2005 Kia Optima Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Kia Optima. The contact was unable to use the key to manually unlock the door to the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle failed to open consistently from inside the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR'S FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

AFTER REPAIRING THE MASS AIR FLOW HOSE,PURGE VALVE,AND THE VALVE COVER GASKET. IT DIDN'T PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE LONGER TO PUT MILES ON THE CAR. SO I DID.. AFTER SEVEN WEEK GOING BACK TO HAVE IT CHECK IT WAS STILL SHOWING NOT READY. THE MERCHANIC THERE COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM AND THEIR SUBJESTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AFTER PUTTING 1175 MILES ON MY CAR

I AM A DISABLED WOMAN WHO BECAME TRAPPED IN HER OWN CAR BECAUSE THE LOCK MECHANISM ON THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN NOR COULD I ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THE GEARSHIFT TO TRY THE PASSENGER DOOR AND HURT MY BACK IN THE PROCESS. I CALLED 911 FOR HELP

driver side door lock does not open using the arm rest switch. wife was in the car could reach the switch but not the unlatch lever . Car was overheating with Ac on with keys in the ignition . Had to have her roll down the passenger door window to manually open the rear passenger side door . From the rear seat I could reach the lever and unlock the door. If I could not it would have been a fire hazard.

THE DRIVER DOOR BECOME JAMMED AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPEN. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY/EXCESSIVELY JERK ON IT. DUE TO NOT OPENING, I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IN ORDER TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE VEHICLE. NOT ONLY THAT, AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE DRIVER DOOR TO OPEN, I HAVE TO LEAVE IT CRACK TO AVOID THIS STRUGGLE.

THE LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG HAS BEEN STAYING ON AND MY HORN QUIT WORKING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A CLOCK SWITCH (I BELIEVE I SAID THAT RIGHT) WHICH IS SOMETHING IN THE STEERING CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG AND HORN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT ACTIVATE WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH WOULD NOT BE GOOD. MAYBE EVEN NOT WORK IF I GET IN A WRECK.

MY AIRBAG CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. THE CAR WAS JUST STARTED AND STATIONARY WHEN THE LIGHT WENT ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL WAS SEEN LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

IN 2011 WE HAD A HOLE FORM IN THE GAS TANK OF OUR 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP IN WHICH THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK IN HAD CAUSED WEAR ONTO THE ACTUAL TANK. THEY REPLACED THE TANK WITH NEW GAS TANK (ORIGINAL FACTORY GAS TANK) ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK IN FOR SERVICING. *TR

THE CAR WILL RUN FINE, THEN ENGINE WILL START TO MISFIRE. THEN LOSE POWER (PUT THE GAS PETAL TO THE FLOOR AND CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT REV UP DUE TO THE INCREASED GAS FLOW.) THE ENGINE WILL SHUTTER AND TURN OFF. LE IT SIT FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THE CAR WILL START. THE CAR WILL DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 5-10 MINUTES AND SHUT OFF AND WILL NOT RUN FOR START FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WILL NOT DRIVE BEYOND COUPLE HUNDRED FEET. WE HAVE REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, EGR VALVE, SPARK WIRES, SPARKS, COIL PACKS, WATER PUMP, ALL BELTS, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND SHORT BLOCK REBUILD (WARRANTY WORK). THE CODE WAS THE FIRST TIME WAS MISFIRE IN 1 AND 4 CYDERS, AFTER THE REBUILD THE CODE IS MISFIRE 2 AND 3 CYDERS. WE HAVE THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NO CLUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. RECENTLY, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 5/18/09 *CN UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HIGH BEAMS (SEPARATE BULBS AND SWITCH) WOULD ONLY WORK SPORADICALLY (SWITCHED 'ON', NOTHING. SWITCHED AGAIN, MAY COME 'ON', TURNED 'OFF' THEN 'ON' MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON). DEALER STATES 'IT HAPPENS, THEY BURN OUT', YET SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.(?) NON WARRANTY, SO YOU PAY. ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THE SAME CAR YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SAME ISSUE, HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED WITH YOU. IN ADDITION, 'GOOGLE' SEARCH SHOWS MANY ENTRIES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES (SAME MANUFACTURER) OVER MANY MODELS/YEARS. SIGNS POINT TO POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CHARGING OF BATTERY BY VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (MAYBE WHY THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AT THE SAME TIME). BATTERY WAS PREVIOUSLY FINE. I'VE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, THINGS STOP WORKING, THEN WORK ON THEIR OWN (POWER WINDOW WON'T WORK, STICKS PART OPEN. SWITCH DOES NOTHING. THEN SUDDENLY LATER WINDOW LOWERS/RAISES WITHOUT SWITCH BEING TOUCHED. TRUNK SUDDENLY POPS OPEN). DEFINITE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON THESE MAKE OF VEHICLES OVER MANY YEARS WHICH NEITHER MANUFACTURER IS GOING TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES. UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING, MANY WILL BE PAYING FOR SERVICE CAUSED BY THEIR NEGLIGENCE. . ALSO, SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ALL THE TIME. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE LOW BEAM BULBS CONSTANTLY BLOW OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUSTER CONNECTORS FAILED AND THEY CLEANED THE CONNECTOR AND REPLACED THE BULBS. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED WITH AN ORIGINAL WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT WERE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, THEY WOULD CONSIDER ASSISTING WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

I AM UNABLE TO UNLOCK MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR EITHER MANUALLY/KEY OR BY REMOTE ACCESS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IF I NEED TO EXIT MY VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY (FIRE AND OR CRASH) I WOULD BE UNABLE TO. ALSO, TWO OF MY REAR SEATBELTS ARE JAMMED IN THE HALF EXTENDED POSITION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WITH THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HIGH BEAMS (SEPARATE BULBS AND SWITCH) WOULD ONLY WORK SPORADICALLY (SWITCHED 'ON', NOTHING. SWITCHED AGAIN, MAY COME 'ON', TURNED 'OFF' THEN 'ON' MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON). DEALER STATES 'IT HAPPENS, THEY BURN OUT', YET SAID THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.(?) NON WARRANTY, SO YOU PAY. ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THE SAME CAR YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SAME ISSUE, HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED WITH YOU. IN ADDITION, 'GOOGLE' SEARCH SHOWS MANY ENTRIES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES (SAME MANUFACTURER) OVER MANY MODELS/YEARS. SIGNS POINT TO POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CHARGING OF BATTERY BY VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (MAYBE WHY THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AT THE SAME TIME). BATTERY WAS PREVIOUSLY FINE. I'VE HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, THINGS STOP WORKING, THEN WORK ON THEIR OWN (POWER WINDOW WON'T WORK, STICKS PART OPEN. SWITCH DOES NOTHING. THEN SUDDENLY LATER WINDOW LOWERS/RAISES WITHOUT SWITCH BEING TOUCHED. TRUNK SUDDENLY POPS OPEN). DEFINITE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON THESE MAKE OF VEHICLES OVER MANY YEARS WHICH NEITHER MANUFACTURER IS GOING TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES. UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING, MANY WILL BE PAYING FOR SERVICE CAUSED BY THEIR NEGLIGENCE. . ALSO, SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT ALL THE TIME. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. *TR

DOORS, LOCKS, LINKAGE, UPON LEAVING WORK ON JUNE 16TH, 2010, I WENT TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR USING THE KEY AND THE CAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I OPENED THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRAWLED OVER TO TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, NO LUCK. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS NOT AND WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. HUGE SAFETY HAZARD!!! NO LUCK WITH KIA FIXING IT EITHER!!! *TR

I WENT TO KIA DEALERSHIP REGARDING KEYLESS REMOTE NOT WORKING. I ADVISED DEALERSHIP THAT BOTH REMOTES WERE RE-PROGRAMMED 12 MONTHS AGO AND THAT ONE REMOTE STOPPED WORKING 6 MONTHS AFTER RE-PROGRAMMING AND THE 2ND REMOTE STOPPED WORKING 12 MONTHS AFTER RE-PROGRAMMING. BASED ON DISCUSSION, IT APPEARS THAT 2003 THROUGH 2006 KIA OPTIMAS HAVE DEFECTIVE KEYLESS REMOTE SYSTEMS, BUT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL RECALL, REPAIR OF KEYLESS REMOTE IS NOT COVERED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE REPAIR COST IS ABOUT $400. MY OPINION IS THAT A RELATIVE KEYLESS REMOTE RECALL SHOULD BE MADE BY KIA SINCE THE KEYLESS REMOTE DEFECT IS NOT CUSTOMER'S FAULT. *TR

BRAKES TURNED TO SPONGE ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN FALL 2009, AGAIN IN FEB 2010,SUMMER 2010 AND AGAIN 12/ 22/ 2010. AT FIRST OCCURRENCE WINTER OF 2009 I ASSUMED I HAD HIT ICE AND WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE FOR THAT REASON. HOWEVER, EVERY INCIDENT AFTER THAT CONFIRMED THAT ROAD CONDITION WAS NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. DURING FIRST EVENT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING,CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. BRAKE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AT 4 WAY STOP AND AGAIN ON RESIDENTIAL STREET AS I AM PREPARING TO PARK. NOTE THAT THESE INCIDENTS ALL OCCURRED AS I WAS CONSCIOUSLY SLOWING THE VEHICLE AND PREPARING TO COME TO A FULL STOP. SPEED OF VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF ALL THE ABOVE INCIDENTS IS ESTIMATED LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 15 MPH. WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS VEHICLE THAT RANDOMLY WILL NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALTHOUGH INSPECTION REVEALS BRAKES ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND TIRES ARE NEW. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE FEB 12, 2010 AFTER CAR WOULD NOT STOP AT STOP SIGN CONSEQUENTLY I WAS FORCED TO TURN THE CAR INTO SNOW BANK TO HALT VEHICLE. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BROADSIDED ONCOMING TRUCK IN N/S 4 WAY. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND EVENT DID NOT REOCCUR WHEN DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE. LAST NIGHT 12/22/2010 HAD TO THROW CAR INTO PARK AND TURN OFF ENGINE IN MID TRAFFIC AS OTHER VEHICLES ARE BRAKING BECAUSE OF RAPID CHANGE TO SLOW IN 45 MPH ZONE. MY CAR IS CLIMBING HILL AS CARS AHEAD ARE BREAKING FOR STALLED, SLOW TRAFFIC. RANDOM PROBLEM WITH BRAKES OCCURS MORE OFTEN AT LOW TEMP ALTHOUGH HAS OCCURRED ONCE IN SUMMER. NOTE TEMPERATURE AT EVENT LAST NIGHT 28F AT 6:30 PM. BRAKE FLUID TESTED GOOD ON FEB 12, 2010 AT INSPECTION. BRAKES WERE IN FINE WORKING ORDER, TIRES NEW. COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION CHECKED OUT FINE. I REPORTED SUBSEQUENT BRAKE FAILURE EVENTS TO KIA (AFTER FEB 12, 2010) BUT AFTER CALLING KIA ON 12/23/10 I FIND THEY DID NOT RECORD SAID EVENTS IN KIA DATABASE ALTHOUGH I WAS ASSURED MY PHONED IN REPORTS IN WERE DOCUMENTED. *LN

HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER IN THE CLUTCH MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO STAY ENGAGED. I DID NOT HAVE A COLLISION BUT WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY TO AVOID HAVING A TRUCK STRIKE ME FROM THE REAR. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNLESS I PREPAID THEM, AND THEY WOULD LATER DETERMINE IF I WOULD REIMBURSED. NOTE THAT THE CAR HAD ONLY FOUR YEARS AND 27K MILES OF A 10 YEAR/100K WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE NOT HAVING MULTIPLE DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES AND TRAINING MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN HOW TO RESPOND. THE SITUATION WAS ENTERING ONTO AN INTERSTATE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN WORKING PROPERLY THE ENTRY WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE WITH TIME TO SPARE. WITH THE CAR NOT ACCELERATING AND GIVING THE FEELING OF BEING IN NEUTRAL MOVING TRAFFIC HAD LITTLE OR NO TIME TO RESPOND. *TR

STOCK TIRES (ON STOCK RIMS) RUB AGAINST UNDERCARRIAGE UNTIL A BAND OF CORD ARE EXPOSED AND TIRES ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE FAILED (OR POTENTIALLY AN ACCIDENT RESULTS). *TR

DT: STEERING MECHANISM PROBLEM CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A FENCE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COME OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE FORWARD. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY THE VEHICLE WOULD GRADUALLY CORRECT ITSELF; ALTHOUGH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON FOR A COUPLE DAYS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY LOST TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER, CAUSING A LAG IN THE PICKUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

STOCK TIRES (ON STOCK RIMS) RUB AGAINST UNDERCARRIAGE UNTIL A BAND OF CORD ARE EXPOSED AND TIRES ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE FAILED (OR POTENTIALLY AN ACCIDENT RESULTS). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS OR DRIVING IN REVERSE THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE TIRES. THE CONTACT TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE RELATED TO THE CV SHAFT AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THAT PART; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE THE KNOCKING SOUND. THE DEALER LATER CONFIRMED THAT THE AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

THE BACK WINDOW OF MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA JUST BLEW OFF MY CAR, WENT AIRBORN AND HIT THE ROAD SHATTERING IT IN A ZILLION PIECES. THEIR WAS A VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND THANK GOD IT DID NOT LAND IN THEIR WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS COMPANY WAS HERE TO INSPECT AND THEY SAID THAT THE GLASS HAD BEEN GLUED ON TOP OF THE SEAL AND WASN'T INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT ALL. THAT IS WHY IT FLEW OFF LIKE IT DID. IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I CAN NOT GO WITHOUT MY VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT COME TO MY HOUSE AND INSTALL THE WINDOW HERE, THEY INSIST THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. ALL I WANT IS REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COST OF REPLACING THE WINDOW WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR THEM IN THE LONG RUN ANYWAY. *TR