2003 Kia Optima

MY WIFE NOTICED THE CAR PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND CALLED HER BROTHER. HE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THAT EVENING 12/30/2013. HE DROVE THE CAR PULLING ONTO A HIGHWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE -- NEITHER FORWARD NOR REVERSE. HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE FRONT AXLE DROPPED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS TOWED AND THE GARAGE NOTIFIED US THAT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME HAD CORRODED. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS NHTSA RECALLED KIA OPTIMA (2001-2004 MODEL YEARS) ON MAY 27, 2009. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON 12/31/13 WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO OUR VEHICLE. THE KMC WAS CONTACTED ON 1/2/14. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS BASED ON "SALT USAGE OF 20 STATES AND DC." THIS INTERPRETATION OF THE NHTSA RECALL ID # 84125 NEEDS DIRECT CLARIFICATION FROM THE NHTSA. THE ORIGINAL RECALL LETTER STATES: "KMC IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2001 - 2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY "SOLD IN OR" CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF (20 + THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA)." SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN INDIANA MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE INITIAL RECALL. REGARDLESS, THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD WARRANT A NOTIFICATION TO ALL OWNERS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS MECHANICAL ISSUE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. THIS COMPLAINT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH ODI# 10558172. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY; THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/16/11 UPDATED 3/8/11 *CN

AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND TURN LEFT. MY CAR WOULD NOT "GO". SO I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HARDER AND IT FINALLY AND SLOWLY MOVED FORWARD. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT IT WAS LIKE I WAS DRIVING A MANUAL AND HAD TRIED TO START IN 3RD GEAR INSTEAD OF 1ST. IT'S ALMOST LIKE MY CAR HAD TO CATCH UP FOR A MINUTE BEFORE IT WOULD GO. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THAT TO DIFFERENT DEGREES. IT IS A 2003 WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED. I AM AFRAID IT WILL DO THIS ON THE INTERSTATE OR WHEN I AM TRYING TO MERGE AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. *TR

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

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 KIA OPTIMA ON I85 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED QUICKLY TO LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPUTTER AND BACKFIRE UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES BEFORE PROCEEDING NORMALLY. MY WIFE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND IS AFRAID OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES. THE LAST REPAIR INVOLVED PARAMOUNT KIA IN HICKORY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED MANY OF THE ASSUMED PROBLEM PARTS SUCH AS FAULTY WIRING HARNESS, ECM, MAF SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP WITHOUT RESOLVE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM