Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Kia Optima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
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.
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
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
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
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
THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY FOB, KEY OR MANUALLY. YOU ARE LITERALLY LOCKED IN THE CAR AND CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT. THIS IS HORRIBLY DANGEROUS AND IF YOU WERE IN AN ACCIDENT YOU COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. PLEASE HELP GET A RECALL ON THIS PART. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. *TR
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. *TR
TL* 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*CN 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.
TL* 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*CN THE DEALER STATED THE LOCK PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL. UPDATED 12/26/13
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. *TR
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. *TR
POWER DOOR LOCKS RE-LOCK AFTER YOU UNLOCK THEM AND PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS CAN EITHER TRAP YOU IN YOUR CAR, OR TRAP YOU OUT. YOU HAVE TO GO AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE, BUT CRAWLING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. HAD THE SWITCH AND ACTUATOR REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE SINCE IT GETS THEM OVER $300 WORTH OF BUSINESS EACH TIME. *KB
POWER LOCKS INSTANTLY LOCK AFTER UNLOCKING,(OVER AND OVER) PROHIBITING ME AND MY PASSENGERS TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. IT SOMETIMES TAKES 5-10 MINUTES OF TRYING TO UNLOCK THAT THEY WILL FINALLY STAY UNLOCKED ALLOWING ACCESS. I HAVE A TODDLER AND A BABY ON THE WAY. IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT OR A FIRE, I COULD ONLY IMAGINE BEING TRAPPED INSIDE.
***SAFETY ISSUE*** 1) UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS WITHOUT ABUSE OR CONSUMER MODIFICATION. 2) DOOR LOCKS FREQUENTLY FAIL TO UNLOCK OR WILL AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK EITHER MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY. THIS COULD CAUSE AN INABILITY TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME OR MAY RESULT IN BEING UNABLE TO ACCESS CHILDREN TRAPPED INSIDE. THUS, LEADING TO HEAT STROKE, DEATH, OR OTHER PHYSICAL HARM. 3) HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY, BUT STILL INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO UNLOCK AS OF THE DATE OF THIS REPORT. THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THIS MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR
LOCKING SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING ALL DOORS TO LOCK ON THE VEHICLE WITH NO MEANS TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. CAN NOT GET OUT BY THE WINDOWS AND THE MOTOR WILL NOT SHUT DOWN FOR QUIT SOME TIME. WE BELIEVE IT ALSO TRIGGERED OR MALFUNCTIONED THE ANTI-THEFT CAUSING IT TO INGAGE WHICH WOULD PREVENT YOU EXITING THE VEHICLE AS WELL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT A VAPOR HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL CANISTER CRACKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE AND LEVER FENDER. THE REPAIR COSTS TOTALED $104; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER IS NOW SUGGESTING THAT THE CLUSTER PANEL WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V180000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,671. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE PUMP CLICKED, BUT THAT GAS GAUGE ONLY SHOWED 1/2 TANK OF GAS. UPDATED 08/05/08
EL AUTO KIA OPTIMA 2003, EN MLTIPLES OCASIONES HA MARCADO ALTAS TEMPERATURAS. EXISTEN PROBLEMAS PARA PONERLE GASOLINA YA QUE LA BOTA O NO PERMITE QUE SE LE ECHE MS ENTRE OTROS DEFECTOS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY FAILS TO START. WHEN HE TURNS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE FUEL. THE CONTACT HAS TO MAKE THREE TO FOUR ATTEMPTS JUST TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE FAILS IN BOTH COLD AND WARM WEATHER AND HAS OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES WITHIN THE PAST THIRTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WILL EVENTUALLY START AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO TEN MINUTES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR DAYS AND NO CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN DETERMINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 58,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
RADIO TURNS OFF AND STAYS OFF DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS OF NORMAL DRIVING ON REGULAR PAVED ROAD WAYS. THE UNIT IS STILL POWERED ON ITSELF BUT NO AUDIBLE SOUND NOT EVEN STATIC CAN BE HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS FROM THE CD, CASSETTE PLAYER OR RADIO. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HE STATED THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO KEEP WASTING THEIR TIME (RADIO IS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY) AND THAT I SHOULD PURCHASE A NEW RADIO BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE OUTPUT ON THE FACTORY UNIT. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO PURCHASE A NEW FACTORY UNIT. *JB
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 KIA OPTIMA'S WITH 50000 FAILURE MILEAGE LIGHTS, LOCKS, RADIO DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.*AK
2003 KIA OPTIMA CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND ONTO A CITY STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF BUT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BATTERY CABLES HAD MELTED. *KB *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CHARGING SYSTEM'S WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER BOTH BATTERY CABLES WERE MELTED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
BRAKE FAILURE, FRONT ROTORS GROOVED, PADS HEAT GLAZED, REAR ROTORS ALSO. PLUS REAR CALIPERS WERE BOUNDED UP. *BF THE DOORS LOCKED BY THEMSELVES, AND THERE WAS SQUEALING WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DOORS HARNESS CONNECTION WAS POOR AND SHORTED OUT. *SC *JB
THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE GAS CAP WAS THE PROBLEM. REFERENCE TO RECALL#04V180000. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE CONTINUED TO LOCK WITHOUT PRESSING. *SC
THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING, THAT THE DOORS LOCKS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED WITHOUT PRESSING THE LOCK BUTTON WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS FLASHING. PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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