NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
141 reports88,000 miles · Dec 26, 2014
Unknown Or Other
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR IS WITH THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. IT STARTED IN APRIL WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. WHEN YOU UNLOCKED THE DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB, ALL THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK, BUT WHEN YOU GRABBED THE HANDLE OF THE DOOR TO OPEN IT, ALL THE DOORS TO THE CAR WOULD LOCK.IT COST ME $350…
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THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR IS WITH THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. IT STARTED IN APRIL WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. WHEN YOU UNLOCKED THE DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB, ALL THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK, BUT WHEN YOU GRABBED THE HANDLE OF THE DOOR TO OPEN IT, ALL THE DOORS TO THE CAR WOULD LOCK.IT COST ME $350.00 TO GET THAT FIXED. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR OUT. THE KEY FOB WON'T UNLOCK IT, NOR MANUALLY USING A KEY. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT I THINK KIA SHOULD BE FIXING. WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN A SERIOUS WRECK, AND WAS KILLED, OR SERIOUSLY INJURED? I TALKED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED, BECAUSE MY WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10668403
97,055 miles · Dec 21, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
DRIVERS DOOR IS JAMMED LOCKED. THE REMOTE WORKS THE LOCKS MOVE WITH REMOTE AND KEY. THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON KIA FORUM REGARDING DOOR LOCKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667516
115,000 miles · Dec 18, 2014
Latches/locks/linkages
THE AUTO DOOR LOCK WOULD SNAP SHUT FROM INSIDE OR OUT. MY DAUGHTER HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667051
75,126 miles · Oct 16, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #10648128
85,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
Air BagsStructure
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.
NHTSA ODI #10619330
145,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Latches/locks/linkages
THE DOOR(S) HAVE LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT MANY ATTEMPTS TO PULL ON THE HANDLE WHILE TURNING THE KEY. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, ATTEMPTS AT UNLOCKING WITH THE KEY RESULTED IN ALL DOORS LOCKING WHEN THE INNER OR OUTER HANDLE WAS PULLED, POTENTIALLY TRAPPING SOMEONE IN THE CAR. THEN IT HAPPENED TO …
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THE DOOR(S) HAVE LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT MANY ATTEMPTS TO PULL ON THE HANDLE WHILE TURNING THE KEY. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, ATTEMPTS AT UNLOCKING WITH THE KEY RESULTED IN ALL DOORS LOCKING WHEN THE INNER OR OUTER HANDLE WAS PULLED, POTENTIALLY TRAPPING SOMEONE IN THE CAR. THEN IT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER DOOR A FEW MONTHS LATER. REPLACING THE LATCH FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10609314
69,000 miles · May 9, 2014
Electrical System
THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY FOB, KEY OR MANUALLY. YOU ARE LITERALLY LOCKED IN THE CAR AND CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT. THIS IS HORRIBLY DANGEROUS AND IF YOU WERE IN AN ACCIDENT YOU COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. PLEASE HELP GET A RECALL ON THIS PART. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587450
100,000 miles · Apr 18, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
FIRST: IN THE AFFECT PARTS SECTION OF THIS COMPLAINT THERE IS NO WHERE TO MARK DEFECTIVE LOCKS. I HAVE 2003 KIA OPTIMA SE FOUR-DOOR. IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY LOCK AND UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. WILL ONLY STOP CLICKING ON AND OFF WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BY BEING LOCKED IN AN AUTO WITH ELECTRONIC LOCKS TH…
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FIRST: IN THE AFFECT PARTS SECTION OF THIS COMPLAINT THERE IS NO WHERE TO MARK DEFECTIVE LOCKS. I HAVE 2003 KIA OPTIMA SE FOUR-DOOR. IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY LOCK AND UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. WILL ONLY STOP CLICKING ON AND OFF WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BY BEING LOCKED IN AN AUTO WITH ELECTRONIC LOCKS THAT CANNOT BE UNLOCKED EITHER MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEY FOB. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL, EITHER INVOLUNTARILY OR VOLUNTARILY. I BOUGHT THIS AUTO NEW AND STILL HAVE IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10583604
90,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Unknown Or Other
MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HAD BECOME COMPLETELY STUCK CLOSED AND WONT OPEN. THE LOCK MECHANISMS WORK FINE FOR ALL FOUR DOORS STILL AS WELL AS THE WINDOWS.
NHTSA ODI #10567302
131,000 miles · Jan 27, 2014
Structure
I HAD PARKED AT THE GROCERY STORE ONE NIGHT AND MY CAR DOOR WOULDN'T SHUT. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE LATCH WAS STUCK IN A POSITION THAT WOULDN'T CATCH. FINALLY, AFTER LIFTING THE DOOR HANDLE AND PUSHING THE DOOR SHUT, IT STAYED CLOSED. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE, I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED USING …
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I HAD PARKED AT THE GROCERY STORE ONE NIGHT AND MY CAR DOOR WOULDN'T SHUT. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE LATCH WAS STUCK IN A POSITION THAT WOULDN'T CATCH. FINALLY, AFTER LIFTING THE DOOR HANDLE AND PUSHING THE DOOR SHUT, IT STAYED CLOSED. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE, I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED USING THE KEY AND THE AUTOMATIC LOCK FEATURES, BUT NEITHER ALLOWED FOR THE DOOR TO OPEN. I NOW HAVE TO EXIT AND ENTER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD BE TRAPPED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10561606
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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