NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
45 reportsClear category filter110,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Electrical System
ACCELERATED TO GET OUT OF SNOW EMBANKMENT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR LOCKS WENT OUT OF WHACK AND LOCKED DOORS. COULD NOT EXIT, CONTINUED TO RELOCK AND TIME YOU TOUCHED LOCKS OR DOOR TO GET OUT! VERY UNSAFE!!! LOCKED IN VEHICLE ONLY EXIT REAR DOORS, ELECTRICAL NOT OK AFTER RESET BATTERY. I ORDERED NEW PART, NOT EVEN SURE I…
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ACCELERATED TO GET OUT OF SNOW EMBANKMENT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR LOCKS WENT OUT OF WHACK AND LOCKED DOORS. COULD NOT EXIT, CONTINUED TO RELOCK AND TIME YOU TOUCHED LOCKS OR DOOR TO GET OUT! VERY UNSAFE!!! LOCKED IN VEHICLE ONLY EXIT REAR DOORS, ELECTRICAL NOT OK AFTER RESET BATTERY. I ORDERED NEW PART, NOT EVEN SURE IT WILL FIX IT. DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL!!!!!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10691816
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2015
Electrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobility
DRIVERS SIDE LOCKING AND NOT RELEASING. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE. (USING THE KEY ON THE OUTSIDE OR THE PAD ON THE INSIDE DOOR) I HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE BACK DOOR BECAUSE THE PLASTIC PIECES THAT WERE USED WHEN MAKING THE CAR ARE WORN OUT AND NOT ALLOWING THE LOCK TO…
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DRIVERS SIDE LOCKING AND NOT RELEASING. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE. (USING THE KEY ON THE OUTSIDE OR THE PAD ON THE INSIDE DOOR) I HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE BACK DOOR BECAUSE THE PLASTIC PIECES THAT WERE USED WHEN MAKING THE CAR ARE WORN OUT AND NOT ALLOWING THE LOCK TO UNLOCK. IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. I AM HOPING THAT A RECALL OR A SILENT RECALL WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS SINCE I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET THE DOOR PANEL OFF TO FIX IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10691413
134,000 miles · Feb 12, 2015
Electrical System
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. IT SHOWS THAT IT'S UNLOCKED. I CAN USE THE KEY AND CONTINUOUSLY PULL THE HANDLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT WAS OPENING. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. TOOK IT TO KIA IN HOLLAND THEY QUOTED ME A MINIMUM OF $300 TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT IT COULD BE. I WILL NOT ALLOW AN IGNO…
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THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. IT SHOWS THAT IT'S UNLOCKED. I CAN USE THE KEY AND CONTINUOUSLY PULL THE HANDLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT WAS OPENING. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. TOOK IT TO KIA IN HOLLAND THEY QUOTED ME A MINIMUM OF $300 TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT IT COULD BE. I WILL NOT ALLOW AN IGNORANT PERSON TO TOUCH MY VEHICLE. I CAN AT LEAST TELL YOU THAT IT IS THE LATCH. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN. IF I AM HIT ON MY PASSENGER SIDE AND AM IN NEED OF HELP I MIGHT AS WELL CLOSE MY EYES AND DIE. NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ME OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO DRAG ME OUT OF THE WINDOW WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE TO BREAK. THIS COULD EASILY BE AN ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683118
89,400 miles · Feb 12, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
MY CAR COMPLETELY TURNS OFF WHILE IM DRIVING IT, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I USED IT THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY AND TRY TO USED IT AGAIN IT TURNS OF AND LOOSE POWER, I CAN'T TURN IT ON AGAIN IN THAT MOMENT I NEED TO WAIT AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN BUT IF HAPPENS REALLY FREQUENTLY AND ITS REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IM ON THE FREEWAY AND CA…
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MY CAR COMPLETELY TURNS OFF WHILE IM DRIVING IT, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I USED IT THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY AND TRY TO USED IT AGAIN IT TURNS OF AND LOOSE POWER, I CAN'T TURN IT ON AGAIN IN THAT MOMENT I NEED TO WAIT AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN BUT IF HAPPENS REALLY FREQUENTLY AND ITS REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IM ON THE FREEWAY AND CARS ARE BEHIND ME AND I CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING WORSE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD INSPECT MY CAR BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AT THAT MOMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683010
100,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY OR WITH BY USING THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY OR WITH BY USING THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10671024
10,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesVisibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA ODI #10640298
123,000 miles · Sep 12, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
DRIVER'S DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE CAR AND IT DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE MANUALLY EITHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10632888
64,000 miles · Jul 13, 2014
Electrical System
WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF OF WORK ON THE NIGHT OF 7/12/2014, I WENT TO MY CAR TO UNLOCK MY DOOR WITH THE KEY. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I HAD TO GET INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLIMB OVER THE CENTER COUNSEL AND INTO MY DRIVER SEAT. ONCE I GOT HOME, I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVE SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THEREFORE, I DID THE REV…
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WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF OF WORK ON THE NIGHT OF 7/12/2014, I WENT TO MY CAR TO UNLOCK MY DOOR WITH THE KEY. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I HAD TO GET INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLIMB OVER THE CENTER COUNSEL AND INTO MY DRIVER SEAT. ONCE I GOT HOME, I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVE SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THEREFORE, I DID THE REVERSE ABOVE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPEN TO ME. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 9/25/12 AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DOOR LATCH, WHICH COST ABOUT $200. READING THE INFORMATION ON HERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. KIA MUST PLACE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS IS A REQUIRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS ASAP! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10610212
107,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure
DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE, EVEN WHEN IN 'UNLOCK' POSITION. I DROVE TO WORK, HAVING NO PROBLEMS OPENING THE DOOR TO GET INTO THE CAR, NOTHING UNUSUAL HAPPENED DURING MY 15 MINUTE COMMUTE. I ARRIVED AT WORK, AND WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOW ONLY OPEN IF …
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DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE, EVEN WHEN IN 'UNLOCK' POSITION. I DROVE TO WORK, HAVING NO PROBLEMS OPENING THE DOOR TO GET INTO THE CAR, NOTHING UNUSUAL HAPPENED DURING MY 15 MINUTE COMMUTE. I ARRIVED AT WORK, AND WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOW ONLY OPEN IF YOU USE THE KEY AND CAN RANDOMLY FIND THE PERFECT TIMING OF TURNING THE KEY AND PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PERFORM THIS MANEUVER FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. HAVING NO EASE OF ACCESS FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE POSES AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN TO ALL THOSE DRIVING SIMILAR VEHICLES. HAVING PERFORMED JUST CURSORY RESEARCH OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS, I HAVE COME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR ACCOUNTS FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10598494
121,931 miles · Jul 26, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
WHEN I STARTED TO LEAVE FOR WORK THIS MORNING; I COULD NOT GET INTO THE CAR FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE; THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK; I COULD NOT GET IT TO OPEN. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPEN BEFORE SO I LOOKED CAREFULLY AND SAW NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR SO I TRIED AGAIN TO UNLOCK AND OPEN MY DOOR. I PUT THE KEY IN THE KEYHOLE AS USUAL BUT I…
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WHEN I STARTED TO LEAVE FOR WORK THIS MORNING; I COULD NOT GET INTO THE CAR FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE; THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK; I COULD NOT GET IT TO OPEN. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPEN BEFORE SO I LOOKED CAREFULLY AND SAW NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR SO I TRIED AGAIN TO UNLOCK AND OPEN MY DOOR. I PUT THE KEY IN THE KEYHOLE AS USUAL BUT I NOTICE THAT IT FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT FITTING CORRECTLY AND AS I TURNED THE KEY AND IT WAS HARDER TO TURN BUT I COULD HEAR THE SOUND OF THE DOORS UNLOCKING SO I PULLED THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AGAIN AND IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. THE OTHER THREE CAR DOORS WORKS FINE; LOCKING AND UNLOCKING LIKE THEY SHOULD. I WAS THEN FORCED TO GET INTO THE CAR FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THERE I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE BUT MY EFFORTS THERE ALSO FAILED; WHICH WAS VERY ALARMING. I COULD FEEL MY ANXIETY BUILDING (FEELING TRAPPED & NOT ABLE TO OPEN MY CAR DOOR AT ANYTIME) I WAS RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND HAVE TO GO TO WORK . I TRIED TO OPEN MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOTHING WORKED. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND LET DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS. I COULD BREATHE SOME FRESH AIR. ALL DAY I HAD TO GET IN AND OUT OF MY CAR FORM THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. I TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR SEVERAL TIME THROUGHOUT THE DAY BUT NOTHING WOULD WORK. MY DOOR BEING STUCK SHUT IS A HORRIBLE FEELING TO HAVE WHEN DRIVING KNOWING THAT ONE OF MY WAYS TO ESCAPE FROM THE CAR GONE ALMOST HELPLESS AT FIRST SO I HOPE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT A SMALL MATTER TO YOU BECAUSE IT IS PUTTING OUR LIFE IN A SERIOUS SITUATION; SO PLEASE TREATED THIS AS SUCH. THINK OF THIS: IF THERE WERE FIRE MARSHALLS FOR CARS, WOULD THEY EVER TOLERATE A FRONT DOOR THAT CAN'T BE OPEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE INSIDE? NO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10531921
Official recalls
1May 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗