NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
141 reports132,818 miles · Jul 16, 2009
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD TO RECEIVE A WHEEL ALIGNMENT IN CONJUNCTION TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD TO RECEIVE A WHEEL ALIGNMENT IN CONJUNCTION TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 132,818. UPDATED 8/7/09 *CN UPDATED 08/11/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10276950
39,500 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Power Train
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 U…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10272705
41,000 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages
EVERYTIME I TRY TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, FROM INSIDE THE CAR OR OUTSIDE, THE ENTIRE CAR LOCKS DOWN. I CAN ONLY OPEN THIS DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE, WITH THE KEY, WHILE CATCHING THE LOCKING MECHANISM BETWEEN CYCLES. THIS TAKES A LOT OF TIMING AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. NO ONE CAN GET IN OR OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS H…
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EVERYTIME I TRY TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, FROM INSIDE THE CAR OR OUTSIDE, THE ENTIRE CAR LOCKS DOWN. I CAN ONLY OPEN THIS DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE, WITH THE KEY, WHILE CATCHING THE LOCKING MECHANISM BETWEEN CYCLES. THIS TAKES A LOT OF TIMING AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. NO ONE CAN GET IN OR OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED 2 YEARS AGO AND IT ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES. THE 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ONLY APPLIES TO THE 1ST OWNER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10272703
100,000 miles · May 1, 2009
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
LOCKING SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING ALL DOORS TO LOCK ON THE VEHICLE WITH NO MEANS TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. CAN NOT GET OUT BY THE WINDOWS AND THE MOTOR WILL NOT SHUT DOWN FOR QUIT SOME TIME. WE BELIEVE IT ALSO TRIGGERED OR MALFUNCTIONED THE ANTI-THEFT CAUSING IT TO INGAGE WHICH WOULD PREVENT YOU EXITING THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267506
70,000 miles · Jan 22, 2009
Air Bags
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.
NHTSA ODI #10255958
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2008
Air Bags
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
NHTSA ODI #10251333
97,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages
2003 KIA OPTIMA POWER DOOR LOCKS STICK & WON'T RELEASE, NECESSITATING DRIVER TO CRAWL OVER CONSOLE IN ORDER TO EXIT AND/OR PASSENGERS CANNOT GET OUT WITHOUT CRAWLING THROUGH WINDOW. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238648
57,000 miles · Jul 31, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages
RE:2003 KIA OPTIMA POWER DOOR LOCKS STICK & WON'T RELEASE, NECESSITATING DRIVER TO CRAWL OVER CONSOLE IN ORDER TO EXIT. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236573
58,671 miles · Jun 5, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT A VAPOR HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL CANISTER CRACKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE AND …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT A VAPOR HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL CANISTER CRACKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE AND LEVER FENDER. THE REPAIR COSTS TOTALED $104; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER IS NOW SUGGESTING THAT THE CLUSTER PANEL WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V180000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,671. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE PUMP CLICKED, BUT THAT GAS GAUGE ONLY SHOWED 1/2 TANK OF GAS. UPDATED 08/05/08
NHTSA ODI #10230056
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2008
Electrical System
EL AUTO KIA OPTIMA 2003, EN MLTIPLES OCASIONES HA MARCADO ALTAS TEMPERATURAS. EXISTEN PROBLEMAS PARA PONERLE GASOLINA YA QUE LA BOTA O NO PERMITE QUE SE LE ECHE MS ENTRE OTROS DEFECTOS.
NHTSA ODI #10220848
Official recalls
2May 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.
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 ↗
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