Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Interior & seats reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Oct 27, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 107 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Kia Optima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming interior
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 27, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR DOOR LOCKS FOR THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS USED IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE THE FRONT PASSENGER ACTUATOR WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA ID
10650292
Incident
Oct 6, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Mar 14, 2014
FRONT DOOR FAILS TO UNLOCK AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. DOOR MUST BE UNLOCKED WITH A KEY, USING THE POWER LOCKS OR MANUALLY FLIPPING THE DOOR LOCK DOESN'T DO IT, AND THE KEY ONLY UNLOCKS IT APPROXIMATELY 1 OUT OF EVERY 20 TRIES. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE, SEE FOR INSTANCE: HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/1G-2G-2001-2006-MAGENTIS-OPTIMA/47179-2004-OPTIMA-DOOR-LOCK-FAULT.HTML. *TR
NHTSA ID
10572509
Incident
Feb 15, 2014
Mileage
85,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THE DOOR LOCK MOTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR
NHTSA ID
10513860
Incident
May 28, 2012
Mileage
150,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 29, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AFTER IT WAS LOCKED. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CLIMBING OUT OF THE WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. ONCE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS LOCKED IT CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FOR THE INSIDE OR USING A KEY FOR THE OUTSIDE. AFTER WORKING THE LOCK FOR SOMETIME IT MAY UNLOCK OR STAY LOCKED. WHAT WE DO NOW IS TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED WHICH IS NOT THE BEST IDEA. THE PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING INTO THE CAR BUT GETTING OUT. NO RECALL FROM KIA. UPDATED 10/26/2011 *LN *TR
NHTSA ID
10415609
Incident
Jul 26, 2011
Mileage
43,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 24, 2011
DOOR LOCKS WHEN USING THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AFTER THE DOOR HAS BEEN UNLOCKED USING KEY OR KEYLESS ENTRY. SO FAR ONLY BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR, BUT CONCERNED I WILL BE LOCKED IN THE CAR AT SOME POINT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10402512
Incident
May 23, 2011
Mileage
161,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 11, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK BY USING THE KEY OR THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTERED THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE BEING ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA ID
10376223
Incident
Sep 13, 2010
Mileage
25,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 12, 2009
WAS LOCKED INSIDE VEHICLE. AFTER CLIMBING OUT WINDOW, WAS LOCKED OUT OF VEHICLE. THE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK WITH KEY THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN DOOR IT LOCKS ITSELF, EVEN WITH KEY STILL IN DOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN BY MANUAL USE OF LOCKS EITHER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10254710
Incident
Jan 10, 2009
Mileage
75,095 mi
AirbagsFuel systemInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Dec 10, 2008
AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE FROM A AUTO DEALER BETWEEN JULY 2 AND JULY 5 ...THIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS LIKE THE AUDIO RECEIVER SWITCH FROM RADIO TO CD ON ITS OWN,DOORS LOCKS ON ITS OWN,RPM RUNS TO 4000 GOING 45MPH AFTER A HARD JERK ASSUMING THAT I WAS HIT BY A OTHER CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THAT 2 HARD JERKS WHILE DRIVING,,(THEY DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOYED) CAN NOT PUMP GAS DUE TO FUEL KEEPS OVER FLOWING WHEN ITS BARELY EMPTY ....ITS BEEN A LIVING ?!@#$% AND I'M STILL PAYING FOR THE CAR....IS IT LEGAL FOR A DEALERSHIP TO SELL A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10251412
Incident
Jul 5, 2008
Mileage
86,020 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 26, 2008
2002 KIA OPTIMA -- WHEN YOU UNLOCK THE DOORS EITHER MANUALLY OR WITH KEY FOB AND ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR IT IMMEDIATELY LOCKS AND DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. IT LOCKS FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST APPROXIMATELY APRIL OF 2005 WITH THE EXCEPTION IT ALSO INCLUDED THE DRIVER DOOR. HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF WINDOW TO EXIT VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10228888
Incident
Apr 27, 2008
Mileage
102,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 21, 2008
VEHICLE MODEL IS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA 4 DOOR SEDAN AND THE PROBLEM IS REGARDING THE DRIVERS LEFT DOOR. THE POWER LOCK DOOR LOCKS ON ITS OWN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED USING THE KEY. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO GET FIXED ON 05/24/02 AND OUNCE AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 01/31/08 THIS TIME COST TO FIX IS $233.16. AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME, IT OCCURRED AGAIN. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE POWER LOCKS ARE DEFECT AND DANGEROUS RISKS OF BECOMING TRAPPED IN THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS UNPREDICTABLE IT OCCURS FROM TIME TO TIME, AND I AM UNABLE TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE MECHANICS MUST BE THERE TO SEE WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS IN ORDER TO TRY TO FIX IT. IN ONE INCIDENT I WAS FORCED TO CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOW IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I FEEL VERY INSECURE AND UNSAFE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WHICH IS WHY I AM RAISING AWARENESS OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10218744
Incident
May 24, 2002
Mileage
16,169 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 6, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN HE LOCKS THE DOORS ON VEHICLE IT WILL NOT UNLOCK.*AK
NHTSA ID
10124269
Incident
Jun 3, 2005
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jan 7, 2005
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA, MY STEREO,HEADLIGHTS,DASHLIGHTS WOULD CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, THE INSTRUCTED ME TO GET A NEW BATTERY. I DID, AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 1RST,2005 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH, MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I COULD NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME BECAUSE MY HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, I HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER TO MY CAR. IT ALMOST CAUSED PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO SLAM INTO ME. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAY, I TOOK THE RISK OF GOING TO THE STORE, AND ONCE AGAIN I LOST ALL POWER TO MY CAR HITTING A NEAR BY GARBAGE CAN AND DENTING THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT INTO KIA OF TACOMA, THEY TOLD ME TO GET A TUNE UP. NOT LIKING THAT ANSWER, I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA OF PUYALLUP..THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND WANT ME TO COME PICK THE CAR UP AND DRIVE IT AROUND AGAIN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TOO, AND THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECAL ON THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO MY LIFE, AND OTHERS AROUND ME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS RIGHT AWAY BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEBODY THEIR LIFE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10105909
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Mileage
52 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 8, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR SEAT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISES TO CHEST/BREAST BONE/LUNGS/HEART/LOWER ABDOMINAL, AND LEFT LEG. *AK *LA
NHTSA ID
10075894
Incident
Jun 2, 2004
Mileage
8,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 1, 2004
DOOR LOCKS DON'T LOCK CONSISTENTLY. THE MASTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10074605
Incident
May 31, 2004
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own