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 | |||
| 07/24/2011 | 85960 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. the contact stated that the drivers side door was defective and would not open from neither the inside or outside of the vehicle. the dealer diagnosed that a module inside the door would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure was not remedied. the failure mileage was 85, 960 and the current mileage was 86,000. nw | |||
| 01/04/2011 | 79000 | ||
| Tl. the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. the contact stated the driver side door does not unlock from the outside of the. the key nor the key-less entry will unlock the driver side door. the contact has to enter the vehicle through front passenger side door. the contact has taken the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer locked and unlock the door by using the key. when the contact left the dealer the contact could not open the driver side door from the outside of the vehicle. the contact has not taken vehicle back to the dealer. the contact stated the door latch is faulty and needs to be replaced. the failure mileage was 79,000. jo | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 03/26/2012 | 110000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 07/07/2012 | 71634 | ||
| 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. the mechanic confirmed the door latch needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 71,634. rds | |||
| 08/26/2011 | |||
| Drivers side door will not open with the power lock or by key, i have been getting in and out of my car by using the passenger front door. my husband found a way to unlock my driver side door, now i can not lock my car again. | |||
| 07/14/2010 | |||
| Driver door refused to open. i have a disability so this created a huge problem for me. when i put gas in my car (regardless of grade or gas station) my car refuses to start. when i make a u-turn, my car makes loud clicking sound. i had it checked...my axle and every thing else looks fine. no one can establish where the noise comes from. my car has less than 60,000 miles on it, and it should not have all these issues but it does. | |||
| 01/02/2012 | 49620 | ||
| Drivers door would not open from inside or out, it happened three times and the started working again. | |||
| 02/01/2011 | |||
| Driver side door will not unlock. neither the key nor the door lock knob on the inside works to unlock the door. unfortunately, we have been entering and exiting the driver side by entering the car from the passenger side. there are many others who have this problem with all kia models as you can see on the website http://vlane.com/discuss-topic/989/my-drivers-door-is-locked-will-not-unlock . the problem is a safety hazard since once in the driver seat, the driver can not exit the car through the driver door which can prove to be a problem in an emergency. kia is taking advantage of owners by not addressing the issue. i am afraid for my safety, my family's safety while driving and emphatically plead with you to recall these kia cars to fix the problem. | |||
| 08/06/2011 | 93580 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns 2004 kia optima. the contact stated that the front passenger door was inoperable. once locked, it could not be opened from the interior or exterior of the vehicle. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and advised that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 93,580. | |||
| 08/06/2011 | 93580 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns 2004 kia optima. the contact stated the front passenger door was inoperable. once it locks it will not open from the inside or outside. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and stated there are no recalls and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 93,580. mw | |||
| 07/02/2011 | 95000 | ||
| Tl. the contact owns a 2004 kia optima. the contact stated the driver side door will not open when it's unlocked. the contact is not aware of what's causing the driver side door not to open. the contact has not taken the vehicle to the dealer or a local mechanic. the contact has to enter the vehicle through the passenger side door. the failure mileage was 95,000. jo | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 10/08/2010 | 86500 | ||
| As described by others driver side lower ball joint on '04 kia optima broke with 1 sheared bolt and 1 bolt just falling out (rusted with no clean areas) the ball joint had 1 part of the sheared bolt remaining and 1 rusted threaded hole. dealer offered no help other than to indicate that this was not related to the subframe recall of last august ('09) | |||
| 10/31/2009 | 30000 | 1 | |
| I have been refused the repair on my 2004 kia by no less than 3 dealerships about the rusting front end because of lack of rust proofing. it made the car undrivable 4 months ago and i have had no satisfaction. you are going after toyota with both barrels yet you are leaving kia alone and i have had nothing but serious expenses and problems with this car since it was purchased brand new in 2004. i have made several attempts at contacting your office with negative replies. if i do not here from this agency in the near future concerning my issues i will contact the media and seek my restitution through the squeaky wheel getting the grease method and my attempts to have the government assist will be part of that discussion. please put heat on kia to get aggressive with the recall repairs. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| The recall concerning the 01 -04 kia optima subframe causing the car to be unable to maintain alignment is not being honored by dealers. i have made multiple attempts to either contact dealers for an appointment to which they would not return phonecalls or e-mails, or in one case actually got hold of a dealer who told me that at 130,000 miles it was time to replace the subframe and that i would have to pay for it. i have been eating tires and have not been able to keep this car aligned after the first 20,000 miles. i continue to drive this car because i am unable to replace it. i have had to put 2 clutches in it (the first one after 29,000 miles. for the record i have driven standards for 27 years before this and had never had to replace a clutch) and found out after the second clutch (which at no time would kia acknowledge a design flaw or any culpability) that the original clutches were not lasting on these cars and a standard pressure plate clutch had replaced the original under an engineering change instead of a recall. this car is unsafe and kia corporation and any dealer i have attempted to contact so far has refused ever to make good on any aspect of this car. this car and any 01-04 kia optima should have to be replaced by the kia corporation for their blatant disregard to the consumer for their safety and costs. i am going to attempt a media blitz to inform the american public of this blatant disregard and these safety issues in the next few weeks and felt you would want to know in order to get your data in order. *tr | |||
| 06/15/2009 | 27000 | 1 | |
| Received recall letter from kia june15,2009, possibility of corrosion of the subframe. i called my dealer within a couple of days and was told no parts in they would call me. on aug. 03 i called the kia consumer assistance center and they called the dealer and was told still not parts. i was told i would be called back within two days to let me know why no parts however it was the same no call. i am concerned that my car may be faulty and i can get no service or help. if it is a recall why can i not get help to have it checked. kia motors america inc. gave no reply and the dealer still says no parts. on aug 15th it will be two months and no help. thank you (this is from a recall letter to me). *tr | |||
| 12/02/2005 | 5500 | 3 | 04/08/2005 |
| Motor mounts and pulleys defective. this will be my third time to the shop in less than a month. the pulleys and mounts are bound to cause other damage. *jb | |||