part.this car is not safe.
The consumer noticed while driving, that the doors locks unlocked and locked without pressing the lock button which was followed by thedash board lights flashing. Problem. Please provide details.
Passenger door locks and will not unlock without pushing the unlock button and pulling the door handle at the same time. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get door open using this method. This is a serious safety issue which could trap a person in their car.
Consumer turned on the ignition switch and heard a clickingnoise, and thenlights/radio, and air conditioner went off.aburningsmell came from the air conditioner vents. Vehicle was towed to the dealer.dealer stated nothingcould be foundwrong with the car.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that the vehicle canister close valve failed, which caused the fuel gauge to display inaccurate readings.the check engine light illuminated and the dealer stated that a vapor hose attached to the fuel canister cracked.the dealer replaced the canister close valve and lever fender.the repair costs totaled $104; however, the repairs did not correct the failure.the dealer is now suggesting that the cluster panel will need to be replaced.the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v180000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly) and would not assist.the failure mileage was 58,671.updated 07/29/08the consumer stated while filling the gas tank, the pump clicked, but that gas gauge only showed 1/2 tank of gas.updated 08/05/08
El auto kia optima 2003, en mltiples ocasiones ha marcado altas temperaturas.existen problemas para ponerle gasolina ya que la bota o no permite que se le eche ms entre otros defectos.
2003 kia optima charging system indicator light illuminated. The consumer pulled off the freeway and onto a city street.the vehicle was turned off but could not be restarted.the consumer noticed the battery cables had melted.
Dt*:the contact stated while driving 60 mph the charging system's warning light illuminated.the vehicle stalled and was coasted off the road without incident.it was towed to the dealer where the cause of the problem was undetermined; however both battery cables were melted.there were no prior warning signals indicating a problem.the manufacturer has not been alerted.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that the vehicle randomly fails to start.when he turns the key in the ignition, it feels as if the vehicle does not have fuel.the contact has to make three to four attempts just to get the vehicle to start.the vehicle fails in both cold and warm weather and has occurred eight times within the past thirty days.the vehicle will eventually start after approximately five to ten minutes.the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure.the vehicle has been in the shop for days and no cause of failure has been determined.the current mileage is 58,400 and failure mileage was 57,000.
Drivers door is jammed locked.the remote works the locks move with remote and key.the door does not open.multiple complaints on kia forum regarding door locks.
After 60,000 miles, while driving or with the engine running, the engine light came on and stayed on.this has been repaired three times by replacing a main fuse. Each time it has been repaired, the problem has reoccurred.in connection with this problem, the door will lock after the driver exits the car.sometimes, the keys have been locked in the car.
While driving 55 mph on the highway, consumer lostcontrol of vehicle and hit the guard rail. The driver was injured and transported by ambulance to the hospital. Injuriesunknown at this time. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed to the dealer for analysis. Mechanic detected both frontal upper ball joints cracked.
2003 kia optima with 70,000 miles just burst into flames and burned totally up while driving down the road.fire started somewhere in engine compartment per the fire department.vehicle was running fine prior to incident.very dangerous situation for passengers and surrounding property.
It was raining hard in our area( 1 inches in 1 our). I live 3 miles in on a county dirt road and it was muddy with standing water. When all the water and mud was splasted in the engine compartment the was idleing rough. This is the (2) second time this happened. The first time was about 2 months ago in april when we had same type of weather. Took the car to my dealer service dept and was told they could not find nothing wrong and that i had water in my gas. I put atleast two bottles of dry gas in tank. Car ran fine until the eveing of 6/14/03 when again we hadalot of rain and the same 3 mile wet, muddy, standing water dirt road.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. Whenever the contact attempted to use the air conditioner he noticed that the vehicle began to run hot without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the radiator and tubing were replaced ; however, 2 weeks after the repair the contact continued to experience the failure. The failure mileage was 89000 and the current mileage was 90000.
- the contact stated that the 2003 kia optima's with 50000 failure mileage lights, locks, radio did not work.the vehicle would not start.the vehicle was towed to the dealer multiple times.the dealer installed a new engine.the vehicle did not work properly.the current mileage was 56,000.
I was driving my 2003 kia optima on i85 at 65 mph when the vehicle suddenly lost power and slowed quickly to less than 10 mph. The vehicle continued to sputter and backfire until i was forced to pull over and wait approximately. 15 minutes before proceeding normally. My wife has also experienced the same problems and is afraid of being involved in an accident. The vehicle has been in the shop for this issue 4 times. The last repair involved paramount kia in hickory where the mechanic replaced many of the assumed problem parts such as faulty wiring harness, ecm, maf sensor and fuel pump without resolve. The service department stated that they had no idea on how to fix the problem.
The accelerator pedal sticks and the vehicle randomly starts.*jgph
Radio turns off and stays off during daylight hours of normal driving on regular paved road ways. The unit is still powered on itself but no audible sound not even static can be heard from the speakers from the cd, cassette player or radio. It was taken to an authorized dealer and he stated that he didn't want to keep wasting their time (radio is no longer covered by warranty) and that i should purchase a new radio because there was something obviously wrong with the output on the factory unit. He also stated that it would cost over $1000 to purchase a new factory unit.
While changing a flat tire, the jack which was provided with the vehicle bent and collapsed under the weight of the vehicle causing it to crash onto the ground.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the passenger doors would not unlock from the interior or exterior of the vehicle. The only way to exit from the vehicle was to climb out from the opposite side. The contact also stated that the headlights would fail intermittently. The vehicle was not inspected by the dealer nor was it repaired for the failures. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Vehicle comes equipped with an automaticor manual operated headlights. When the automatic headlight are engaged vehicle's high beams are inoperative.
The vehicle came equipped with an automatic switch to turn the headlights on or use the manual switch. When the automatic switch was used, the high beams were inoperative.it was not possible to turn on the high beams.the dealer stated it was normal.also, the position of the rear view mirror size/height of the driver seat limited front view on the right of the windshield.the consumer almost hit a passing vehicle as he was going into the dealers lot and could not see it until it was directly in front of the vehicle. *scc
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.while driving 35 mph, the vehicle decelerated when the accelerator pedal was depressed.the contact stated that the gas mileage was poor as well.the dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure.the air filter and oil were replaced, however, the failure remained.the current mileage was 82,591 and failure mileage was 82,002.updated 12-12-07.updated
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the drivers side door locked and she was unable to unlock it manually or by using the key fob. She was forced to climb into the back seat in order to exit the vehicle. When the failure recently recurred all of the doors failed to unlock. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the technician replaced the locks; however, the vehicle was not repaired.the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 90,000. Updated 2/11/14the consumer stated the trunk and ignition would not unlock. The ignition and trunk lock was replaced. Also, the alternator, fuel tank sensor and timing belt were replaced. The high beam lights would come on, when she made turns.
My main issue is the door lock on the drivers side. I can not open my drivers side door from inside or outside the vehicle. This is a major issue and the problem has been all over the internet for years. Everyone that i know that has a 2003 and 2004 kia optima has the same problem. I bet every vehicle kia sold for these years has this problem.my other issue is i am unable to fill my fuel tank as i normally could do. I have to trickle the fuel in the tank because if i pump it too fast the pump will cut off. I've even had the fuel spill out of the tank before the tank was even full (it was at about 3/4 full).please demand that kia recall these problems. I can't believe it's taking this long for this recall to be issued. I just found out about this form and that is why i have taken so long to process this form.thanks and i hope that you can help asap.[xxx]ps. As of today my vehicle has approximately 53,000 miles. I've driven it in one winter so far (last winter) and it started having the door lock problem at around 33,000.the fuel issue started around 2 years ago.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
It took 3-4 attempts to get the consumer's 2003 kia optima to start and the consumer also had to pump the gas pedal.while driving 45 mph the vehicle accelerated suddenly without warning. While attempting to accelerate from a stop the vehicle would not move.the consumer had to pump the gas pedal in order to get the vehicle to accelerate.these problems have been present since the date of purchase.
Dt*:the contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle accelerated without warning.the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the dealer theorized that the cause of the problem was a faulty fuel injection system.there have been no repairs made.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that the vehicle canister close valve failed, which caused the fuel gauge to display inaccurate readings.the check engine light illuminated and the dealer stated that a vapor hose attached to the fuel canister cracked.the dealer replaced the canister close valve and lever fender.the repair costs totaled $104; however, the repairs did not correct the failure.the dealer is now suggesting that the cluster panel will need to be replaced.the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v180000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly) and would not assist.the failure mileage was 58,671.updated 07/29/08the consumer stated while filling the gas tank, the pump clicked, but that gas gauge only showed 1/2 tank of gas.updated 08/05/08
The engine and air bag light would come on and off.the engine oxygen sensors were replaced.the air bag assembly needed to be replaced.there were several other problems.the consumer was informed that he gas cap was the problem.reference to recall#04v180000.the door on the driver side continued to lock without pressing. *sc
Excessive check engine on.....all tests were done on fuel system and everything was diagnosed as functioning.
Have 2003 kia optima. Car stops while running.looks into google. Is common problem. Camshaft position sensor. Also locks on the driver side not working ,locks self inside the car.
For some time now we have had to very slowly pump gas in to tank, it keeps splashing back and shutting off the gas pump. It is at the repair shopnow being repaired at quite an expense, which this should not happen to a car with this low mileage.
As i fill the tank, gasoline forcefully spits back out onto the person filling the tank.this is getting worse.i have taken this to a kia dealer and he does not know what is happening.the last time it got all over my arm, causing severe irritation.
Car will not start after adding fuel.after reviewing this issue online, i found that hundreds of other owners have the same problem.we have not found a fix to the problem.in order to start the vehicle, it is necessary to pump the gas numerous times then slam into gear while holding down the gas.this could easily cause harm to those around the vehicle.please help us find a fix or better yet have kia recall the 2003 optima.thank you
The auto door lock would snap shut from inside or out. My daughter have to crawl through the passenger side.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that the front passenger and driver seat doors remained locked without a warning. The dealer was notified and advised him that there was an electrical defect.the contact did not inform the manufacturer.the vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was approximately 120,000. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The vin was unavailable.
Door locks - the door locks on my '03 optima have failed twice. First the driver's side locks failed. After unlocking the doors, the doors lock again when pulling on the door handle. Kia dealer replaced the actuator and latch at a cost of $300+. Within 1-1/2 years the same thing happened with the passenger side, with the same cost to repair. When it happens, you cannot open the door from the inside. It is a definite safety hazard.
Door locks stop working ,can't open the car.
Owner of 2003 kia optima - driver door won't open from inside our outside.owner must use passenger door to gain access to vehicle.exterior door handle seems loose.unable to open door to remove door panel.
Passenger side door did not unlock. This forced passenger to come out from the driver side door.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to unlock and could not be unlocked from the outside or inside of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that she had to enter the vehicle through the passenger's side door. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic stated that the latch was not working properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 85,000. The current mileage was 86,500.updated 12/20/13the dealer stated the lock problem was electrical. Updated 12/26/13
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that she was unable to unlock the doors manually or by using the key fob. The contact mentioned that once she finally open the door and enter the vehicle the doors would lock automatically locking her in. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the key fob was defective and needed to be replaced. The remedy failed to repair the problem. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who referred her to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 58,000.
I own a 2003 kia optima. I have been unable to unlock the driver side door. I have had to either climb out the window or the one of the other doors in order to exit the vehicle. When i lift the outside handle to enter the car all of the doors lock. When i unlock the door from the inside you can push and push on the door and it will not open. I see that several others have had this issue it needs to be corrected as if i get in an accident i will not be able to exit the car.
Locking system failure causing all doors to lock on the vehicle with no means to get out of the vehicle. Can not get out by the windows and the motor will not shut down for quit some time. We believe it also triggered or malfunctioned the anti-theft causing it to ingage which would prevent you exiting the vehicle as well.
Everytime i try to open the frontpassenger side door, frominside the car or outside, the entire car locks down. I can only open this door from the outside, with the key, while catching the locking mechanism between cycles. This takes a lot of timing and several attempts. No one can get in or out on the passenger side. This has been going on for about a year now. I bought the car used 2 years ago and it only has 41,000 miles. The 10 year 100,000 mile warranty only applies to the 1st owner.
Door lock for the drivers side does not work and also does not unlock.this presents a huge safety concern, driver cannot exit the drivers' door!we have been able to unlock the drivers' door but it will not open!i reviewed the issue online and found hundreds of the same complaint.kia needs to address the drivers door issue asap as it is a huge liability since it is an extremely common problem.
Doors (all) will lock after unlocking when you're trying to get in. I unlock the door, either manually or with the key fob, when you pull the handle to open the door the doors lock. You can play with it and finally get in but i've heard alot of problems with the same thing on the same model.
The front driver and passenger door locks are defected. When i push the automatic switch to unlock the doors, the driver side door stays locked and have to push it on and off a few times for the passenger side door to unlock. I took my car to a kia dealer for a diagnosis and was given an estimate of $807.00 for both door lock latches. I still have not had it fixed, being that i cannot afford it right now, so now i have to get in and out through the passenger side door. I researched this problem online and discovered that there are similar complaints with the same car make and model. The door lock latch should be recalled and repaired by kia. Are there any new solutions to this problem? please let me know....
My main issue is the door lock on the drivers side. I can not open my drivers side door from inside or outside the vehicle. This is a major issue and the problem has been all over the internet for years. Everyone that i know that has a 2003 and 2004 kia optima has the same problem. I bet every vehicle kia sold for these years has this problem.my other issue is i am unable to fill my fuel tank as i normally could do. I have to trickle the fuel in the tank because if i pump it too fast the pump will cut off. I've even had the fuel spill out of the tank before the tank was even full (it was at about 3/4 full).please demand that kia recall these problems. I can't believe it's taking this long for this recall to be issued. I just found out about this form and that is why i have taken so long to process this form.thanks and i hope that you can help asap.[xxx]ps. As of today my vehicle has approximately 53,000 miles. I've driven it in one winter so far (last winter) and it started having the door lock problem at around 33,000.the fuel issue started around 2 years ago.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that the driver side door lock was inoperable and the contact was unable to enter or exit through the driver side door.neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure.the vehicle was not repaired.the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 44,000.
The contact owns 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver and passenger door locks failed and the contact was unable to unlock the doors from the inside or use the key to open the doors from the outside of the vehicle.the contact had to climb into the driver seat from the rear in order to enter and exit the vehicle.the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 66,196. Updated 01/31/11the consumer stated the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs on november 17, 2010. However, the doors were still locking on their own. Updated 03/11/11
Re:2003 kia optima power door locks stick & won't release, necessitatingdriver to crawl overconsole in order to exit. In the event of a fire or other emergency serious injury could result.
Power door locks re-lock after you unlock them and pull on the door handle to open the door. This can either trap you in your car, or trap you out. You have to go around to the other side, but crawling over the center console to the driver's side is almost impossible. Had the switch and actuator replaced on the driver's side. About a year later, the same thing happened with the passenger side door. Kia doesn't seem to care since it gets them over $300 worth of business each time.
The driver door on my 2003 kia optima will not unlock with my key, even though the inside lock would move to the "unlock" position.it will only open with a combination of turning the key and pulling the door handle at the same time or having my son push down on the inside lock while i turn the key and pull the door handle.this solution to the problem only works about half the time.if the door will not unlock, i have to enter the car through the passenger door and the driver door will still not unlock, even from the inside.
Once you lock the doors on a 2003 kia optima, you cannot unlock from either the inside or outside for long periods of time.if you keep locking and unlocking from inside, they will eventually stay unlocked.very unsafe if you need to get out of car quickly.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the door latches on both the driver and passenger side were not functioning properly; the contact was unable to open the doors to get in or out of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the latches needed to be replaced. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that she would be responsible for repair costs.the consumer also stated the cv joints needed to be replaced, but the parts were not available.updated 02/16/11 updated 3/8/11
Kia optima 2003. Can not open driver door. Lock does not disengagewith key or power lock button. Lots of complaints and i am sure there lots more unreported. Does 15 or twenty of us have to die before kia is forced to fix this issue.no injury, crash or fatally yet........
Passenger door locks and will not unlock without pushing the unlock button and pulling the door handle at the same time. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get door open using this method. This is a serious safety issue which could trap a person in their car.
***safety issue***1)under normal operating conditions without abuse or consumer modification.2) door locks frequently fail to unlock or will automatically re-lock when attempting to unlock either manually or electronically.this could cause an inability to escape the vehicle in a reasonable amount of time or may result in being unable to access children trapped inside.thus, leading to heat stroke, death, or other physical harm.3)had to pay to replace door latch assembly, but still intermittently fails to unlock as of the date of this report.there is no manual override to unlock the doors with this mechanical/electrical failure.
Passenger side door locks started having problems opening aprox 6 mo. Ago.it takes about 3 or 4 tries to get the door to open if you are using the key.if you are just the passenger and the driver opens the door for you with the driver side door lock it may take several tries as the door will automaticly relock by itself and you will be locked out.on 10/29/11 the driver side door started to have issues.i went to get into the car and it took about 20 tries to open the door.the lock felt very tight and was hard to turn.i had to fight to get the door to open.i have never had a problem with the driver side locking system.once i get into the car, i was confused but didn't think anything of it after that and drove to my destination, when i tried to get out of the car i couldn't.i was locked in the car.it took ten minutes to with me fighting witht the locks to get out of the car.i only got out by my daughter getting out through the passenger door and taking the keys to fight with the driver side lock.i have my car now scheduled to be fixed at the kia dealership on 11/7/11.
Dt:periodically the doors on the consumer's 2003 kia optima lock on there own.the consumer stated he never locks the doors.the vehicle has been taken to the dealership and they are currently waiting for parts.the dealership has not offered information as to why this happens.the consumer stated he bought the vehicle used and it started approximately two months ago.he also stated that this does not always happen.if the driver side door locked, the passenger side also locked.he has to work the key over and over.when he turns the key it feels like it is opening and the locks will start to go up inside and then it locks back.8nm
Power door locks instantly lock after unlocking continuously, prohibiting entry or exit to the vehicle. This poses a safety hazard if there were to be an accident locking me and my children inside the vehicle. Sometimes it takes 5-10 minutes to get in or out of the car trying to catch the door handle at just the right time to be able to open it.
The door locks would not work properly. Sometimes the doors would unlock electronically and sometimes not.several times we could not unlock manually either.a fewtimesthe passenger had to climb over the center console and exit the car on the passenger side.i was able to take it a kia dealer january 28, 2010 and they replaced both door latch assemblies.the locks were working until this week, may 6, when there seems to be a problem beginning to appear.i understand that there may be a problem with an electrical component but the door should be able to be unlocked manually.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that she became locked inside of the vehicle and was unable to exit. The locks had malfunctioned and she had to exit the vehicle by crawling out of the window. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted for two year before the dealer was contacted. The dealer referred her to the manufacturer and the manufacturer agreed to assist with repairing the locks for the driver side door only. The contact stated that all four door locks were affected by the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was unavailable. The current mileage was 73,442 and failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the passenger side door failed to unlock from either side of the vehicle. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact also mentioned that the same failure occurred on the driver side door prior to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 147,433.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that he was trying to exit the vehicle but the doors would not unlock. The contact stated that he would have to climb out of another door in order to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 175,000.
Have 2003 kia optima. Car stops while running.looks into google. Is common problem. Camshaft position sensor. Also locks on the driver side not working ,locks self inside the car.
For the 2003 kia optima , the door locks fail and the doors cannot be opened from the outside or inside. This is a very common complaint about the car in the 2000-03 generation.
The doors on my kia optima (2003) lock by themselves after i unlock the car.when i go to open my driver side door is when the car locks by itself.i am afraid of locking my kids in the car because of this problem.the other day i couldn't get the driver side door open at all.
The door(s) have locked and will not unlock without many attempts to pull on the handle while turning the key.when it first happened to the passenger side, attempts at unlocking with the key resulted in all doors locking when the inner or outer handle was pulled, potentially trapping someone in the car.then it happened to the driver door a few months later.replacing the latch fixed the problem.
Drivers side door lock locks unattended, traps driver inside car. Can not open with key or switch. Safety issue. Also; air bag sensor light activated for the second time, has to be a defect.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that she was unable to unlock the driver side door. The contact stated that she had to either climb out the window or the one of the other doors in order to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the locking solenoid was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 102,000 and the current mileage was 106,000.
2003 kia optima driver side door wont open from inside or out. No warranty on the car, was told by kia dealership when i called that they have heard of the problem!! also the passenger door is doing the same thing. Lots of blogs about this problem. What happens when my daughter has to get out of her car and cant? sometimes she has to get in and out through the back seat doors!!
2003 kia optima power door locks stick & won't release, necessitating driver to crawl over console in order to exit and/or passengers cannot get out without crawling through window.in the event of a fire or other emergency serious injury could result.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated the interior door locks were inoperable. When exiting the vehicle, the contact would have to reach outside the window and unlock the doors from the outside latch. Once the doors were unlocked, they would independently relock within seconds. The dealer was not able to provide a reason for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 107,000.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the drivers side door locked and she was unable to unlock it manually or by using the key fob. She was forced to climb into the back seat in order to exit the vehicle. When the failure recently recurred all of the doors failed to unlock. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the technician replaced the locks; however, the vehicle was not repaired.the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 90,000. Updated 2/11/14the consumer stated the trunk and ignition would not unlock. The ignition and trunk lock was replaced. Also, the alternator, fuel tank sensor and timing belt were replaced. The high beam lights would come on, when she made turns.
2003 kia optima driver side door locked and won't unlock. Cannot open door and i'm locked in vehicle. Must climb through window or passenger side. Key will not unlock drivers door. I cannot lock the rest of the doors to vehicle in fear i will be locked in or out for good.
Driver's door won't open. Failed in shut position.
First:in the affect parts section of this complaint there is no where to mark defective locks.i have 2003 kia optima se four-door.it will continuously lock and unlock automatically.will only stop clicking on and off when engine is turned off.this poses a safety issue by beinglocked in an auto with electronic locks that cannot be unlocked either manually or with the key fob.when will there be a recall, either involuntarily or voluntarily.i bought this auto new and still have it.
I bought my 2003 kia optima new 5/24/03. Sometime during the winter of 2004/06 noticed door locks clicked more than i was used to hearing, but they worked.i thought it might be due to cold weather as antenna doesn't go all the way done in cold weather(antenna noted to dealer 12/20/04). I thought i mentioned this to dealer prior to 60k miles while getting another service done and was told the problem could not be duplicated, but there is no record of it per dealer. In any case i brought the car to dealer 3/6/07 for oil change and asked they check door locks which were only working intermittently - per the invoice they checked lock relays, disconnectedand checked switch, checked groundat jb-07, 0 ohms , etcs module all ok. The mileage at that point was 67288. I was told the electrical warrantyexpired at 60k. I did not have the money to get it repaired. By 10/24/07, the front passenger door could no longer be opened with driver door switch or remote, and key entry took several minutes while turning the key while the door unlocked then locked as i pulled up the handle.i was charged $35.55 to diagnose that there was a possible wiring etac or relay problem notcovered by warranty - cost of repair would be over $1000.now the cover to the passenger door key hole just came off probably due to the excessive key play needed to open the door.i am concerned for safety of passengers getting stuck if the driver is incapacitated in an accident and can't run around the other side of the car with key in hand to let them out. Right now car is in the dealership getting the recalled rusted subframe replaced. It will take 1 week to get the part.meanwhile, i am with out car, the dealer won't pay for rental and i drive 72 miles round trip to work .car lurches forward occasionally with high way driving, noted to dealer at 89346 miles - dealer can't duplicate problem.
Driver side lock defective. Driver get locked in. 2003 kia optima.
I parked my car for the day to go to work.at that point in time there were no issues with the car.upon returning that night i found that the driver's side door would no longer unlock.i must now enter and exit my vehicle through the passenger door.the door will not unlock with a key, the unlock-all button, remote entry, interior unlock button, or by turning the car off.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the doors could not be unlocked and he had to exit the vehicle by climbing through a window. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 106,000 and the current mileage was 106,300. Updated 10/11/12*lj updated 10/11/2012
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the passenger doors would not unlock from the interior or exterior of the vehicle. The only way to exit from the vehicle was to climb out from the opposite side. The contact also stated that the headlights would fail intermittently. The vehicle was not inspected by the dealer nor was it repaired for the failures. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that she has been locked in and out of the vehicle on three occasions.she attempted to unlock the door to enter the vehicle and heard the locks unlock.however, when she grabbed the handle to open the door, all of the doors locked again.the first time this occurred was approximately three years ago.the current mileage is 73,800 and the failure mileage was unknown.
When pulling the door lock up to get out or pull the door handle, the locking mechanism fails to disengage. The consumer was trapped inside the vehicle. A tow company was called to assist the consumer in getting out of the vehicle. Please provide any additional information.
No crash, no known vandalism.driver's door lock just quit working out of the blue.can not open the door at all !(not with the key in the door, not with the manual lock actuator, not with the power door lock button.)the door just will not open !if i have a need to make an emergency exit from the car, i will be at a great disadvantage, having to jump over the shift lever to exit from the passenger side door.my other option would be to climb out through my door window.the dealer service department inspected the door and ordered parts for it.they will fix it on december 3rd at no cost to me, since the car is still under the factory warranty.the dealer did not consider the situation serious enough to give me a replacement vehicle while i am waiting for the repair.so i am going to work and picking up my 4 and 6 year old girls every day, just hoping i don't get into a wreck or have a vehicle fire.i would be very mad if i suffered a great loss because i could not get out through my door.
My wife noticed the car pulling to the right and called her brother.he looked at the vehicle that evening 12/30/2013.he drove the car pulling onto a highway, the car would not move -- neither forward nor reverse.he pushed the vehicle off the road and the front axle dropped out of the transmission.it was towed and the garage notified us that thefront sub-frame had corroded. Online research reveals nhtsa recalledkia optima (2001-2004 model years)on may 27, 2009. I called the dealershipon 12/31/13 where the car was purchased.the customer service rep said the recall did not apply to our vehicle.the kmcwas contacted on 1/2/14. I was informed that the recall was based on "salt usage of 20 states and dc." this interpretation of the nhtsa recall id # 84125 needs direct clarification from the nhtsa.the original recall letter states:"kmc is recalling model year 2001 - 2004 optima vehicles originally "sold in or" currently registered in the states of (20 + the district of columbia)."since i purchased the vehicle in indiana my vehicle should be covered by the initial recall.regardless, the safety issue of the vehicle should warrant a notification to all owners of potential problems for this vehicle.this mechanical issue could have resulted in a catastrophic event. This complaint is also associated with odi# 10558172.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.while driving 35 mph, the vehicle decelerated when the accelerator pedal was depressed.the contact stated that the gas mileage was poor as well.the dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure.the air filter and oil were replaced, however, the failure remained.the current mileage was 82,591 and failure mileage was 82,002.updated 12-12-07.updated
I just bought this car august 14.that night it would not start.i have not had this car over 4 hours and put about 60 miles on it.
After stopping at a stop sign i tried to accelerate and turn left. My car would not "go". So i pressed the accelerator harder and it finally and slowly moved forward. I have an automatic transmission, but it was like i was driving a manual andhad tried to start in 3rd gear instead of 1st. It's almost like my car had to catch up for a minute before it would go. It has happened several times since that to different degrees. It is a 2003 with only 41,000 miles and no longer under warranty since i bought it used. I am afraid it will do this on the interstate or when i am trying to merge and could be dangerous.
I was driving my 2003 kia optima on i85 at 65 mph when the vehicle suddenly lost power and slowed quickly to less than 10 mph. The vehicle continued to sputter and backfire until i was forced to pull over and wait approximately. 15 minutes before proceeding normally. My wife has also experienced the same problems and is afraid of being involved in an accident. The vehicle has been in the shop for this issue 4 times. The last repair involved paramount kia in hickory where the mechanic replaced many of the assumed problem parts such as faulty wiring harness, ecm, maf sensor and fuel pump without resolve. The service department stated that they had no idea on how to fix the problem.
While turning in either direction there was heavy vibration in the steering wheel.the consumer also heard a loud clicking noise coming from the front end of the vehicle.dealership/mechanic informed the consumer that the problem was due to constant velocity joint failure.dealership mechanic did not resolve the problem.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the door latches on both the driver and passenger side were not functioning properly; the contact was unable to open the doors to get in or out of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the latches needed to be replaced. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that she would be responsible for repair costs.the consumer also stated the cv joints needed to be replaced, but the parts were not available.updated 02/16/11 updated 3/8/11
Purchased a 2003 kia optima and after 3 months of driving vehicle, the clutch went out.i am an experienced driver and have been driving manual transmission vehicles for several years.
The standard safety strap in the middle rear seat will not securely fasten the child seat. After a period of days the straps will loosen. The car seat did not fit properly in the rear seat even when professionally installed.the consumer has tried multiple child seat brands and types all with the same result.on three occasion the seat has tipped over while the child was secured in it.
Drivers side door will not unlock with key or inside door look switch.this is a real safety hazzard.
Brake failure, front rotors grooved, pads heat glazed, rear rotors also.plus rear calipers were bounded up.the doors locked by themselves, and there was squealing when the consumer placed the vehicle in reverse.it was found that the doors harness connection was poor and shorted out. *sc
I had problem with brakes locking up on 2003 kia optima, had it at a dealership to get fixed. They said they fixed it, but had same problem. They had it towed, took it back to fix it again, then put a governor on it, said the brakes were now fixed. Well, this evening, enroute to pick my daughter from the daycare facility, i saw traffic stopped, went to slow up by applying brakes and guess what?no brakes! this did not happen all the time, but intermittently, now caused me to have an accident because the brakes did not work! the repair shop at the dealership is the one who said it was all taken care of, however, as you can see , it is not taken care of as the brakes failed!! the brakes did not engage, i was going to try to go in the lefthand lane of the two lane highway on my side of the road, however there was a car already in position on that side and the curb, grass and then a pizza hut on my right, leaving me no where to go but under the bumper of a pick up. It pushed the grill into the radio, therefore the hood is buckled, the bumper destroyed andcar will be totaled by the insurance company as it is cost more to repair as it also tore off side strip and other parts on the left hand side of the car. The left hand turn signal blinks twice as fast as it should as i checked out everything as the police officer said it was drivable. I drove it home very slowly with my dad in a car behind me to make sure i did not leak any fluid and also to make sure i got home alright with my 8 year old daughter after we picked her up at daycare. This should not have happened so what is wrong with the 2003 brakes on kia optimas? if there is a recall on them i need to know as i am trying to find a website for them as i have been told there have been brake issues on kias for several years, one of which is the 2003 kia optima. Thank you ahead of time for your prompt response.[xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that she smelled smoke when she applied pressure to the brakes.she attempted to activate the emergency brake system, but it failed and did not activate.the dealer inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the rear end of the vehicle was rusted to include the brake housing unit.the manufacturer was not notified of the failure nor was the vehicle repaired.the current and failure mileages were 69,000.
I was leaving my driveway and drove approximately 2 car lengths, my car stopped and started shaking, it wouldn't go forward or backwards. Turned the emergency flashers on as i placed the car in park. I got out and went around to the passenger side of my car; the wheel was against the firewall. I found a recall 2-15-13, called kia customer service, they sent a towing company; in which, towed my car to mike smith kia in paducah, ky. They found that my lower control arm had separated from the sub-frame due massive corrosion. Replaced the sub-frame & drive axle,2 new tires. Picked my optima 3-20-2013. 3-27-2013, noticed power steering leak, called set-up an appointment to have it checked out for 4-4-2013. April 3, 2013 my brakes go out! jesse hodges (mike smith kia) has my car towed to their facility; in which, the brake line cracked my the gas tank. I paid to replace the brake & gas lines, they repaired the power steering leak! the problem now is: abnormal wear of the tires they replaced from the recall. Mike smith kia will replace my tires but wants me to pay for the front-end alignment; in which, was to be done when replacing the sub-frame. I feel this is their responsibility because they failed to properly repair my car. I have been in contact with kia corporation, they seem to be having problems in receiving copies of my file from mike smith kia to resolve this. Please help me resolve this!! (recall case number: [xxx] with kia corporation) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to dulles motorcars located at 107 catoctin cir se, leesburg, va 20175, phone number:(703) 777-7077, for a routine oil change and safety inspection, there it was informed by the technician of severe corrosion and cracks in the sub frame and the vehicle was unsafe to be driven. The contact stated that the vehicle has been at the dealer for several weeks without repairs being completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 09v183000 (suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Paint chipping off front bumper and both handles.
The door handle(s) are defective to point where even though the door is unlocked, the door cannot be opened. Upon taking it to a body shop, the workers inform me that this could be a safety recall and that i should contact the dealer before doing anything else. There is evidence that this is not an isolated problem. A simple internet search of "2003 kia optima door stuck" will show that millions of consumers are having this problem. This is a serious safety hazard, when thinking in terms of an accident or if a passenger needs to quickly get out of the car. I feel that kia needs to address this situation.
Drivers side door will not unlock with key or inside door look switch.this is a real safety hazzard.
Drivers side door will not open if locked when closed. Mechanism works fine to lock and unlock when open, however. A part in the lock assembly appears to be rotating too far and getting stuck. As a result, the door cannot be opened if locked when the door is closed or the driver will have to climb out of the passengers side door or through the window.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that when attempting to open the driver side door, the vehicle would lock before the door could be opened.in addition, the driver side door could not be opened from inside the vehicle and the contact had to exit the vehicle through the passenger side door.the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or a mechanic for inspection or repairs. The failure mileage was 136,000.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that while parked, the door lock failed. The contact attempted to use the fobik and could lock the doors, but they failed to unlock. The contact had to unlock and lock the doors manually. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 98,000. Updated 02/12/16*lj updated 4/23/18
My wife noticed the car pulling to the right and called her brother.he looked at the vehicle that evening 12/30/2013.he drove the car pulling onto a highway, the car would not move -- neither forward nor reverse.he pushed the vehicle off the road and the front axle dropped out of the transmission.it was towed and the garage notified us that thefront sub-frame had corroded. Online research reveals nhtsa recalledkia optima (2001-2004 model years)on may 27, 2009. I called the dealershipon 12/31/13 where the car was purchased.the customer service rep said the recall did not apply to our vehicle.the kmcwas contacted on 1/2/14. I was informed that the recall was based on "salt usage of 20 states and dc." this interpretation of the nhtsa recall id # 84125 needs direct clarification from the nhtsa.the original recall letter states:"kmc is recalling model year 2001 - 2004 optima vehicles originally "sold in or" currently registered in the states of (20 + the district of columbia)."since i purchased the vehicle in indiana my vehicle should be covered by the initial recall.regardless, the safety issue of the vehicle should warrant a notification to all owners of potential problems for this vehicle.this mechanical issue could have resulted in a catastrophic event. This complaint is also associated with odi# 10558172.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated the front driver's and passenger's side door would not open when the doors were unlocked. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
The frame is rusted through causing the vehicle to be unsafe, though it had a recall for this exact problem and it was only inspected and not replaced. The car was initially taken to a local auto repair shop for an alignmentas it pulled to the right,the shop said the frame was rusted so badly that an alignment could not be done. It was determined that a recall had been made for this vehicle. Recall #09v183000. Gurley leep kia in mishawaka, indiana was contacted and an appointment was made. The technician said the frame was rusted but kia would not repair the vehicle as the recall had already been made.
The contact owns a 2004 kia optima.the contact stated that the front driver side door failed to unlock.the contact stated that in order to get inside the vehicle, hehad to climb over to the driver side. The contact also stated that the "air bag" warning light was illuminated continuously.the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic and the mechanic was unable to locate a solution to the problem.the vehicle was not repaired.the manufacturer was notified of the failure and the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the front passenger's side door would not open. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the door actuator would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 01/07/14*lj
Passenger door locks and will not unlock without pushing the unlock button and pulling the door handle at the same time. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get door open using this method. This is a serious safety issue which could trap a person in their car.
All of a sudden, without any extra/abnormal stress, damage or accident... The passenger-side door lock would not engage either from the remote lock/unlock buttons, or same button function available inside the car, and even manually switching the lock while sitting in the passenger's chair fails every-time.the only way to get the door locked or unlocked is to get out of the car and use the key to jiggle the lock until it finally switches to a locked or unlocked position.this issue is not the first i've heard about this vehicle model and year...it is very frustrating and i'm sure it could be a danger to the passenger in the event of a rollover.or even create a new possibility for theft if the locking mechanism fails to lock the door properly when we leave the vehicle...! please let me know if this can be resolved without having to pay out of pocket for poor workmanship.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the driver door failed and as a result, the door does not open automatically or manually. The contact had to use the passenger front door to be able to get out of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the front passenger's side door would not open. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the door actuator would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 01/07/14*lj
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that the passenger side door failed to unlock from either side of the vehicle. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact also mentioned that the same failure occurred on the driver side door prior to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 147,433.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact stated that the drivers side door would not open or close.the dealer informed the contact that since the vehicle was no longer under warranty that they would not be able to provide her with any assistance.the manufacturer advised the contact that if she repaired her vehicle and a recall was later issued that she would be entitled to a refund.the vehicle was awaiting repairs. The current mileage was 127,000. The failure mileage was 126,000. Updated 05/03/11*ljupdated 05/11/11
Owner of 2003 kia optima - driver door won't open from inside our outside.owner must use passenger door to gain access to vehicle.exterior door handle seems loose.unable to open door to remove door panel.
About a year ago the driver side door lock stuck and i could not open the door.took the vehicle in to the repair shop and they fixed it.2 months ago the same problem occurred with the front passenger side door lock and i was unable to open the door, of course now the manufacturer's warranty no longer applies.
2003 kia optima driver side door wont open from inside or out. No warranty on the car, was told by kia dealership when i called that they have heard of the problem!! also the passenger door is doing the same thing. Lots of blogs about this problem. What happens when my daughter has to get out of her car and cant? sometimes she has to get in and out through the back seat doors!!
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. When utilizing the interior and exterior front passenger side door handles, they failed to operate properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 177,526.
Driver's door won't open. Failed in shut position.
I had parked at the grocery store one night and my car door wouldn't shut. It appeared as though the latch was stuck in a position that wouldn't catch. Finally, after lifting the door handle and pushing the door shut, it stayed closed. When i came out of the store, i found that the driver side door would not open. I tried using the key and the automatic lock features, but neither allowed for the door to open. I now have to exit and enter in the passenger side door. If i were to get into an accident, i would be trapped.
Passenger side door did not unlock. This forced passenger to come out from the driver side door.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact noticed that the vehicle was out of alignment. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that an alignment could not be performed because the subframe was fractured. The contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 09v183000(suspension). The contact called bob rohrman kia (801 sagamore pkwy s, lafayette, in 47905, 765-746-7301) and was informed that the recall repair had already been performed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they could not assist since the recall repair had been completed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 168,531.
My wife noticed the car pulling to the right and called her brother.he looked at the vehicle that evening 12/30/2013.he drove the car pulling onto a highway, the car would not move -- neither forward nor reverse.he pushed the vehicle off the road and the front axle dropped out of the transmission.it was towed and the garage notified us that thefront sub-frame had corroded. Online research reveals nhtsa recalledkia optima (2001-2004 model years)on may 27, 2009. I called the dealershipon 12/31/13 where the car was purchased.the customer service rep said the recall did not apply to our vehicle.the kmcwas contacted on 1/2/14. I was informed that the recall was based on "salt usage of 20 states and dc." this interpretation of the nhtsa recall id # 84125 needs direct clarification from the nhtsa.the original recall letter states:"kmc is recalling model year 2001 - 2004 optima vehicles originally "sold in or" currently registered in the states of (20 + the district of columbia)."since i purchased the vehicle in indiana my vehicle should be covered by the initial recall.regardless, the safety issue of the vehicle should warrant a notification to all owners of potential problems for this vehicle.this mechanical issue could have resulted in a catastrophic event. This complaint is also associated with odi# 10558172.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact noticed that the vehicle was out of alignment. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that an alignment could not be performed because the subframe was fractured. The contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 09v183000(suspension). The contact called bob rohrman kia (801 sagamore pkwy s, lafayette, in 47905, 765-746-7301) and was informed that the recall repair had already been performed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they could not assist since the recall repair had been completed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 168,531.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the front driver side wheel separated for the frame of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was caused due to rusting and corrosion of the front ball joint. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Kia has issued a recall (09v183000) however it does not include the state in which i reside, but all bordering states to the east, west, and north. I'm in ky and states like oh, in, il, wv, are included. I'm having the exact issue listed in the recall however as they have selected to cover only specific states i'm left with a vehicle that is now inoperable. The sub-frame on the passenger side has rusted through and caused the tire and suspension to break free.
I was leaving my driveway and drove approximately 2 car lengths, my car stopped and started shaking, it wouldn't go forward or backwards. Turned the emergency flashers on as i placed the car in park. I got out and went around to the passenger side of my car; the wheel was against the firewall. I found a recall 2-15-13, called kia customer service, they sent a towing company; in which, towed my car to mike smith kia in paducah, ky. They found that my lower control arm had separated from the sub-frame due massive corrosion. Replaced the sub-frame & drive axle,2 new tires. Picked my optima 3-20-2013. 3-27-2013, noticed power steering leak, called set-up an appointment to have it checked out for 4-4-2013. April 3, 2013 my brakes go out! jesse hodges (mike smith kia) has my car towed to their facility; in which, the brake line cracked my the gas tank. I paid to replace the brake & gas lines, they repaired the power steering leak! the problem now is: abnormal wear of the tires they replaced from the recall. Mike smith kia will replace my tires but wants me to pay for the front-end alignment; in which, was to be done when replacing the sub-frame. I feel this is their responsibility because they failed to properly repair my car. I have been in contact with kia corporation, they seem to be having problems in receiving copies of my file from mike smith kia to resolve this. Please help me resolve this!! (recall case number: [xxx] with kia corporation) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the vehicle began to swerve and drove into a ditch. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima. The contact stated that while the driver attempted to complete a right turn, the front passenger's side axle fractured. The vehicle was inspected by a local mechanic, who discovered that the axle had become separated due to severe corrosion of the sub frame. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the vehicle was not in included in nhtsa campaign number 09v183000 (suspension). The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 114,000. Updated 02/11/2014 this complaint is also associated with odi#10559087updated 03/18/2014
The contact owns a 2003 kia optima.the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 09v183000 (suspension:front).the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for repair.the vehicle had to receive a wheel alignment in conjunction to the recall repair.the authorized dealer would not be financially responsible for the wheel alignment service.the manufacturer was notified, but there was no resolution.the vehicle was repaired at the consumers expense.the failure and current mileages were 132,818. Updated 8/7/09 updated 08/11/09.
The consumer was concerned about the time it took to get the parts to do the repairs.*sc
Power locks instantly lock after unlocking,(over and over) prohibiting me and my passengers to enter or exit the vehicle. It sometimes takes 5-10 minutes of trying to unlock that they will finally stay unlocked allowing access. I have a toddler and a baby on the way. If there were to be an accident or a fire, i could only imagine being trapped inside.
The problem with this make and model of car is with the door locking mechanism. It started in april with a problem with the drivers side front door. When you unlocked the doors with the key fob, all the doors would unlock, but when you grabbed the handle of the door to open it, all the doors to the car would lock.it cost me $350.00 to get that fixed. Now the passenger side front door will not unlock, either from the inside or out. The key fob won't unlock it, nor manually using a key. This is a serious defect that i think kia should be fixing. What if someone was unable to get out of the car in a serious wreck, and was killed, or seriously injured? i talked to the kia dealership, but they are not interested, because my warranty period is over.
Drivers side door will not unlock with key or inside door look switch.this is a real safety hazzard.
My front passenger door had become completely stuck closed and wont open. The lock mechanisms work fine for all four doors still as well as the windows.
At 24,000 miles my vehicle started locking doors when temperatures reach 32 degrees or lower. Vehicle outside on city street or driveway. When temperatures get to 32 degrees, doors lock and do not unlock to allow access. If you are inside of car it locks you inside of car, as well as out of car. Locks unlock then lockinstantly even when using key, not key fob to unlock car~ no access to enter vehicle until above 32 degrees. In case of emergency...you have no vehicle. This has happened every year when temperature gets below 32 degrees. I have reported this problem in past.recall andfix it please!!!
Radio turns off and stays off during daylight hours of normal driving on regular paved road ways. The unit is still powered on itself but no audible sound not even static can be heard from the speakers from the cd, cassette player or radio. It was taken to an authorized dealer and he stated that he didn't want to keep wasting their time (radio is no longer covered by warranty) and that i should purchase a new radio because there was something obviously wrong with the output on the factory unit. He also stated that it would cost over $1000 to purchase a new factory unit.
It took 3-4 attempts to get the consumer's 2003 kia optima to start and the consumer also had to pump the gas pedal.while driving 45 mph the vehicle accelerated suddenly without warning. While attempting to accelerate from a stop the vehicle would not move.the consumer had to pump the gas pedal in order to get the vehicle to accelerate.these problems have been present since the date of purchase.
The accelerator pedal sticks and the vehicle randomly starts.*jgph
Passenger mirror falls off.
Vehicle is experiencing problems with the defroster. When the vehicle is in the elements the windows on the left side fog upbadly, consumermust roll the window down to see what isonleft side. Consumertook the vehicle to the dealer, and was told that the vehicle was operating fine....
Rusting of windshield wipers.
The design of the large over view mirror, only allowed the consumer to see half of the front windshield.the front windshield visibility to the right was blocked by the front rearview mirror due to large size of the mirror and inability to lower the drivers seat enough and almost hit the other vehicle.the rear view mirror blocked the visibility of the right half of the windshield and did not see the vehicle traveling from right to left until it was in front of the consumer. Scc
The location of the driver side mirror and sun visor is obstructing the view through the windshield. This results in poor visibility, almost causing an accident.seat cannot be lowered to correct this problem.
I was leaving my driveway and drove approximately 2 car lengths, my car stopped and started shaking, it wouldn't go forward or backwards. Turned the emergency flashers on as i placed the car in park. I got out and went around to the passenger side of my car; the wheel was against the firewall. I found a recall 2-15-13, called kia customer service, they sent a towing company; in which, towed my car to mike smith kia in paducah, ky. They found that my lower control arm had separated from the sub-frame due massive corrosion. Replaced the sub-frame & drive axle,2 new tires. Picked my optima 3-20-2013. 3-27-2013, noticed power steering leak, called set-up an appointment to have it checked out for 4-4-2013. April 3, 2013 my brakes go out! jesse hodges (mike smith kia) has my car towed to their facility; in which, the brake line cracked my the gas tank. I paid to replace the brake & gas lines, they repaired the power steering leak! the problem now is: abnormal wear of the tires they replaced from the recall. Mike smith kia will replace my tires but wants me to pay for the front-end alignment; in which, was to be done when replacing the sub-frame. I feel this is their responsibility because they failed to properly repair my car. I have been in contact with kia corporation, they seem to be having problems in receiving copies of my file from mike smith kia to resolve this. Please help me resolve this!! (recall case number: [xxx] with kia corporation) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
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