2003 Kia Optima Owner Complaints

While driving on the roadway, I was almost to a four way intersection, as i was going to get into the left turn lane, I turned the steering wheel slightly to the left as the steering wheel turned but the car almost did little adjusting to turn into the left turn lane. As this occurred you could here a noise underneath the vehicle . As I wasn't sure exactly what had happened, I attempted to limp the vehicle down the road to a friend's. As I did the steering got worse and as I could nearly stear the vehicle something was in the road which because of the steering I couldn't avoid it as it was late at night and raining and I ran over something that gave me a flat on the passenger side front tire . I got to my friends drive a few feet away and almost didn't get it pulled in because of the steering. As I took a look at my car, I noticed that two bolts on the driver side on the rack and pinion were almost about to fall out, two ball joints were bent and one nut was completely missing from the lower ball joint, as well as the sway bar was out of place and If I would have been driving down the highway, I do belive I would have wrecked.

NHTSA ID

11640256

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000(SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT CALLED BOB ROHRMAN KIA (801 SAGAMORE PKWY S, LAFAYETTE, IN 47905, 765-746-7301) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,531.

NHTSA ID

11278319

Incident

Oct 7, 2019

Mileage

168,531 mi

THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE, THOUGH IT HAD A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND IT WAS ONLY INSPECTED AND NOT REPLACED. THE CAR WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT AS IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT, THE SHOP SAID THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT AN ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE FOR THIS VEHICLE. RECALL #09V183000. GURLEY LEEP KIA IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE FRAME WAS RUSTED BUT KIA WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ID

11240321

Incident

Jul 24, 2019

Mileage

167,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY OR INSIDE DOOR LOOK SWITCH. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZZARD.

NHTSA ID

11101795

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

AT 24,000 MILES MY VEHICLE STARTED LOCKING DOORS WHEN TEMPERATURES REACH 32 DEGREES OR LOWER. VEHICLE OUTSIDE ON CITY STREET OR DRIVEWAY. WHEN TEMPERATURES GET TO 32 DEGREES, DOORS LOCK AND DO NOT UNLOCK TO ALLOW ACCESS. IF YOU ARE INSIDE OF CAR IT LOCKS YOU INSIDE OF CAR, AS WELL AS OUT OF CAR. LOCKS UNLOCK THEN LOCK INSTANTLY EVEN WHEN USING KEY, NOT KEY FOB TO UNLOCK CAR~ NO ACCESS TO ENTER VEHICLE UNTIL ABOVE 32 DEGREES. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY...YOU HAVE NO VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY YEAR WHEN TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW 32 DEGREES. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM IN PAST.RECALL AND FIX IT PLEASE!!!

NHTSA ID

11056734

Incident

Dec 25, 2017

Mileage

24,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DULLES MOTORCARS LOCATED AT 107 CATOCTIN CIR SE, LEESBURG, VA 20175, PHONE NUMBER: (703) 777-7077, FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND SAFETY INSPECTION, THERE IT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN OF SEVERE CORROSION AND CRACKS IN THE SUB FRAME AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITHOUT REPAIRS BEING COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11003026

Incident

Jun 16, 2017

Mileage

123,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN IF LOCKED WHEN CLOSED. MECHANISM WORKS FINE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN OPEN, HOWEVER. A PART IN THE LOCK ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE ROTATING TOO FAR AND GETTING STUCK. AS A RESULT, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED IF LOCKED WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED OR THE DRIVER WILL HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR OR THROUGH THE WINDOW.

NHTSA ID

10960160

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

35,000 mi

MY MAIN ISSUE IS THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CAN NOT OPEN MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR YEARS. EVERYONE THAT I KNOW THAT HAS A 2003 AND 2004 KIA OPTIMA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I BET EVERY VEHICLE KIA SOLD FOR THESE YEARS HAS THIS PROBLEM. MY OTHER ISSUE IS I AM UNABLE TO FILL MY FUEL TANK AS I NORMALLY COULD DO. I HAVE TO TRICKLE THE FUEL IN THE TANK BECAUSE IF I PUMP IT TOO FAST THE PUMP WILL CUT OFF. I'VE EVEN HAD THE FUEL SPILL OUT OF THE TANK BEFORE THE TANK WAS EVEN FULL (IT WAS AT ABOUT 3/4 FULL). PLEASE DEMAND THAT KIA RECALL THESE PROBLEMS. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S TAKING THIS LONG FOR THIS RECALL TO BE ISSUED. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS FORM AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE TAKEN SO LONG TO PROCESS THIS FORM. THANKS AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ASAP. [XXX] PS. AS OF TODAY MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000 MILES. I'VE DRIVEN IT IN ONE WINTER SO FAR (LAST WINTER) AND IT STARTED HAVING THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM AT AROUND 33,000. THE FUEL ISSUE STARTED AROUND 2 YEARS AGO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10917282

Incident

Oct 10, 2012

AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS LITE, FOR NO REASON! THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 48K MILES , NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT NOR HIT ANYTHING . I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOR HAVE ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME BECAUSE , IT'S WITHOUT AN AIRBAG THERE IS NO PROTECTION

NHTSA ID

10905149

Incident

Aug 29, 2016

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID

10864345

Incident

Apr 13, 2016

Mileage

147,433 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN UTILIZING THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES, THEY FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,526.

NHTSA ID

10863592

Incident

Apr 29, 2016

Mileage

177,526 mi

KIA HAS ISSUED A RECALL (09V183000) HOWEVER IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE STATE IN WHICH I RESIDE, BUT ALL BORDERING STATES TO THE EAST, WEST, AND NORTH. I'M IN KY AND STATES LIKE OH, IN, IL, WV, ARE INCLUDED. I'M HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE LISTED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER AS THEY HAVE SELECTED TO COVER ONLY SPECIFIC STATES I'M LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS NOW INOPERABLE. THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE TIRE AND SUSPENSION TO BREAK FREE.

NHTSA ID

10855180

Incident

Apr 11, 2016

Mileage

149,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10807445

Incident

Nov 22, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10789284

Incident

Apr 15, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DOOR LOCK FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE FOBIK AND COULD LOCK THE DOORS, BUT THEY FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ UPDATED 4/23/18*JB *CN

NHTSA ID

10783280

Incident

Mar 15, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID

10724566

Incident

May 9, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* 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*LJ UPDATED 2/1/2016*JS UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10722310

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

I STOPPED TO HAVE MY TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED AND THE MECHANICS WERE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE PASSENGER TIRE'S SIDEWALL SEPARATING FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE. THEY HIGHLY SUGGESTED THEY REPLACE THE TIRE WITH THE DOUGHNUT SPARE EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLYB10 MILES FROM HOME. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES THE BACK PASSENGER TIRE WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. THESE TIRES ONLY HAVE 20,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682650

Incident

Feb 9, 2015

Mileage

119,829 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FOR THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE FRONT BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10680795

Incident

Jan 29, 2015

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680712

Incident

Jun 7, 2012

Mileage

93,400 mi

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR IS WITH THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. IT STARTED IN APRIL WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. WHEN YOU UNLOCKED THE DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB, ALL THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK, BUT WHEN YOU GRABBED THE HANDLE OF THE DOOR TO OPEN IT, ALL THE DOORS TO THE CAR WOULD LOCK.IT COST ME $350.00 TO GET THAT FIXED. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR OUT. THE KEY FOB WON'T UNLOCK IT, NOR MANUALLY USING A KEY. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT I THINK KIA SHOULD BE FIXING. WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN A SERIOUS WRECK, AND WAS KILLED, OR SERIOUSLY INJURED? I TALKED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED, BECAUSE MY WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668403

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

DRIVERS DOOR IS JAMMED LOCKED. THE REMOTE WORKS THE LOCKS MOVE WITH REMOTE AND KEY. THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON KIA FORUM REGARDING DOOR LOCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667516

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

97,055 mi

THE AUTO DOOR LOCK WOULD SNAP SHUT FROM INSIDE OR OUT. MY DAUGHTER HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667051

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

115,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648128

Incident

Sep 22, 2014

Mileage

75,126 mi

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID

10619330

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi