IllustrationAIR 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
2003 Kia Optima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Kia Optima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Optima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
1025–50K
2250–75K
2775–100K
28100–150K
7150K+
105 reports with mileage · 36 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
17 reportsAFTER 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 …
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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.
TL* 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.
TL* 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 2/1/2016*JS UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB
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. *TR
TL* 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, HE HAD 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 …
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TL* 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, HE HAD 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.
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. *TR
TL*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 F…
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TL*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.
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
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 REPOR…
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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
Official recalls
209V183000 · Suspension:front
May 27, 2009
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME. OVER TIME, SUCH SUBFRAME CORROSION NEAR THE CONNECTION TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN LEAD TO WHEEL MISALIGNMENT AND/OR OTHER NOTICEABLE STRESS IN STEERING, OR ACCELERATED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: KMC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
04V180000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Apr 12, 2004
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.