10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 60,913 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.
After 60,000 miles, while driving or with the engine running, the engine light came on and stayed on. This has been repaired three times by replacing a main fuse. Each time it has been repaired, the problem has reoccurred. In connection with this problem, the door will lock after the driver exits the car. Sometimes, the keys have been locked in the car.
- Elkhart, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
- Hudson, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp flashed and remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 11/04/15 updated 2/1/2016 updated 04/05/16.
- Opa Locka , FL, USA
The engine light came on. The doors would lock without any prompts. The horn would honk while parked in the garage. The car was checked out on the computer and the driver's air bag needs replaced and there is an electrical problem.
- Elkhart, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the front driver side door failed to unlock. The contact stated that in order to get inside the vehicle, he had to climb over to the driver side. The contact also stated that the "air bag" warning light was illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic and the mechanic was unable to locate a solution to the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
- Camarillo, CA, 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 the air bag indicators remained illuminated in her vehicle. The dealer performed a diagnostic, but no codes appeared. The dealer reset the computer and the indicators remained dim for a few days; however, they would eventually illuminate again. The cause of the failure could not be determined. The failure mileage was 70,000.
- Machesney Park, IL, USA
2003 Kia Optima has a problem with the air bag indicator light staying on. Consumer states that the vehicle has been service for this issue but it keeps recurring.
- Bonita Springs, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 30 mph the vehicle was struck from the driver's side. The vehicle crashed into a wooden fence and rolled over three times. The driver was injured because the air bag failed to deploy. The fire and police departments arrived at the scene and filed a full report. The crash occurred in dry conditions. The contact called the manufacturer about the air bag failure, and was told that the side impact was not strong enough to deploy the air bags. The current and failure mileages were 84,000. The consumer has provided multiple pictures of the accident. Update 05/10/07
- Sandy, UT, USA
- Sanford, FL, USA