Kia Optima Complaints (2005)

144 consumer complaints on file.

#10715943May 12, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME IS EXTENSIVE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY HAS LIKELY BEEN COMPROMISED. NOTHING UNUSUAL HAS HAPPENED THAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH RUST, SUCH AS BACKING INTO SALT WATER, ETC. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON SALTED NY ROADS BUT STILL, THE RUST IS EXTREME ON THIS VEHICLE EVEN WITH THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THE BODY HAS RUSTED EXTENSIVELY AS WELL, TO THE POINT WHERE THE REAR QUARTER PANELS BY THE REAR WHEEL ARCHES HAVE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713880April 30, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO GO THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10694950March 17, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
KEY WILL NOT UNLOCK DRIVER'S DOOR AND DRIVER CANNOT UNLOCK DOOR FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. KIA MOTORS WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE IS REQUIRED TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A FREQUENT ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMA CARS, WELL KNOWN AND OFTEN WRITTEN UP ONLINE, THE PART REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS SOLD ON EBAY BY MULTIPLE SELLERS ALWAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661055November 26, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID,. IT WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. ALL THE OTHER DOORS WOULD OPEN, BUT THE DRIVER DOOR. IF YOU OPENED IT WITH THE KEY IT CLICKED, BUT WHEN YOU PULLED THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IT WOULD LOCK.. IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR MY HUSBAND, WHO HAS A BAD BACK HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE ARE HAVING IS WE ARE ALWAYS REPLACING BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS; ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. WE ARE FOREVER GETTING PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE TO TELL US OUR HEADLIGHT OR TAILLIGHT IS OUT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THE REPAIR COST FOR THE DOOR WAS $400.00 AND WE SHOULD BE REFUNDED AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS PAID TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654169November 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. YOU COULD CLICK IT AND IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS GOING TO OPEN, BUT IT DIDN'T. HAD TO DRIVE TO A KIA STORE AND HAVE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $450. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO THINK THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT I CAN SEE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING STUCK IN THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, I WILL SELL THE CAR. THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR. I REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS REGULARLY (ABOUT ONCE A MONTH) AND I AM ALWAYS HAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, WHEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. HOW MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED FIRST? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633816September 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM WILL NOT UNLOCK, LEAVING NO EASY ACCESS OR EXIT TO OR FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS IS QUITE A HAZARD AS THE OPERATOR COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY (AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR SOME YEARS NOW AS BEING VERY COMMON TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR). WHY HAS NHTSA BEEN IGNORING THIS PROBLEM? *TR....UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF UPDATED 08/30/2017*CT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618806August 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, AND CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IS TO EITHER CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOW OR CRAWL OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. MY FEAR IS IF IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND WE WOULD BE SICK IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595005May 29, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD BOTH FRONT DOORS HAVE FAILED LATCHES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU WILL GO TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FORCE OR NOT AT ALL. I WENT 2 MONTHS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND NOW I JUST KEEP MY DOORS UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME SO I DON'T NEED TO DEAL WITH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583289April 17, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR. FOR THE DRIVER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR YOU HAVE TO GO OVER THE CONSOLE TO GET OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! TRIED TO UNLOCK WITH WILL NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578414April 8, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, THOUGH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE ELECTRONIC LOCK FOB WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. THE KEY WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. ENTRY AND EXIT MUST BE DONE BY CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND GOING THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND FELLOW PASSENGERS. IF WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY TWO YOUNG BOYS IN THE CAR, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM EXIT THE CAR UNTIL I HAVE CLIMBED OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND EXITED THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. HELP!!!!!!!! THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THE KIA BRAND OF CARS. ALL OVER THE INTERNET IT IS DISCUSSED HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ALL TYPES OF KIA MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575582March 31, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2005 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY. WHEN SHE INSERTED THE KEY AND TURNED IT, SHE COULD HEAR THE ACTUATOR ENGAGING AS THOUGH IT WERE UNLOCKING, BUT ONCE SHE TRIED THE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR REFUSED TO OPEN. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE DOOR FINALLY RELEASED AND OPENED, BUT TO LOCK THE DOOR AND CLOSE IT, RESULTED IN THE SAME ISSUE. *JB UPDATED 04/22/14
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561806January 28, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. FAILED DOOR LATCH/LOCK ASSEMBLY. FIRST HAPPENED IN JULY 2007. HAPPENING AGAIN IN JANUARY 2014 ON SAME CAR. DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE--ONLY WAY OUT IS CRAWLING TO PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OR BACK DOORS, OR BY CRAWLING OUT OF DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW. HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES WE HAVE OWNED, INCLUDING OLDER CARS. LOCK SHOULD NOT FAIL THAT OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560215January 16, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH AND ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT HAD THE ACTUATOR REPLACED PREVIOUSLY BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,038.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560045January 15, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN. WHEN I TRY TO UNLOCK IT FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, THE UNLOCK MECHANISM WORKS, BUT THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I NOW HAVE TO CRAWL IN FROM ANOTHER DOOR AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIAS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH KIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553989November 27, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REMAINING DOORS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552323November 15, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BECAME ENTRAPPED IN MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK. ITS BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE. WHILE ITS DANGEROUS TO KEEP IT UNLOCKED, I CHOSE THAT OVER BEING LOCKED OUT OR BEING LOCKED IN. LAST NIGHT MY ELBOW HIT THE LOCK AS I PARKED. I HAD MY COWORKER COME PULL THE HANDLE WHILE I PUSHED THE UNLOCK BUTTON. WHILE IT HAS WORKED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IN THE PAST, IT JUST WOULDN'T GIVE IN. I THEN, HAD MY COWORKER TRY THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT POPPED. I'M NOW REDUCED TO CLIMBING OVER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. WHILE ITS PAINFUL AND TIMELY, ITS NOT AS BAD AS CLIMBING OVER THE BACK. I'VE HAD TO DO THAT WHEN I HAD NO ONE TO CALL FOR HELP. IT'S SO DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR WHEN YOU'RE READY. ITS ALSO HORRIBLE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE NOT BEING THERE WHEN YOU COME OUTSIDE BECAUSE YOU LEFT YOUR DOORS UNLOCKED FOR A CAR THIEF. IF I OPEN MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND PRESS LOCK AND CLOSE IT. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OR USE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT BREAKING A WINDOW. IF THERE WAS A FIRE CAUSE BY SOME SORT OF COLLISION, MY CHILD AND I WOULD BE BURNED BEFORE I COULD GET TO HIM. IF ME OR A PASSENGER ACCIDENTALLY HITS THE LOCK BEFORE WE GET OUT, I'LL HAVE TO BREAK MY OWN WINDOW TO GET BACK IN. I SENT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AN EMAIL WHICH I'M SURE WILL BE IGNORED LIKE THE MANY OTHERS SENT BEFORE ME. THIS IS SAD CAUSE MECHANICALLY THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN GREAT. THIS IS MY SECOND ONE. IF I HAD OF KEPT THAT ONE LONGER, I'M SURE I WOULD'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552489November 15, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE OPTION OF 'AFFECTED PARTS" DOES NOT INCLUDE LOCKS/LINKAGE, IS WHY THE NHTSA IS NOT SEEING HOW 1000S ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A LOCKED DOOR ISSUE WITH KIAS OF MANY MODELS OVER A SPAN OF 10 YEARS! MY DRIVER DOOR IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH $700 TO GET IT FIXED I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY BECAUSE I CAN NOT GET IT INSPECTED!!! DUE TO SAFETY! KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551454November 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER OPENS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DRIVER MUST ENTER AND EXIT VEHICLE FROM PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. KIA DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR OR FIX THE PROBLEM... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534342August 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I CANNOT ENTER AND EXIT MY CAR SAFELY ANYMORE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY FOB OR BY KEY MANUALLY. I WAS IN A HURRY AT ONE POINT TO EXIT TO RETRIEVE MY CHILD WHO HAD EXITED THE CAR AND WAS HEADING INTO TRAFFIC AT A PARKING LOT AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. I HAD TO EXIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DOOR WORKS IN RARE INSTANCES, BUT IS NOT RELIABLE OR DEPENDABLE. THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE NEW. HOWEVER, I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE SHOULD I HAVE AN EMERGENCY, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OR EXIT THE CAR AS NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532488July 29, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AFTER THE DOORS ARE LOCKED . IF YOU UNLOCK THE DOORS THE DRIVER SIDE WILL UNLOCK AND THEN RE LOCK ITSELF. IF THERE WAS TO BE A VEHICLE FIRE OR OTHER PROBLEM, THE DRIVE WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF A WINDOW OR CROSS OVER THE CENTER CONSUL TO EXIT THE VEHICLE . THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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