Kia Optima Complaints (2004)

225 consumer complaints on file.

#10469126August 3, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 KIA OPTIMA PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UNLOCK (OR OPEN) THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM ACCORDED A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK MY CAR DOOR. ONCE I REMOVED MY KEY AND LIFTED THE HANDLE TO GET IN ALL OF THE DOORS LOCK. I HAD TO ENTER THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL ALSO NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT I WILL BE TRAPPED INSIDE AND COULD DIE!! I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. AND IT APPEARS THAT THE 2003 MODEL HAS THE SAME ISSUE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/989/MY-DRIVERS-DOOR-IS-LOCKED-WILL-NOT-UNLOCK, AS WELL AS WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/+866401-DRIVERS_DOOR_WILL_NOT_UNLOCK THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL AS I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468278July 30, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE KEY WON'T WORK. I HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT RISKING POTENTIAL INJURY . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO SAID BASICALLY THAT IT WASN'T HIS DEALERSHIP'S PROBLEM AND TO CALL KIA CONSUMER NUMBER. I DID CALL AND HE ALSO SAID BASICALLY THAT IT IS NOT KIA'S PROBLEM, IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, AND TOO BAD FOR YOU. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED INSTANCES OF THIS DOOR LATCH FAILING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DESPITE WHAT THE CONSUMER REP SAID AT KIA. $50.00 DIAGNOSIS COST PLUS , WHEN THE PART FINALLY COMES IN, ANOTHER $230.00 DOLLARS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR KIA TO IGNORE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465058July 10, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM BOTH THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 71,634.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464071July 3, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WITH THE AUTOMATIC KEY FOB BUT THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE BY MANUALLY TURNING THE KEY ABRUPTLY AND PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CONSTANTLY DEPRESSING THE AUTOMATED KEY FOB UNTIL THE DOOR LOCKS RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458917May 18, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL LOCK YOU IN THE VEHICLE AND WON'T LET YOU OUT. YOU CAN BE DRIVING WITH THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND IT WILL LOCK ITSELF WHILE IN MOTION OR YOU MAYBE READY TO LEAVE A LOCATION AND CAN'T GET BACK IN THE CAR. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK OF BEING TRAPPED IN MY CAR AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T GET THE LOCKS TO LET ME OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN A SCARY SITUATION AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE HURT OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458921May 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR TO KIA OF ORANGE PARK IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH STALLING AND HESTITATION AT START AND THE CAR HAS STOPPED ON MY WHILE IN GEAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (THREE OR FOUR TIMES). EACH AND EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SEEM TO SAY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERNS I AM HAVING. I HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO GO A LONG DISTANCE WITH THE CAR BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES. I RECENTLY SWITCHED TO SOUTHSIDE KIA IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND THEY CONVINCED ME THE CAR WAS FIXED AFTER REPLACING SPARKS PLUS, FUEL PUMP, GAS TANK VALVE, AND ON ONE OCASSION THEY FOUND THE TPS SENSOR LOOSE FROM THE PREVIOUS KIA DEALERSHIP DOING A THROTTLE BODY SERVICE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH KIA RIGHT ABOUT NOW AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458697May 16, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE POWER LOCK OR BY KEY, I HAVE BEEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF MY CAR BY USING THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR. MY HUSBAND FOUND A WAY TO UNLOCK MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR, NOW I CAN NOT LOCK MY CAR AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457234May 3, 2012
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
WE HAVE HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS ALWAYS JUST BEFORE THE STATE INSPECTION IS DUE EVERY TIME WE GET IT FIXED THEY SAID ITS A SWITCH OR A CONNECTOR. BUT THIS YEAR WAS THE WORST ,LIGHT CAME ON IN APRIL, THIS TIME THEY SAID IT'S THE AIRBAG WIRE HARNESS AND WOULD COST OVER 1500.00 . WE GOT KIA TO PAY FOR THE PART,AND WE WOULD COVER THE LABOR. I'M JUST WORRIED WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456534April 26, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS AND WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY OR FROM THE INSIDE UNLOCK LEVER. DRIVER IS TRAPPED INSIDE CAR AND MUST EXIT BY CRAWLING OVER CONSOLE TO PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IT RENDERS THE CAR UNABLE TO BE LOCKED AT ALL. THERE SEEM TO BE PLENTY OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM, YET NO RECALL FROM KIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452145March 18, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY CAR WILL NOT UNLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH THIS FOR 4 TO 6 MONTHS NOW. AND GETTING REALLY UPSET PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS CONSIDERED A SAFETLY HAZARD AND THIS IS COVERED I REALLY DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE ONLY WAY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO UNLOCK IS FOR ME TO CRAWL OUT OF THE PASSANGER SIDE. THEN PLAY WITH THE LOCK WITH THEY KEY FOR A FEW DAYS TO HAVE IT UNLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448430February 18, 2012
AIR BAGS
I PURCHASED MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA WITH 100K MILES ON IT AND AFTER ABOUT 30 DAYS THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY MOVING INCIDENT AND REMAINED ON. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER (ROSEN, MILWAUKEE, WI) AND THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE CONTACTS BECAUSE I GOT CODE B1378, AIRBAG RESISTANCE TO HIGH. THEY SPRAYED SOMETHING ON THE CONTACTS BECAUSE THE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THEY RESET THE AIRBAG LIGHT FREE OF CHARGE, BUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT ONE WEEK THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT KIA NEEDS TO RESOLVE BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE CAR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446385February 3, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK, WHICH PREVENTED ACCESS IN ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ACCESS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444977January 23, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVER DOOR REFUSED TO OPEN. I HAVE A DISABILITY SO THIS CREATED A HUGE PROBLEM FOR ME. WHEN I PUT GAS IN MY CAR (REGARDLESS OF GRADE OR GAS STATION) MY CAR REFUSES TO START. WHEN I MAKE A U-TURN, MY CAR MAKES LOUD CLICKING SOUND. I HAD IT CHECKED...MY AXLE AND EVERY THING ELSE LOOKS FINE. NO ONE CAN ESTABLISH WHERE THE NOISE COMES FROM. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ALL THESE ISSUES BUT IT DOES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443894January 16, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT, IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES AND THE STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438616December 5, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AFTER RECEIVING A JUMP START TO THE BATTERY. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 80,034.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436692November 21, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO CRAWL IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN WHEN I WANT TO GET OUT I HAVE TO CRAWL OVER AND EXIT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. TRIED TO UNLOCK IT WITH MY KEYLESS ENTRY AND NOW IT DOESN'T WORK. REPLACED BATTERIES BUT STILL NOT WORKING. MY SON KEPT TURNING THE KEY IN THE DOOR AND FINALLY GOT IT OPENED. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I AM TIRED OF HAVING TO CRAWL IN AND OUT OF MY CAR. I ALWAYS ENJOYED DRIVING MY KIA BUT NOT ANYMORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435350November 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. NEITHER THE KEY NOR THE DOOR LOCK KNOB ON THE INSIDE WORKS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE DRIVER SIDE BY ENTERING THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL KIA MODELS AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE WEBSITE HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/989/MY-DRIVERS-DOOR-IS-LOCKED-WILL-NOT-UNLOCK . THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE ONCE IN THE DRIVER SEAT, THE DRIVER CAN NOT EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER DOOR WHICH CAN PROVE TO BE A PROBLEM IN AN EMERGENCY. KIA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OWNERS BY NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY, MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHILE DRIVING AND EMPHATICALLY PLEAD WITH YOU TO RECALL THESE KIA CARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430540October 17, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO START AFTER FUEL FILL-UP. IT GOT WORSE AFTER EACH FILL UP. TRIED PUTTING FUEL IN WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING, BUT IT WOULD JUST CUT OFF. MUST PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND REV GAS AFTER PUTTING IN FUEL TO GET GOING. I WAS USING KROGER GAS, I SWITCHED TO SHELL GAS BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON. I THINK THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2003 KIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425825September 16, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE JUST PURCHASED IS CAR LAST SATURDAY AND WENT TO THE STORE AND LOCKED THE DOORS THEN WHEN WE WENT TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE KEY ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND PULL THE HANDLE AND THE DOORS WOULD LOCK BACK. I HAD TO GET IN AND BACK OUT THROUGH THE PASSANGER SIDE. WHEN I GOT HOME MY SON FINALLY GOT IT TO UNLOCK AND OPEN AND EVERYTIME WE WOULD LOCK IT IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN. WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP WORKING WITH IT UNTIL IT FIANLLY UNLOCKS AND THE DOOR OPENS. SO NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOCK IT. I READ ONLINE OF MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT WOULD REALLY BE NICE TO GET A RECALL FOR IT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424267September 8, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS INOPERABLE. ONCE LOCKED, IT COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,580.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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