2.1
hardly worth mentioning- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 73,500 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the passenger side door failed to unlock from either side of the vehicle. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact also mentioned that the same failure occurred on the driver side door prior to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 147,433.
- Hanson, KY, USA
Doors (all) will lock after unlocking when you're trying to get in. I unlock the door, either manually or with the key fob, when you pull the handle to open the door the doors lock. You can play with it and finally get in but I've heard alot of problems with the same thing on the same model.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
The auto door lock would snap shut from inside or out. My daughter have to crawl through the passenger side.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
The door(s) have locked and will not unlock without many attempts to pull on the handle while turning the key. When it first happened to the passenger side, attempts at unlocking with the key resulted in all doors locking when the inner or outer handle was pulled, potentially trapping someone in the car. Then it happened to the driver door a few months later. Replacing the latch fixed the problem.
- Idaho Falls, ID, USA
First: In the affect parts section of this complaint there is no where to mark defective locks. I have 2003 Kia Optima SE four-door. It will continuously lock and unlock automatically. Will only stop clicking on and off when engine is turned off. This poses a safety issue by being locked in an auto with electronic locks that cannot be unlocked either manually or with the key fob. When will there be a recall, either involuntarily or voluntarily. I bought this auto new and still have it.
- Omaha, NE, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the drivers side door locked and she was unable to unlock it manually or by using the key fob. She was forced to climb into the back seat in order to exit the vehicle. When the failure recently recurred all of the doors failed to unlock. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the technician replaced the locks; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 90,000. Updated 2/11/14 the consumer stated the trunk and ignition would not unlock. The ignition and trunk lock was replaced. Also, the alternator, fuel tank sensor and timing belt were replaced. The high beam lights would come on, when she made turns.
- Lancaster , CA, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to unlock and could not be unlocked from the outside or inside of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that she had to enter the vehicle through the passenger's side door. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic stated that the latch was not working properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 85,000. The current mileage was 86,500. Updated 12/20/13 the dealer stated the lock problem was electrical. Updated 12/26/13
- Norwood, MA, USA
I parked my car for the day to go to work. At that point in time there were no issues with the car. Upon returning that night I found that the driver's side door would no longer unlock. I must now enter and exit my vehicle through the passenger door. The door will not unlock with a key, the unlock-all button, remote entry, interior unlock button, or by turning the car off.
- Redmond, WA, USA
Passenger door locks and will not unlock without pushing the unlock button and pulling the door handle at the same time. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to get door open using this method. This is a serious safety issue which could trap a person in their car.
- Hanford, CA, USA
Door lock for the drivers side does not work and also does not unlock. This presents a huge safety concern, driver cannot exit the drivers' door! we have been able to unlock the drivers' door but it will not open! I reviewed the issue online and found hundreds of the same complaint. Kia needs to address the drivers door issue asap as it is a huge liability since it is an extremely common problem.
- Marietta, GA, USA
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.
- Hopkins, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that she was unable to unlock the doors manually or by using the key fob. The contact mentioned that once she finally open the door and enter the vehicle the doors would lock automatically locking her in. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the key fob was defective and needed to be replaced. The remedy failed to repair the problem. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who referred her to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 58,000.
- Lexington , KY, USA
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 106,000 and the current mileage was 106,300. Updated 10/11/12 updated 10/11/2012
- Lawrenceville , GA, USA
Kia Optima 2003. Can not open driver door. Lock does not disengage with key or power lock button. Lots of complaints and I am sure there lots more unreported. Does 15 or twenty of us have to die before Kia is forced to fix this issue. No injury, crash or fatally yet........
- Winnsboro , SC, USA
I own a 2003 Kia Optima. I have been unable to unlock the driver side door. I have had to either climb out the window or the one of the other doors in order to exit the vehicle. When I lift the outside handle to enter the car all of the doors lock. When I unlock the door from the inside you can push and push on the door and it will not open. I see that several others have had this issue it needs to be corrected as if I get in an accident I will not be able to exit the car.
- Star, ID, USA
Drivers side door lock locks unattended, traps driver inside car. Can not open with key or switch. Safety issue. Also; air bag sensor light activated for the second time, has to be a defect.
- Stephens City, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that she was unable to unlock the driver side door. The contact stated that she had to either climb out the window or the one of the other doors in order to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the locking solenoid was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 102,000 and the current mileage was 106,000.
- Springville, UT, USA
Passenger side door did not unlock. This forced passenger to come out from the driver side door.
- Canton, MI, USA
Passenger side door locks started having problems opening aprox 6 mo. Ago. It takes about 3 or 4 tries to get the door to open if you are using the key. If you are just the passenger and the driver opens the door for you with the driver side door lock it may take several tries as the door will automaticly relock by itself and you will be locked out. On 10/29/11 the driver side door started to have issues. I went to get into the car and it took about 20 tries to open the door. The lock felt very tight and was hard to turn. I had to fight to get the door to open. I have never had a problem with the driver side locking system. Once I get into the car, I was confused but didn't think anything of it after that and drove to my destination, when I tried to get out of the car I couldn't. I was locked in the car. It took ten minutes to with me fighting witht the locks to get out of the car. I only got out by my daughter getting out through the passenger door and taking the keys to fight with the driver side lock. I have my car now scheduled to be fixed at the Kia dealership on 11/7/11.
- Meridian, ID, USA
- Syracuse, NY, USA