2004 Kia Optima

Door lock/unlock mechanism has failed. Unable to unlock and open door from outside or inside. This defect causes the door to stay locked and unable to open. This can trap people inside of the car if they are unable to crawl out a window or exit from another door. There are many reports of this on Kia forums and general Google search. There was no warning that this part was wearing out until it became impossible to open the door.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL DORATY KIA (2925 MEDINA RD, MEDINA, OH 44256, (330) 721-9500) FOR ROUTINE BRAKE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A CRACK IN THE FRONT FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. SINCE WINTER WAS APPROACHING, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME WOULD COMPLETELY CRACK DUE TO THE WEATHER AND SALTED ROADWAYS IN HER STATE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICES IN 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. THE DEALER SENT PICTURES OF THE CRACKED FRAME TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ISSUED CASE NUMBER: 2560103. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL LOUD SOUND FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK 85% OF THE TIME, PREVENTING NORMAL ENTRY TO / EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS USING THE KEY IN THE DOOR LATCH ARE REQUIRED TO GAIN ENTRY THE OTHER 15% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF CRASH, FIRE, OR CARJACKING. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AROUND 100K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL EVENT...

DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT. POWER DOOR LOCK WOULD AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCK ALL DOORS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN OR UNLOCK WITH KEY OR INSIDE LOCK LEVER. HAD TO CRAWL OVER CONSOLE TO GET IN OR OUT WHEN FINALLY ABLE TO GET PASSENGER FRONT DOOR TO OPEN. FINALLY ABLE TO GET DOOR OPEN BY HOLDING KEY CYLINDER IN UNLOCK POSITION AND FORCING HANDLE TO OPEN. UNHOOKED DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. AS LONG AS LOCKED OR UNLOCKED DOOR WITH KEY ONLY, DOOR WOULD OPEN. IF LOCKED DOOR WITH INSIDE LOCK LEVER, DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AGAIN. MECHANIC REPLACING THE DRIVER FRONT DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY REPAIRED VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IN ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

OUT OF NOWHERE MY DAUGHTER'S CAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TRAPPING HER INSIDE. IT WON'T OPEN WITH THE KEY OR REMOTE. I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID MY WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THERE IS NO RECALL DESPITE THIS BEING A COMMON ISSUE-- A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE I MUST SAY, SINCE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COULD POSSIBLY BE TRAPPED AND DIE IN AN EMERGENCY.