2003 Kia Optima

TL*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.

TL* 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 01/31/11 *BF THE 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

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. *TR

***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. *TR

TL* 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.