Kia Optima Complaints (2003)

141 consumer complaints on file.

#10210467December 1, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203440September 19, 2007
POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*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. *KB UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192106May 31, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189799May 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188478April 20, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188057April 16, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*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.*AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED MULTIPLE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT. UPDATE 05/10/07*TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10186713April 2, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*- 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.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177694January 3, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171190October 4, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2003 OPTIMA AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN SWERVING TO AVOID A MANHOLE. *TS 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. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167792September 10, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165870August 16, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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. *KB 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. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163722July 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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. *KB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163287July 24, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161805July 7, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10161487July 5, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143300November 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137572September 26, 2005
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132459August 11, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: THE CALLER STATED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE, AND DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX IT. MANUFACTURER SAID DID NOT HAVE THE PART ANYWHERE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128422July 12, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128180July 9, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 WAS TOTALED 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 MECHANICAL ENGINEER FOR CHYSLER, COULD NOT EXPLAIN/UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED. PLEASE HELP ME GET TO THE BOTTOM IS THIS MATTER.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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