2004 Kia Optima Complaint Log

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS UNLOCKED BUT FAILED TO OPEN AS A RESULT THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 86,200.

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

DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT INDICATES THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED. DESPITE MULTIPLE TRIES THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN TRAPPING THE DRIVER IN THE CAR. *TR

DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS AND CANNOT BE OPENED WITH A KEY AND DOES NOT OPEN ONCE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE OPERATOR ESSENTIALLY IS LOCKED IN THE CAR. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR FIRE, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EASILY VACATE THE VEHICLE; THE ONLY WAY WOULD BE TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OR THE REAR TO EXIT THE PASSENGER DOORS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THE DEFECT AND AFFECTS MULTIPLE MANUFACTURING YEARS. IN MY OPINION IT CLEARLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

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

THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I HAVE TRIED USING THE KEY, THE ELECTRIC LOCKS FROM THE INSIDE AND ALSO MANUALLY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS DEFECT ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THIS HAPPENS A LOT TO KIA'S AROUND THIS YEAR OF CAR. *TR THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF OR INTO THE CAR IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. A DOOR LOCK OF THIS YEAR OF CAR SHOULD NOT FAIL THIS OFTEN OR AT ALL. I HAVE MUCH OLDER VEHICLES THAT HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF A VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LATCH AND LOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD ONLY ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BY USING ANOTHER DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE DOOR (DRIVERS SIDE) WILL NOT UNLOCK. WHEN YOU PULL THE HANDLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IT LOCKS AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS DURING AN EMERGENCY. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE IN 2003 - 2005 KIAS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A SAFETY RECALL YET MAKING KIA FIX THIS ISSUE ON ALL VEHICLES. MAYBE IT TAKES AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE BEING TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND LOSING THEIR LIFE BEFORE THIS IS REPAIRED. I DIDN'T FIND JUST A FEW ISSUES WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE FOR THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING, I FOUND PAGE AFTER PAGE OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE ON THEIR KIA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE SUB FRAM WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION) HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE CONTACT'S PURCHASE. THE REMEDY INCLUDED AN INSPECTION OF THE SUB FRAME, DRILLING HOLES INTO THE SUB FRAME AND APPLYING A SEALANT COATING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DID NOT PREVENT THE DEFECT FROM OCCURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,603.

WHEN TRYING TO EXIT MY KIA, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED THE MANUAL AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHES ON THE DOOR AND ALL I COULD GET WAS A CLICK, AND THEN AN IMMEDIATE RE-LOCK OF THE DOORS, AS SOON AS I PULLED ON THE DOOR HANDLE. I THEN ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN AND TRIED THE KEY, SEVERAL TIMES, FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I MANAGED TO WORK MY 79 YEAR OLD 210 LB. BODY OVER TO THE PASSENGER SEAT AND TRIED THE SAME THING AND GOT THE SAME RESULTS. I WAS READY TO CALL 911 WHEN I TRIED THE KEY ON THE OUTSIDE AGAIN FOR THE 5TH OR 6TH TIME AND THE LOCKS WORKED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I UNDERSTAND IS QUITE COMMON ON THE KIA'S AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES, I KNOW I WAS FRIGHTENED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A WRECK WITH A FIRE AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, TWICE WHILE LOCKED INSIDE AND TWICE FROM THE OUTSIDE TYING TO GET IN. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUT. ONLY WAY IN/OUT OF THE CAR IS THROUGH 3 OTHER DOORS. CANNOT USE KEY TO MANUALLY GET IN DOOR. LATCH MECHANISM WILL NOT DISENGAGE. IF YOU ARE INSIDE THE CAR AND TRY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND OPEN IT, IT WILL MAKE A SOUND LIKE THE DOOR HAS BEEN UNLOCKED, BUT THEN WILL RELOCK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY NOTICED RUST ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUBFRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION) BUT NO REPAIR WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,615. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF

IN THE CAR WITH THE DOORS LOCKED, PARKED AND DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. TRIED THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND THE LOCKS UNLOCKED AND IMMEDIATELY LOCKED AGAIN. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES. I TRIED TO ACTUALLY US THE LOCK ITSELF (MANUAL) AND DID THE SAME THING. I ALSO TRIED THE KEYLESS REMOTE AND THIS DIDN'T WORK EITHER. THE LOCKS WOULD UNLOCK THEN RELOCK IMMEDIATELY. I STARTED TO PANIC BUT LEANED OVER TO THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE MANUAL LOOK UNLOCK JUST THAT DOOR. IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT OR IF A CHILD WERE IN THE CAR, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM! I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HAVEN'T HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE READ ONLINE AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVER'S DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE CAR AND IT DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE MANUALLY EITHER. *TR

I WAS ON A WEEKEND TRIP AND WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK OR OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I AM BACK HOME NOW. I HAVE TRIED SPRAYING SOME LUBRICANT ON DOOR LATCH BUT I STILL CAN NOT GET IT TO OPEN. *JS

A CHILD WAS SITTING IN THE REAR CENTER SEAT WHEN A SNAPPING SOUND OCCURRED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. UPON INVESTIGATION THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM BROKE, CAUSING IT TO NOT RETRACT OR LOCK. SECOND SEAT BELT TO BREAK ON THIS VEHICLE, A YEAR APART. *TR CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS SEAT BELTS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD POP. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

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

THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON SOLID. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE PUT THE COMPUTER ON IT. HE SAID IT READ THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT AS IT GOES OUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, EVERY FEW DAYS. I DO NOT HAVE THE $1000 PLUS TO REPAIR IT. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. *TR

THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS WHICH I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR CONSIDERING THE AIR BAGS MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS RESET IT SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR WON'T PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHT ON. I AM A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE ON A FIXED INCOME. I NEED THE CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND AT THIS TIME DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET IT FIXED IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. I NEED THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO CONSIDER CALLING A RECALL ON THESE AIRBAGS DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE BAGS WOULDN'T DEPLOY. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS CAR INSPECTED WITH LITTLE COST TO ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEAD RESTS WERE DESIGNED WITH AN INTERIOR BAR COVERED BY FABRIC. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE METAL PROTRUDED AND CAUSED DISCOMFORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHEN UNLOCKING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, SAYS ITS UNLOCKED BUT WONT OPEN. WHEN INSIDE OF CAR IF U LOCK DOOR U CANNOT GET OUT USING DRIVERS DOOR. ITS DANGEROUS. AND IT IS EMBARRASSING CLIMBING OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE POWER LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR AND IT COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,628.

DRIVER DOOR FAILS TO OPEN. WHEN WILL SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THERE ARE COMPLAINTS EVERYWHERE ONLINE ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE ON THIS EXACT MODEL AND OTHER YEARS TOO. I CAN'T GET IN OR OUT OF MY CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN!

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *TR UPDATED 03/27/13*LJ UPDATED 05/09/2013 *JS

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR FAILURES HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE AIR BAGS SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

IT STARTED WITH DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2012, THEN THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AT TIMES SINCE 2012. THEN ON 2-28-15, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. I HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE BACK SEAT AND THE CONSOLE TO GET TO THE DRIVER SEAT. THEN ON THE 3-02-2015, DRIVER'S DOOR, THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE REAR BACK DOOR COMPLETELY REFUSED TO UNLOCK. THIS IS VERY SCARY, IN FACT, I ALMOST BROKE MY RIGHT FOOT WHILE CLIMBING INTO THE DRIVER SEAT FROM THE BACK SEAT THROUGH THE CONSOLE, BECAUSE MY RIGHT LEG WAS CAUGHT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT HEAD REST. *TR

MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON THERE'S NO WIRES DISCONNECTED UNDER THE SEAT AND MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT WELL ALSO MY DOOR LOCKS ARE GETTING STUCK IN LOCK MODE AND MY ENGINE COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF.AFTER AWHILE.WHEN IN PARK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS LOCKED BUT COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY IN ORDER TO GET THE DOOR TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 12/28/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE OR SWITCH. ALL THE OTHER DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AND UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE OR SWITCH. UPDATED 01/09/13

DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. CAN'T GET OUT OF CAR UNLESS GO OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUT SIDE. HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. VERY DANGEROUS IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND APPROX. MILEAGE AS MINE. KIA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT. *TR

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE CAR COASTED. AFTER SITTING FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND CHARGE US $200 TO DO SO, AND THE ELECTRONIC PARTS WERE NOT COVERED. *TR

THE PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR AS MY SON WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A GROCERY STORE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. THAT PART OF THE CAR HAD NEVER BEEN WORKED ON. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR REPAIR. KIA USED GLUE ON LIFE A SUPPORT NUT ON A BALL JOINT, WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE USED A COTTER PIN. I HAVE BOUGHT FOUR (4) KIAS. THESE CARS ARE STILL IN THE FAMILY. THE KIA I DRIVE DAILY IS IDENTICAL (EXCEPT BEING AUTOMATIC) TO THE ONE THAT THE WHEEL CAME OFF. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE KEY WON'T WORK. I HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT RISKING POTENTIAL INJURY . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO SAID BASICALLY THAT IT WASN'T HIS DEALERSHIP'S PROBLEM AND TO CALL KIA CONSUMER NUMBER. I DID CALL AND HE ALSO SAID BASICALLY THAT IT IS NOT KIA'S PROBLEM, IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, AND TOO BAD FOR YOU. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED INSTANCES OF THIS DOOR LATCH FAILING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DESPITE WHAT THE CONSUMER REP SAID AT KIA. $50.00 DIAGNOSIS COST PLUS , WHEN THE PART FINALLY COMES IN, ANOTHER $230.00 DOLLARS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR KIA TO IGNORE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ONCE OPENED WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

I OWN A 2004 KIA OPTIMA PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UNLOCK (OR OPEN) THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM ACCORDED A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK MY CAR DOOR. ONCE I REMOVED MY KEY AND LIFTED THE HANDLE TO GET IN ALL OF THE DOORS LOCK. I HAD TO ENTER THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL ALSO NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT I WILL BE TRAPPED INSIDE AND COULD DIE!! I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. AND IT APPEARS THAT THE 2003 MODEL HAS THE SAME ISSUE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/989/MY-DRIVERS-DOOR-IS-LOCKED-WILL-NOT-UNLOCK, AS WELL AS WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/+866401-DRIVERS_DOOR_WILL_NOT_UNLOCK THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL AS I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM BOTH THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 71,634.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WITH THE AUTOMATIC KEY FOB BUT THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE BY MANUALLY TURNING THE KEY ABRUPTLY AND PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CONSTANTLY DEPRESSING THE AUTOMATED KEY FOB UNTIL THE DOOR LOCKS RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

A 5 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS SITTING IN THE BACKSEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND A LOUD POP OCCURRED. THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM BROKE. IT WAS TAKEN APART AND FOUND THAT THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE SEAT BELT ARE PLASTIC AND A SMALL PLASTIC CLIP THAT HOLDS THE SPRING BROKE, THUS A NON WORKING SEAT BELT. SEARCH TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS PRESENT. NO RECALL BUT TONS OF THREADS POSTED OF THE SAME THING OCCURRING ON OTHER KIA OPTIMAS. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL LOCK YOU IN THE VEHICLE AND WON'T LET YOU OUT. YOU CAN BE DRIVING WITH THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND IT WILL LOCK ITSELF WHILE IN MOTION OR YOU MAYBE READY TO LEAVE A LOCATION AND CAN'T GET BACK IN THE CAR. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK OF BEING TRAPPED IN MY CAR AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T GET THE LOCKS TO LET ME OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EITHER. THIS HAS BEEN A SCARY SITUATION AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE HURT OR KILLED. *TR

THE LOCK TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT DISENGAGE. I PUT THE KEY IN, BUT THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I HAVE TO ENTER THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT FOR THIS COMPANY TO DEAL WITH. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS PLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO WAIT TO SEE WHO DIES FIRST BEFORE THE COMPANY IS FORCED TO DO A RECALL? IF I KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AT THE TIME, THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. IT IS PAID OFF, AND I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. I CAN'T TRADE IT IN KNOWING THAT THE NEXT PERSON WOULD INHERIT THIS PROBLEM. I, FOR ONE, COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF IF A PERSON DIED AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. JUST REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ON THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A GREAT CAR, BUT THE DEFECTIVE ACTUATOR THAT PREVENTS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM OPENING OVERSHADOWS THE THAT FACT. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS, OR ANYONE ELSE BUY THIS CAR (OR ANY OTHER KIA) UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED. THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD NEEDS TO STEP IN FAST. WE AS CONSUMERS ARE DOING OUR PART BY REPORTING THESE ISSUES, PLEASE DO YOURS BY PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM THIS SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU. *TT

DRIVER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS AND WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY OR FROM THE INSIDE UNLOCK LEVER. DRIVER IS TRAPPED INSIDE CAR AND MUST EXIT BY CRAWLING OVER CONSOLE TO PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IT RENDERS THE CAR UNABLE TO BE LOCKED AT ALL. THERE SEEM TO BE PLENTY OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM, YET NO RECALL FROM KIA. *TR

THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED AS THE BUTTON AND KEY DO NOT FULLY UNLOCK IT. USING BOTH BUTTON AND KEY AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND OPEN IT. DISSASSEMBLY OF THE DOOR AND LATCH LOCATED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM. THE DOOR LATCH IS DESIGNED TO FAIL AS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LISTING THIS PART. THE LEVER THAT IS MOVED INTO PLACE WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED IS BLOCKED BY THE CAM THAT IT INTERFACES WITH BECAUSE THE CAM HAS ROTATED BEYOND THE POINT THAT IT SHOULD. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRAP SOMEONE IN THE CAR IF IT SHOULD FAIL AT THE WRONG TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT, IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES AND THE STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR LOCK FAILED TO UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ALSO REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK ALSO FAILED AT 41,000 MILES; HOWEVER, THE ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE PASSENGER DOOR OR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIED. THE TECHICIAN ADVISED THERE WAS A NICKEL IN THE DOOR PANEL AND THAT THE WAS REPAIRED. THERE DOOR WAS NOT ACTUALLY REPAIRED. UPDATED 1/16/2014 *JS