Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||||
| TSB-026 | 06/01/2009 | 10031006 | Kia: during a service procedure that requires the subframe to be removed from a 2001-2005 optima (ms) (v-6 or i-4), an improved service procedure has been developed to enhance service efficiency. *pe | 12/30/2009 | |
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS | |||||
| TSB-026 | 06/01/2009 | 10031006 | Kia: during a service procedure that requires the subframe to be removed from a 2001-2005 optima (ms) (v-6 or i-4), an improved service procedure has been developed to enhance service efficiency. *pe | 12/30/2009 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 09/01/2009 | 66196 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns 2003 kia optima. the contact stated the driver and passenger door lock failed she wasn't able to unlock the doors from the inside or use the key to open the doors outside. she had to climb into the driver seat from the rear seats. the vehicle wasn't taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. the vehicle wasn't repaired. the failure and the current mileage were 66,196. li | |||
| 03/28/2008 | 1 | ||
| Paint chipping off front bumper and both handles. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 11/30/2012 | 175000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated that he was trying to exit the vehicle but the doors would not unlock. the contact stated that he would have to climb out of another door in order to exit the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 175,000. kmj | |||
| 11/30/2012 | 175000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated he was trying to exit the vehicle but the door would not unlock. the contact stated that he would have to climb into another seat in order to exit the vehicle. the vehicle was no taken to the dealer for inspection. the vehicle was not repaired.the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 175,000. ap | |||
| 10/23/2012 | 90000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated that the driver door failed and as a result, the door does not open automatically or manually. the contact had to use the passenger front door to be able to get out of the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure and current mileage was 90,000. pmb | |||
| 10/23/2012 | 90000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated that the driver door failed the door does not open automatically or manually, the contact had to use the passenger front door to be able to get out of the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. the vehicle was not repaired the approximate failure and current mileage was 90,000. li | |||
| 08/13/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated that the doors could not be unlocked and he had to exit the vehicle by climbing through a window. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 116,000. kmj | |||
| 08/13/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated when he arrived at home the locks of the doors where locked and would not unlock. he had to roll down the windows in order to get out. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 116,000.jp | |||
| 07/02/2012 | 124700 | 1 | |
| All of a sudden, without any extra/abnormal stress, damage or accident... the passenger-side door lock would not engage either from the remote lock/unlock buttons, or same button function available inside the car, and even manually switching the lock while sitting in the passenger's chair fails every-time. the only way to get the door locked or unlocked is to get out of the car and use the key to jiggle the lock until it finally switches to a locked or unlocked position. this issue is not the first i've heard about this vehicle model and year... it is very frustrating and i'm sure it could be a danger to the passenger in the event of a rollover. or even create a new possibility for theft if the locking mechanism fails to lock the door properly when we leave the vehicle...! please let me know if this can be resolved without having to pay out of pocket for poor workmanship. *tr | |||
| 07/02/2012 | 124700 | ||
| All of a sudden, without any extra/abnormal stress, damage or accident... the passenger-side door lock would not engage either from the remote lock/unlock buttons, or same button function available inside the car, and even manually switching the lock while sitting in the passenger's chair fails every-time. the only way to get the door locked or unlocked is to get out of the car and use the key to jiggle the lock until it finally switches to a locked or unlocked position. this issue is not the first i've heard about this vehicle model and year... it is very frustrating and i'm sure it could be a danger to the passenger in the event of a rollover. or even create a new possibility for theft if the locking mechanism fails to lock the door properly when we leave the vehicle...! please let me know if this can be resolved without having to pay out of pocket for poor workmanship. | |||
| 02/06/2012 | |||
| The door handle(s) are defective to point where even though the door is unlocked, the door cannot be opened. upon taking it to a body shop, the workers inform me that this could be a safety recall and that i should contact the dealer before doing anything else. there is evidence that this is not an isolated problem. a simple internet search of 2003 kis optima door stuck will show that millions of consumers are having this problem. this is a serious safety hazard, when thinking in terms of an accident or if a passenger needs to quickly get out of the car. i feel that kia needs to address this situation. | |||
| 11/04/2011 | 136000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated that when attempting to open the driver side door, the vehicle would lock before the door could be opened. in addition, the driver side door could not be opened from inside the vehicle and the contact had to exit the vehicle through the passenger side door. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or a mechanic for inspection or repairs. the failure mileage was 136,000. | |||
| 11/04/2011 | 136000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated that when attempting to open the driver side door, the vehicle would lock before the door could be opened. in addition, the driver side door could not be opened from inside the vehicle and the contact had to exit the vehicle through the passenger side door. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or a mechanic for inspection or repairs. the failure mileage was 136,000. kmj | |||
| 11/04/2011 | 136000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 kia optima. the contact stated the driver side door handle locks the door when the contact attempts to open it. the contact also stated the driver side door does not open from inside the vehicle. the contact had to exit the vehicle through the passenger side door. did not take the vehicle to a dealer or local mechanic. the failure mileage was 136,000. jo | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 11/20/2006 | 2 | 04/20/2004 | |
| About a year ago the driver side door lock stuck and i could not open the door. took the vehicle in to the repair shop and they fixed it. 2 months ago the same problem occurred with the front passenger side door lock and i was unable to open the door, of course now the manufacturer's warranty no longer applies. *jb | |||