Fuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Oct 19, 2016
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
ElectricalFuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Dec 26, 2013
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 10557278
- Incident
- Dec 23, 2010
- Mileage
- 80,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 3, 2013
CAR WILL NOT START AFTER ADDING FUEL. AFTER REVIEWING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A FIX TO THE PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, IT IS NECESSARY TO PUMP THE GAS NUMEROUS TIMES THEN SLAM INTO GEAR WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE GAS. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE HARM TO THOSE AROUND THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP US FIND A FIX OR BETTER YET HAVE KIA RECALL THE 2003 OPTIMA. THANK YOU *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10507003
- Incident
- Dec 20, 2012
- Mileage
- 108,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 11, 2013
FOR SOME TIME NOW WE HAVE HAD TO VERY SLOWLY PUMP GAS IN TO TANK, IT KEEPS SPLASHING BACK AND SHUTTING OFF THE GAS PUMP. IT IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP NOW BEING REPAIRED AT QUITE AN EXPENSE, WHICH THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10502394
- Incident
- Mar 11, 2013
- Mileage
- 63,200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 23, 2012
AS I FILL THE TANK, GASOLINE FORCEFULLY SPITS BACK OUT ONTO THE PERSON FILLING THE TANK. THIS IS GETTING WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO A KIA DEALER AND HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE LAST TIME IT GOT ALL OVER MY ARM, CAUSING SEVERE IRRITATION. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10489573
- Incident
- Dec 23, 2012
- Mileage
- 110,000 mi
Fuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Jun 27, 2010
HAVE 2003 KIA OPTIMA. CAR STOPS WHILE RUNNING.LOOKS INTO GOOGLE. IS COMMON PROBLEM. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ALSO LOCKS ON THE DRIVER SIDE NOT WORKING ,LOCKS SELF INSIDE THE CAR. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10340257
- Incident
- Jun 26, 2010
- Mileage
- 84,226 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 16, 2009
EXCESSIVE CHECK ENGINE ON.....ALL TESTS WERE DONE ON FUEL SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING WAS DIAGNOSED AS FUNCTIONING. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10277035
- Incident
- Apr 10, 2009
- Mileage
- 122,234 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 5, 2008
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10230056
- Incident
- Oct 17, 2007
- Mileage
- 58,671 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 19, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAS MILEAGE WAS POOR AS WELL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE AIR FILTER AND OIL WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,591 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,002. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED
- NHTSA ID
- 10203440
- Incident
- Aug 22, 2007
- Mileage
- 82,002 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 16, 2006
IT TOOK 3-4 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CONSUMER'S 2003 KIA OPTIMA TO START AND THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. *KB WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10165870
- Incident
- Jul 20, 2006
- Mileage
- 75,504 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 24, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER THEORIZED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10163287
- Incident
- Jun 19, 2006
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 22, 2004
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
- NHTSA ID
- 10103232
- Incident
- Jan 1, 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.