2003 Kia Optima Interior & seats Problems

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

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

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 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 DOOR(S) HAVE LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT MANY ATTEMPTS TO PULL ON THE HANDLE WHILE TURNING THE KEY. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, ATTEMPTS AT UNLOCKING WITH THE KEY RESULTED IN ALL DOORS LOCKING WHEN THE INNER OR OUTER HANDLE WAS PULLED, POTENTIALLY TRAPPING SOMEONE IN THE CAR. THEN IT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER DOOR A FEW MONTHS LATER. REPLACING THE LATCH FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609314

Incident

Sep 11, 2012

Mileage

145,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10583604

Incident

Apr 14, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

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

NHTSA ID

10544589

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

I PARKED MY CAR FOR THE DAY TO GO TO WORK. AT THAT POINT IN TIME THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR. UPON RETURNING THAT NIGHT I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK. I MUST NOW ENTER AND EXIT MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY, THE UNLOCK-ALL BUTTON, REMOTE ENTRY, INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTON, OR BY TURNING THE CAR OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510692

Incident

Apr 26, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10510291

Incident

Apr 26, 2013

Mileage

77,538 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10505583

Incident

Feb 13, 2013

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BUT THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF ANOTHER DOOR IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10490559

Incident

Nov 30, 2012

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY OR BY USING THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE SHE FINALLY OPEN THE DOOR AND ENTER THE VEHICLE THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING HER IN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE KEY FOB WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED HER TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10484782

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED AND HE HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CLIMBING THROUGH A WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,300. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ UPDATED 10/11/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10471554

Incident

Aug 13, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

KIA OPTIMA 2003. CAN NOT OPEN DRIVER DOOR. LOCK DOES NOT DISENGAGE WITH KEY OR POWER LOCK BUTTON. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS AND I AM SURE THERE LOTS MORE UNREPORTED. DOES 15 OR TWENTY OF US HAVE TO DIE BEFORE KIA IS FORCED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. NO INJURY, CRASH OR FATALLY YET........ *TR

NHTSA ID

10469615

Incident

Aug 7, 2012

Mileage

77,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE HAD TO EITHER CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW OR THE ONE OF THE OTHER DOORS IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN I LIFT THE OUTSIDE HANDLE TO ENTER THE CAR ALL OF THE DOORS LOCK. WHEN I UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE YOU CAN PUSH AND PUSH ON THE DOOR AND IT WILL NOT OPEN. I SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AS IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. *JS

NHTSA ID

10468176

Incident

Jul 7, 2012

Mileage

135,001 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453143

Incident

Mar 25, 2012

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO EITHER CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW OR THE ONE OF THE OTHER DOORS IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCKING SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID

10442742

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

102,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK. THIS FORCED PASSENGER TO COME OUT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441259

Incident

Oct 27, 2011

Mileage

124,230 mi

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS OPENING APROX 6 MO. AGO. IT TAKES ABOUT 3 OR 4 TRIES TO GET THE DOOR TO OPEN IF YOU ARE USING THE KEY. IF YOU ARE JUST THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER OPENS THE DOOR FOR YOU WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL TRIES AS THE DOOR WILL AUTOMATICLY RELOCK BY ITSELF AND YOU WILL BE LOCKED OUT. ON 10/29/11 THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES. I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND IT TOOK ABOUT 20 TRIES TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE LOCK FELT VERY TIGHT AND WAS HARD TO TURN. I HAD TO FIGHT TO GET THE DOOR TO OPEN. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE LOCKING SYSTEM. ONCE I GET INTO THE CAR, I WAS CONFUSED BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AFTER THAT AND DROVE TO MY DESTINATION, WHEN I TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR I COULDN'T. I WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR. IT TOOK TEN MINUTES TO WITH ME FIGHTING WITHT THE LOCKS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I ONLY GOT OUT BY MY DAUGHTER GETTING OUT THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR AND TAKING THE KEYS TO FIGHT WITH THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK. I HAVE MY CAR NOW SCHEDULED TO BE FIXED AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP ON 11/7/11. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434337

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WAS INOPERABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ENTER OR EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ID

10432807

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS ARE DEFECTED. WHEN I PUSH THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STAYS LOCKED AND HAVE TO PUSH IT ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO UNLOCK. I TOOK MY CAR TO A KIA DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $807.00 FOR BOTH DOOR LOCK LATCHES. I STILL HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED, BEING THAT I CANNOT AFFORD IT RIGHT NOW, SO NOW I HAVE TO GET IN AND OUT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME CAR MAKE AND MODEL. THE DOOR LOCK LATCH SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY KIA. ARE THERE ANY NEW SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM? PLEASE LET ME KNOW.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10424374

Incident

Aug 30, 2011

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

NHTSA ID

10413314

Incident

May 15, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

POWER DOOR LOCKS INSTANTLY LOCK AFTER UNLOCKING CONTINUOUSLY, PROHIBITING ENTRY OR EXIT TO THE VEHICLE. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF THERE WERE TO BE AN ACCIDENT LOCKING ME AND MY CHILDREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 5-10 MINUTES TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR TRYING TO CATCH THE DOOR HANDLE AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME TO BE ABLE TO OPEN IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410184

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

ONCE YOU LOCK THE DOORS ON A 2003 KIA OPTIMA, YOU CANNOT UNLOCK FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IF YOU KEEP LOCKING AND UNLOCKING FROM INSIDE, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY STAY UNLOCKED. VERY UNSAFE IF YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF CAR QUICKLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10407308

Incident

Jun 17, 2011

Mileage

104,000 mi